2024 Impact Factor: 0.7
2024 CiteScore: 1.5
pISSN: 2322-1984
eISSN: 2322-2271
Editor-in-Chief:
Hassan Vatandoost, Ph.D.
In Press
Original Article
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Background: Head lice infestations are a widespread health problem among school-aged children globally. Nevertheless, the importance of lice as initiators of scalp microbiome changes and as causes of secondary bacterial superinfections remains poorly understood. The paper aims to examine the PCR-based identification of head lice and to assess the epidemiological relationship between head lice infestation and scalp colonization by Staphylococcus species.
Methods: An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted on 100 primary school children (50 infested and 50 controls) aged between 5 and 12 years in the governorate of Nineveh (Iraq). The molecular identification of head lice was performed by amplifying the COX1 gene, and the comprehensive Staphylococcal profiling of scalp swabs was performed using culture and 16S rRNA gene amplification.
Results: Molecular analysis using COX1 gene specific amplification showed the presence of P. humanus capitis in 93.9% of the collected samples. The microbiological tests showed profound staphylococcal dysbiosis: Staphylococcus aureus was detected in 74% of infested children and absent in the control group (0%), indicating a highly significant association (χ²=58.73, p<0.001). Conversely, the commensal Staphylococcus epidermidis was found predominantly in healthy controls (66%) but significantly less frequently in infested children (26%).
Conclusion: The pathogenic S. aureus prevails on the scalp of children with head lice with a striking shift, which illustrates a clinically significant interaction of ectoparasitic infestation with staphylococcal dysbiosis. The results also suggest that pediculosis is a risk factor for S. aureus overgrowth and emphasize the need for combined treatment strategies that address lice and bacterial complications. -
Background: The rapid spread of Aedes mosquitoes has raised global concerns about arboviral infections. Although West Azerbaijan Province holds significant ecological and geopolitical importance, it has received limited entomological research focused on the establishment and distribution of Aedes species.
Methods: From March to November 2025, we conducted an extensive entomological survey at ten international points of entry across West Azerbaijan Province. Our monitoring program included ovitrap surveillance, inspections of larval habitats and collections of adult mosquitoes. For each breeding site, environmental characteristics such as vegetation type, water quality, sunlight exposure and habitat stability were recorded. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS version 27, applying binomial tests with 95% confidence intervals to evaluate species dominance and ecological associations.
Results: We collected a total of 1,789 mosquito specimens, of which 184 (10.3%) belonged to the genus Aedes. The majority of these were Aedes caspius s.l. (n=175), while a smaller number were Aedes flavescens (n=9). Approximately 85% of the habitats that tested positive for Aedes were natural environments and 70% of these were vegetated, typically containing clear, stagnant water. No evidence was found for the presence of Aedes aegypti or Aedes albopictus.
Conclusion: The dominance of Ae. caspius s.l. highlights its ecological adaptation to vegetated natural habitats. Although urban Aedes species were absent, the occurrence of Ae. caspius s.l. underscores the importance of continued ovitrap-based monitoring and site-specific habitat management. Sustainable and integrated surveillance programs in border areas are important for early detection of vector entry, given the potential for cross-border movements. -
Background: Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a neglected tropical disease with limited therapeutic options due to drug resistance, systemic toxicity, and prolonged treatment duration associated with pentavalent antimonials such as meglumine antimoniate (MAT). Lucilia sericata larvae produce hemolymph containing bioactive compounds with antimicrobial and immunomodulatory properties, suggesting potential as an alternative or adjunct therapy for CL.
Methods: Hemolymph was extracted from sterile third-instar L. sericata larvae and characterized using SDS-PAGE and Fast Protein Liquid Chromatography. The antileishmanial activity of whole hemolymph, its most active fraction, MAT, and their combinations was assessed against promastigote and amastigote forms of L. major. Cytotoxicity, cytokine gene expression and reactive oxygen species production were evaluated. In vivo efficacy was examined in BALB/c mice infected with L. major and treated for 28 days with topical hemolymph cream, intramuscular MAT, or combination therapy. Lesion size and parasite burden were measured.
Results: Whole hemolymph and the active fraction significantly inhibited parasite growth in vitro, while combination treatments showed strong synergistic effects. Treatments enhanced Th1-associated cytokines, suppressed Th2 cytokines, and increased reactive oxygen species production. In vivo, hemolymph cream reduced lesion size and parasite load, with the greatest improvement observed in the combination group. No significant cytotoxicity was detected.
Conclusions: Lucilia sericata larval hemolymph exhibits potent antileishmanial and immunomodulatory activity and represents a promising and safe topical therapy for CL. Combination with MAT enhances efficacy and may reduce systemic toxicity. -
Background: Culex pipiens is widespread in Iran and is an important vector of several diseases. Although phenotypic resistance to insecticides such as DDT and pyrethroids has been reported using WHO assays, sequence‑level information on metabolic resistance genes, particularly cytochrome P450 genes, remains limited. This study examined variation in two P450 genes, CYP9M10 and CYP4H34, in deltamethrin‑ and DDT‑resistant versus susceptible strains of Cx. pipiens, and assessed the potential impact of these differences on predicted protein structures.
Methods: Target fragments of CYP9M10 and CYP4H34 were amplified by PCR and sequenced using the Sanger method. Edited nucleotide sequences were aligned with CLUSTAL OMEGA, and amino acid sequences were generated using ExPASy Translate. Comparisons were conducted at both nucleotide and amino acid levels. Representative sequences were submitted to GenBank. Phylogenetic relationships among strains were inferred via maximum-likelihood (ML) analysis in MEGA6 with 1000 bootstrap replicates. Predicted amino acid substitutions were examined for structural relevance.
Results: Four nucleotide differences were detected at positions 1344, 1347, 1396 and within 1428–1442. Previously published permethrin‑ and pyrethroid‑resistant reference sequences were identical across this region, whereas sequences from this study showed distinctions from those references and between resistant and susceptible strains. Some nucleotide substitutions led to amino acid changes, though their structural effects were only inferred computationally.
Conclusion: This study provides new sequence-level insights into variation in Cx. pipiens P450 genes and highlights potential genetic differences that may contribute to resistance to DDT and deltamethrin, warranting further functional investigation. -
Background: Scorpion venom is a complex mixture containing toxic peptides, free amino acids, enzymes, nucleotides, lipids, amines, mucoproteins and other bioactive components. It has been reported to exhibit a range of medicinal properties, including anticancer, antithrombotic, anticoagulant, fibrinolytic, analgesic, antitumor and antiepileptic effects. This study aimed to evaluate the anticancer effects of crude venom from Odontobuthus doriae on the Michigan Cancer Foundation-7 (MCf-7) breast cancer cell line.
Methods: 2×104 MCF-7 cancer cells were cultured in T25 flasks containing Dulbecco’s Modified Eagle Medium (DMEM) supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS) and 1% penicillin-streptomycin. After overnight incubation, the culture medium was replaced with different concentrations of crude venom (0.2, 0.48, 0.97, 1.95, 3.9, 7.81, 15.62, 31.25, 62.5, 125, 250, 500 μg/mL). The cytotoxic effects were assessed using the MTT reduction assay at 24, 48 and 72 hours post-treatment, performed in triplicate. Absorbance was measured at 570 nm using an ELISA reader.
Results: A concentration-dependent decrease in cell viability was observed. A statistically significant difference in cytotoxicity was observed between the 24 hour and the 48/72-hour treatments, while no significant difference was noted between the 48 and 72 hour time points. The IC₅₀ values were calculated to be 4.775 µg/mL (24 h), 31.87 µg/mL (48 h), and 3.543 µg/mL (72 h).
Conclusion: The crude venom of O. doriae exhibits significant cytotoxic effects against MCF-7 breast cancer cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner, suggesting its potential as a natural anticancer agent.
