Journal of Zoonotic Diseases
Volume:7 Issue: 4, Autumn 2023

The disease Leishmaniasis is a neglected illness with two major forms clinically including cutaneous leishmaniasis and visceral leishmaniasis. From almost 100 endemic countries, an estimated one million additional records of leishmaniasis each year are documented. In the past decade, the number of confirmed cases of visceral leishmaniasis has decreased dramatically as a consequence of an improved approach to diagnosis and care and more intensive, though usual cycles may play a role in the severity of disease transmission. In the cutaneous form of leishmania disease (CL), the lesion is located in some parts like the face and arms. Whereas a visceral form of leishmania (VL) disease the parasite infects internal organs such as the liver and pancreas. Reports from the World Health Organization (WHO) record leishmaniasis as one of the ignored temperate disorders for which the improvement of novel therapies is required. Significant evidence gaps remain, and new methods are required before leishmaniasis can be definitively managed. Recent advances in our understanding of leishmaniasis and its clinical manifestations, as well as the immunological aspects of leishmaniasis, are the key objectives of this study.

There are numerous RNA virus infections in mammals as emerging zoonosis originating from wildlife. The total viral diversity is unknown. The total number of mammalian viruses is estimated to be more than 320000. Many of these viruses have genomic RNA and are important as zoonotic agents. In many RNA virus infections, the virus load in the serum can be used as a marker for severity. For diagnostic purposes dealing with the low virus titer in serum and biotechnological applications, it is mandatory and highly important, to have a native, innovative, and sensitive RNA isolation kit. For this aim, we used an RNA isolation kit with RNA carrier, produced by Research Institute Molecular Biological System Transfer (MBST, Tehran, Iran) and the Avian infectious bronchitis virus vaccine of Nobilis, 2500 Doses, 103ID50 (Intervet, Netherlands) as virus RNA probe. The RNA was extracted from diluted solutions (up to 10-9). Subsequently, cDNA was synthesized. The cDNA was then amplified using a specific primer pair derived from the RNA genome of the Avian infectious bronchitis virus. Our results showed that it was possible to detect RNA viruses in the prepared samples with virus titers of up to 10-9 or 0.00001 × ID50. These results were confirmed by the Iranian National Reference Laboratory, Diagnosis and Applied Studies Center, and Veterinary Organization using their evaluation matrix Avian influenza virus sample. In conclusion, this kit is suitable for samples with low RNA virus titers.

Salmonella is a Gram-negative Bacteria that is commonly found in most environments and organisms and is a causative agent of disease. Salmonella spp. is one of the most common foodborne illnesses. Salmonellosis is a common infectious disease in humans and animals that manifests with gastrointestinal or hepatic symptoms and can lead to various clinical symptoms such as diarrhea in infants, fetal abortion, orchitis, pneumonia, and septicemia. In the current study, 412 hard ticks were classified and identified to investigate Salmonella spp. based on diagnostic keys. In total, 412 hard ticks, including 208 Hyalomma species and 204 Rhipicephalus species, were identified. The samples were divided into 82 pools according to the tick genus, and DNA was extracted from the ticks. Pathogens transmitted by ticks were diagnosed using PCR, and samples were examined for the presence of Salmonella spp. bacteria. In the study, a total of 208 Hyalomma tick samples and 204 Rhipicephalus tick samples were collected and were separated by gender in pools of five. Out of these, 51 male pools and 30 female pools were identified. Rhipicephalus ticks had 27 male and 14 female pools, while Hyalomma ticks had 24 males and 16 female pools. The study found that 8 out of 40 (20%; 95% Cl: 10.5%-34.76%) Hyalomma ticks, and 12 out of 41 (29.27%; 95% Cl: 17.61%-44.48%) Rhipicephalus ticks were carriers of the pathogens, indicating that these pathogens can be transmitted by different species of hard ticks. Ticks and tick-borne diseases are a significant public health concern worldwide.

Toxoplasma gondii is one of the most common zoonotic parasites worldwide. Among livestock, sheep have a higher prevalence of T. gondii infection. Toxoplasmosis causes abortion in sheep and has a high economic impact on sheep breeding. Human infection mainly occurs by eating undercooked or raw meat containing tissue cysts. The present study was conducted to determine the prevalence of T. gondii in the sheep slaughtered at the Malekan slaughterhouse. Of 300 sheep, 63 (21%) were serologically positive for anti-Toxoplasma antibodies. Of 133 male and 167 female sheep, the infection rates were determined as 17.29% and 23.95%, respectively. The sheep were divided into three age groups: 1-2, 2-3, and over three years old, with infection rates of 23.26%, 19.02%, and 26.66%, respectively. There was no significant relationship between the age and sex of sheep with the prevalence of T. gondii. This study shows that sheep are an important source of T. gondii. Since sheep are an important animal to produce livestock production such as meat in the region, it is suggested to consume meat after it is fully cooked to prevent and reduce infection. It is recommended that more studies should be conducted to compare the results obtained with the method used in this study with other serological and molecular methods.

Due to the importance of parasitic infections in birds and the increasing growth of waterfowl breeding, especially goose and duck, this study aimed to investigate gastrointestinal parasites, including worms and protozoa in the feces of some species of wild and domestic waterfowl with a focus on zoonotic parasites. In this study, 100 fecal samples were collected from eight different wild and domestic waterfowl species in Ahvaz, including domestic goose, wild goose, domestic duck, wild duck, swan, pelican, and Ukrainian goose, and to identify gastrointestinal parasites. The samples were evaluated using the Clayton- Lane method and modified Ziehl-Neelsen and Trichrome staining methods.  SPSS Statistics 18.0 software was used for statistical analysis. Out of 100 fecal samples, 17 samples (17%) were positive for gastrointestinal parasites. Fourteen samples (14%) were infected with Eimeria spp., and three samples (3%) were infected with Giardia species. Among the different species of waterfowl that were positive, pelicans had the highest rate of infection (57.28 %). The highest rate of parasitic infection in waterfowl was related to protozoan infections, and the highest rate of protozoan infection was associated with Eimeria (14%).  Of the positive cases, only four had clinical symptoms such as lethargy, anorexia, and diarrhea, and the rest of the positive cases were from apparently healthy birds. Considering that most parasitic infections have been detected in apparently healthy birds, it is recommended to observe hygiene and to disinfect cages regularly and also reduce the density of birds. Due to the zoonotic potential of Giardia and due to the contamination of some birds in bird shops with this parasite, this issue should be considered by public health officials, bird shops, owners, and breeders of these birds.

Toxoplasmosis, caused by Toxoplasma gondii, is an important zoonotic disease produced by ingesting food contaminated with oocysts and tachyzoites of this parasite and as well as congenital infection occurs unintentionally in humans by the placenta. The study of this parasite in pre-pregnancy women is of paramount importance because of abortion, hydrocephalus, microcephalus, intracranial calcifications, retinochoroiditis, strabism, blindness, epilepsy, psychomotor and mental retardation. Therefore, the present study aims to investigate the seroepidemiology of T. gondii infection in pre-pregnancy women referring to private laboratories in Yazd city. In this study, blood was sampled from 185 pre-pregnancy women. Anti-T. gondii IgG and IgM antibodies were determined in separated serum samples using the ELISA test. Data were entered in Excel 2016 to calculate the percentages. The results indicated that 50 (27.03%) out of 185 pregnant women were positive for anti-Toxoplasma antibodies. Among these women, IgG and IgM antibodies were observed in 35 (18.91%) and 14 (7.56%) subjects, respectively. Both antibodies were found in the serum of one participant (0.5%). Since the anti-T. gondii antibody level is low in the blood serum of pregnant women in this region; pregnant women are recommended to avoid contact with cats, restrain from eating raw meat and food during pregnancy, and be tested for T. gondii at least once, particularly in the first trimester of pregnancy.