Moniliformis cryptosaudi n. sp. (Moniliformidae) is an acanthocephalan described from the long-eared hedgehog Hemiechinus auritus (Gmelin) (Erinaceidae) in Iraq as an incipient cryptic species of Moniliformis saudi Amin, Heckmann, Mohammed, Evans, 2016 described from the desert hedgehog Paraechinus aethiopicus (Ehrenberg) (Erinaceidae) in Saudi Arabia. Microscopical studies demonstrate that the two species are morphologically indistinguishable with practically identical measurements and counts but differed significantly in their energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDXA) of metal composition of hooks. Hooks of specimens of the new species appeared to be of collagen material with very low levels of phosphorus and calcium unlike those of M. saudi and Moniliformis kalahariensis Meyer, 1931 that had high levels of calcium and phosphorus. Using 18S rDNA and cox1 genes, M. Saudi and M. kalahariensis were shown to be molecularly distinct but the molecular profiles of M. saudi and M. cryptosaudi were more similar. The molecular profile of M. kalahariensis collected from the South African hedgehog Atelerix frontalis Smith (Erinaceidae) in South Africa is reported for the first time and is studied only for comparative purposes. Moniliformis saudi and M. kalahariensis had comparable EDXA metal analysis that was distinct from that of M. cryptosaudi.

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Aqueous extracts prepared from the powdered entire pomaces and their parts (seeds and peels) of two Iraqi grape cultivars (Shada and Des-Alanez) were evaluated for their ovicidal, larvicidal, and pupicidal activities against housefly, Musca domestica (Linnaeus 1758) and compared them with chemical insecticide (Agita 10 WG; Austria). The highest insecticidal activity was shown by the aqueous extracts of powdered seeds followed by the entire pomace and then peels. The water extracts from the seeds, peels and pomaces were able to inhibit completely the hatching of the eggs at a concentration of 150 μg/ml while the Agita insecticide was able to inhibit the hatching process at a concentration of 50 μg/ml. The water extracts also were able to kill the L3 larvae and the activity was increasing with the increasing of the concentration. It is very interesting to note that the addition of the powdered entire pomaces, seeds, and peels on top or at the bottom of the cow manure was able to inhibit the development of up to 50% and 47.5% of L1 to pupae and to adult flies, respectively. Taking into consideration the huge amounts of grape pomaces that produced annually, the cheap price and the ease in dealing with, make them a good candidate as alternative insecticides and environmentally more friendly than the chemical insecticides.

Scabies is a contagious skin infection, caused by Sarcoptesscabiei. It is one of a neglected parasitic disease. It causes complications that lead to inflammatory and allergic immune response.This study was designed to obtain the role of some cytokines in scabies patients and compare their levels with dermal diseases patients and control (healthy). The study included one hundred and three patients infected with scabies, seven dermal disease patients (positive controls) as well as 34 healthy individual as control group. The blood samples were collected from scabies and dermal disease patients as well as the control groups.Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) was used to measure Interleukine-4 (IL-4), Interleukin-8 (IL-8), Interleukin-17A (IL-17A), Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), Interferon-γ (IFN-γ), Monocyte Chemotactic Protein-1 (MCP-1) and Macrophage Inflammatory Protein-1-α (MIP-1-α) in the serum of scabies patients, dermal disease patients and healthy individuals. The results showed that IL-4, IL-8, IL-17A and TNF-α was higher in scabies patients than in other groups (positive control and healthy), with no significant differences. While both of MIP-α and MCP-1 were higher in scabies patients compared with healthy group, with significant differences. MIP-α was higher in dermal patients individuals than in scabies patients. TNF-α was lower in scabies patients than in healthy group but higher than in dermal disease patient group.There was positive correlation between IL-17A and each of IL-8, TNF-α, MCP-1 and between IL-8 and both of IL-17A and MCP-1, while there was negative correlation between MIP-1-α and both of IL-4 and MCP-1.The results suggested that the scabies infection may induce the systemic and inflammatory immune response.