Background:Rodents are an important source of zoonotic diseases for human. The aim of this study was to determine the infectivity of rodents with intestinal helminths in North Khorasan Province, Iran.Methods:One hundred and thirteen rodents were collected using different collection methods such as kill and live traps, digging of their burrow, filling of their hiding places with water and hand net during 2011–2013. Their alimentary canals were removed in the laboratory and helminths were determined in the department of parasitology, Tehran University of Medical Sciences.Results:Thirteen species of helminths parasites were found in 13 species of rodents, including Aspiculuris tetraptera, Hymenolepis diminuta, Nippostrongylus brasiliensis, Protospirura Seurat, Rictolaria ratti, Skrjabinitaenia lobata, Streptopharagus kuntzi, Syphacia obvelata, Taenia taeniaeformis, Trichuris muris, Cysticercus fasciolaris, Acanthocephal. spp and Trichuris spp. Some of them were reported for the first time in new host in Iran. S. obvelata and A. tetraptera were the most frequent parasites and P. Seurat, R. ratti and C. fasciolaris were found only in one rodent.Conclusion:This is the first study to investigate the intestinal parasites in rodents in this area. Among different species identified, some of helminths were reported in new host.

INTRODUCTIONExperiments in different fields of biology and medical sciences depend on various laboratory animals. Rats are the second most utilized experimental animals in research studies worldwide, after laboratory mice [1]. Different lines of biomedical science such as organ transplantation, immunology, genetics, cancer research, pharmacology, physiology and neuroscience use rats as animal models [2]. Most of the experiments might be affected by the interaction between the animals and the pathogens including the parasites that commonly exist with no obvious clinical manifestations, rendering the obtained results unreliable [1,3]. The nematode Trichosomoides crassicauda was firstly described by Bellingham in 1840 in the urinary bladder of rat [4]. It is known as a nonpathogenic nematode living in the urinary bladder of wild and laboratory rats [5]. In a survey to determine the endoparasite of Rattus norvegicus, T. crassicauda was the most prevalent helminth parasites among the collected rodents [6]. The male worm of this nematode resides in the uterus or vagina of the adult female [7], demonstrating a unique biological behavior among parasitic helminths. This nematode has a direct life cycle, and infection occurs through the ingestion of contaminated foods and water containing embryonated eggs expelled in the urine [7]. On ingestion, the larvae hatch in the stomach and migrate to the lungs through body cavities or the bloodstream. The larvae reach the kidneys via the bloodstream and reach the bladder by passing the ureters [7]. The nematodes may be found free in the lumen or in the mucosal tissue of the bladder, causing severe catarrhal cystitis in massive infections [8]. Urinary calculi and bladder tumors may be associated with T. crassicauda infection. The larvae cause eosinophilic granulomas [9] and the infections in the bladder may lead to the granulomatous lesion [10]. Some postgraduate students reported the presence of a nematode infection, presumably, T. crassicauda in the urinary bladder of the rats from the animal house of Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS). Regarding the potential adverse effect of this infection on the results of research studies, we prompted to explore the prevalence of infection among the rats from the animal houses of four research centers in Introduction: Some postgraduate students reported the presence of a nematode infection, presumably, Trichosomoides crassicauda in the urinary bladder of rats (Rattus norvegicus) from the animal house of Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS). We prompted to explore the prevalence of this infection among the rats of animal houses belonging to medical and veterinary research centers in Tehran. We also described the histopathological changes in the bladder tissue of the infected rats. Methods: We collected 214 adult rats (R. norvegicus) from four animal houses including TUMS in Tehran. The urine of 112 animals was collected during 24 h and inspected microscopically for helminths eggs. Then, the rats were euthanized, sacrificed a...

Northern Iran is a critical region in the TB world and multidrug-resistant TB is a serious problem in this region. Although it is believed that there exists a commensal relationship between fungus and TB infections, the invasive forms of fungal pathogens and their co-infection can be caused by increasing disability and failure of treatment. Diagnosis of secondary or co-existing fungal infections in TB is most important for reducing the mortality and morbidity of these patients.

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Background: Identification of liver flukes, Fasciola hepatica, and Fasciola gigantica by morphometric parameters is not always reliable due to the overlapping measurements. This study aimed to characterize the liver flukes of animals from different parts of Iran by the genetic markers, ITS1, and COXI. Methods: We collected flukes from infected livestock in six provinces of Iran from Sep to Nov 2016. The flukes were identified by amplification of a 680 bp sequence of ITS1 locus followed by a restriction fragment polymorphism (RFLP) assay. The genetic diversity among isolates was evaluated by amplification and sequencing of a 493 bp fragment of the COXI gene. Results: We obtained 38 specimens from Khuzestan, 22 from Tehran, 10 from Isfahan, 10 from Mazandaran, 4 from Kurdistan, and 3 from Ardabil provinces. PCR-RFLP analysis revealed two patterns, representing F. hepatica, and F. gigantica. Fifty specimens from cattle and sheep exhibited F. hepatica pattern and 37 from the cattle, sheep, buffalo, and goat that of F. gigantica. The phylogeny based on COXI revealed two distinct clades separating F. hepatica from F. gigantica. In our phylogeny, the Iranian F. gigantica isolates showed a distinct separation from the African flukes, while grouped with the East Asia specimens demonstrating a common ancestor. The F. hepatica isolates clustered with the flukes from different parts of the world, including East Asia, Europe, and South America. Conclusion: The present study revealed a substantial genetic difference between F. gigantica populations of Asia and Africa, while F. hepatica isolates from different parts of the world shared high similarities.