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Summary This is the first study aiming to determine the therapeutic effects of the Sambucus ebulus aquatic extract as an antileishmanial herbal drug and evaluate the immune responses in Leishmania major major infected BALB/c mice. The antileishmanial activity of S ebulus aquatic extract was evaluated using MTT test as well as parasite rescue and transformation assay. Footpad swelling and parasite load of infected mice were measured by several techniques. The immune responses were evaluated by measuring the levels of IFN‐γ, IL‐4, nitric oxide and arginase. The results indicated that S. ebulus can significantly decrease L. major promastigotes and amastigotes viability, but it was not toxic to macrophages. The lesion size, parasite burden and the level of ARG decreased in the treated infected mice, while the IFN‐γ‐to‐IL‐4 ratio and the level of NO increased significantly. Altogether, the S. ebulus extract is an effective compound for killing Leishmania parasite without excessive toxicity to the host cells and can cure the CL by switching the host immune responses towards Th1 response. Thus, it may be a perfect therapeutic option for CL treatment.

Animal and human fascioliasis is a health and economic problem in few of tropical and subtropical areas of the world, including Iran. The present study aimed to determine the genotype diversity of isolates in different hosts from Gilan province, northern Iran, and compare it with those isolates from southwestern Iran. Forty-eight adult spp. were collected from cattle, sheep, and goats from slaughterhouse in Talesh, north of Iran. DNA was extracted from each fluke and PCR-RFLP was used to find out the species of the isolates. The ribosomal ITS1 and ITS2, and mitochondrial genes of NDI and COI from individual isolates of each host were PCR-amplified and the PCR products were sequenced. Genetic variation within and between the isolates was evaluated by comparing the sequences of ribosomal and mitochondrial genes. For analysis of phylogenetic diversity of the flukes, phylogenetic trees were constructed, using ITS1, ITS2, NDI, and COI sequences of the isolates. Based on PCR-RFLP profile, 5 (22.7%) of the total of sheep isolates and 18 (90%) of cattle isolates were identified as and other remaining samples from sheep, cattle and goats were identified as . Based on ITS1 and ITS2 sequences, six and seven nucleotide polymorphism were respectively noted in the isolates. On the other hand, CO1 region sequences showed considerable variation, which laid Talesh (north) isolates in a separate cluster. Findings of the study showed that the sequences of CO1 isolates from north and southwest have substantial differences mainly in CO1 region.

Fascioliasis is a zoonose parasitic disease caused by Fasciola hepatica and Fasciola gigantica and is widespread in most regions of the world. Ectopic fascioliasis usually caused by juvenile Fasciola spp., but

Background: Garlic and Zataria multiflora boiss (ZMB) are herbal medicines used traditionally in the treatment of infections, including candidal vaginitis. Objectives: This study aimed to examine the effect of garlic and ZMB vaginal cream 2%, in the treatment and recurrence of candidal vaginitis. Methods: This randomized, double-blinded clinical trial was conducted on 240 married women with candidal vaginitis. The patients used 5 gr garlic, ZMB or clotrimazole vaginal cream 2% daily, for 7 days. Complaints of the patients, clinical observations and laboratory parameters were recorded before treatment, on days 7 and 30, after treatment. The data were analyzed by SPSS v. 21 through chi-square, Fisher, ANOVA with repeated measures, McNemar and Kruskal-Wallis tests. A P <0.05 was considered significant.

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Background: Cystic Echinococcosis is considered a cosmopolitan cyclozoonotic parasitic infection. This study aimed at evaluating the seroprevalence of human hydatidosis using ELISA test and find the role of mutable factors such as age, sex, occupation, residency in the broadcast of the parasites in rural Ardabil Province, North-West of Iran. Methods: The study population was 950 asymptomatic individuals selected randomly from urban and rural populations of Ardabil province, North-West of Iran by randomized cluster sampling in 2019-2020. Immunoglobulin G antibodies against Echinococcus granulosus spp. were analyzed by ELISA test. Data were analyzed using SPSS software and Multivariable logistic regression model. Results: Overall, 42 (4.4%) of the participants had anti E. granulosus antibodies in this region. High titer antibodies were most prevalent in people age group of >70 yr old, rural areas, females and people having history of contact with dog that showed significant difference. There was no significant association between the presence of Echinococcus antibodies and sex, occupation, having history of eating unwashed vegetable. Conclusion: This is the first description of the seroprevalence of E. granulosus infection in the population in Ardabil Province, North-West of Iran. Obtained rate of hydatidosis approves the importance of diagnosing human cystic echinococcosis in these regions and it is expected that the authorities be careful to screen the disease.

Schwann cells (SCs), the supporting cells of the peripheral nerves, are indispensable for regenerating the peripheral and central nervous system. Copious preparation of these cells in a well-defined manner is to be a privileged position. SCs cultivation is overwhelmed by contaminating fibroblasts which are often outgrowing as the predominant cell type in an in vitro culture. This study introduces a technically simple and efficient procedure for SCs isolation and enrichment based on implementing recombinant and defined supplements.Collected adult rat sciatic nerves were cultured for 10 days as in vitro predegeneration. After dissociation and plating, the medium changed to knockout serum replacement supplemented DMDM/F12 medium containing various growth factors. The whole procedure took 3 weeks and SCs purity was then evaluated through implementing specific cytoplasmic and membranous markers. The viability of enriched SCs were evaluated by MTT assay. Within 10 days, over 99 % homogenous SCs were achieved and confirmed through immunofluorescence staining and flow-cytometry for P75 NTR and S100 markers, respectively. MTT data revealed that the viability and metabolic activities of purified SCs were increased in expansion medium. This study provides a technically easy and efficient method with the benefits of not utilizing bovine serum or other animal products for SCs isolation and enrichment.