Iranian Journal of Veterinary Medicine
Volume:1 Issue: 1, Winter 2007

To evaluate the virulance of 11 isolates of native entomopathogenic fungi as biocontrol agent of Boophilus annulatus, in this study, 4 three months old calves were used for tick rearing. Different developmental stages of the ticks, Boophilus annulatus were inoculated by 107 conidia/ml dilution of the fungal isolates in the presence of control groups. The mortality, egg hatchability and reproductive efficiency were determined in different treatments and control groups and the results were analized statisticaly. Metarhizium anisopliae strains DEMI001 and IRAN437C, Beauveria bassiana strain IRAN403C, and Lecanicillium psalliotae strain IRAN468C were the most virulent strains in comparison with their relative strains and caused 80 -100%,20- 80%, 0- 40% and 0- 40% mortality for engorged females respectively. Allll tested fungi reduced egg laying capability of the ticks several days before their death. The obtained data showed that the entomopathogenic fungi can affect all developmental stages of Boophilus annulatus, but their efficiency varies considerably according to the fungal species and strains. It is demonstrated for the first time the pathogenic effect of Lecanicillium psalliotae against Boophilus annulatus.

The effects of some Iranian herbal essences have been evaluated on the function of immune system using experimental animals. Rabbits received Zataria multiflora, Geranium pelargonium, Myrth, Lemon essences and normal saline (control group), 6 times with 6 days of interval. Five days after the last injection of the essences, Candida albicans antigens were injected into all the animals. Phagocytosis and killing assays and lymphocyte transformation test (L TT) were carried out on blood samples. The cellular immunity was significantly stimulated against C. albicans antigens and Con-canavalin A (Con-A) mitogen in animals that injected subcutaneously with Z. multiflora and G. pelargonium in comparison with the control group, whereas Myrth essence had no considerable effect and Lemon essence suppressed the cellular responses. Zataria multiflora, Myrth and Lemon essences stimulated innate immunity when injected subcutaneously, whereas G. pelargonium essence had no significant effect. Humoral responses to Candida antigens were significantly decreased in animals injected with Lemon essence as compared to other essences (p< 0.05).

Sayyed Esmail J osjani ( Gorgani) was one of the greatest scientists and physicians of Iran died in 1136 in merve. He promted writing medical book in Persian by authoring the valuable book of zakhireh kharazmshahi and AI Aghraz al tibia. Of course writing medical books in Persian was common before A vicennas time (980 -1037). Zakhireh and Aghraz are like big and medium medical encyclopedia and even since the creation of the present Persian script. These books are the last and most important medical books in Persian. Like any other ancient book, some parts of these books are abolished but some other parts are valuable. However these books are remained to be unique as Persian medical books in the course of time. I have edited and corrected al- Aghraz al tibia (Medical goals) from several old manuscripts. There are seveval manuscripts of al- Aghraz (which is about 250000 words). To edit and correct this book, I have used five old important manuscripts of Aghraz and one manuscripts ofzakhireh kharazmihahi. I have published this book in 2 volumes in 2005-2006. At the end of the second volume, I compiled a medical dictionary named Dictionary of Aghraz. The references of this work are various documents including manuscripts of published, old and new medical sources in persain or Arabic languages and some English or French documents.