The study of model organisms is very important in view of their potential for application to human therapeutic uses. One such model organism is the nematode worm, Caenorhabditis elegans. As a nematode, C. elegans have ~65% similarity with human disease genes and, therefore, studies on C. elegans can be translated to human, as well as, C. elegans can be used in the study of different types of pa...

Schistosoma mansoni is a parasitic plathyhelminth responsible for intestinal schistosomiasis (or bilharzia), a disease affecting 67 million people worldwide and causing an important economic burden. The schistosomicides hycanthone, and its later proxy oxamniquine, were widely used for treatments in endemic areas during the twentieth century. Recently, the mechanism of action, as well as the gen...

Lymphatic filariasis (LF), also known as elephantiasis, is a major disease of tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. LF is endemic in 80 countries, it is estimated that 120 million people are infected, with one third of them suffering from chronic manifestation of the disease. One billion more individuals are at risk of acquiring the infection [1]. Lymphatic filariasis is a mosquito-borne ...

Parasitic infestations of the hepatic biliary tree most commonly involve Ascaris lum− bricoides, which infects an estimated 25 % of the world s population [1]. These infec− tions are increasing in the developed countries due to world travel and popula− tion migrations. Individuals may be asymptomatic. When symptoms occur, they include pulmonary and hypersensi− tivity manifestations, and intesti...

INTRODUCTION: Schistosomiasis, a parasitic disease caused by trematode flatworms of the genus Schistosoma, affects more than 200 million people worldwide, and its control is dependent on a single drug, praziquantel. Here, we report the in vitro effect of rotundifolone, a monoterpene isolated from Mentha x villosa (Lamiaceae), on Schistosoma mansoni adult worms. METHODS: The in vitro effect of...

Symbiotic relationships underlie the evolutionary success of many different life forms. The filarial worms are long, slender nematode parasites that cause considerable pathology in large segments of the world's population. About 25 years ago, investigators first reported the presence of bacterial organisms living inside these parasitic worms. Recent molecular biological studies have indicated t...

Schistosomiasis, a parasitic disease caused by trematode flatworms of the genus Schistosoma, affects more than 200 million people worldwide, and its control is dependent on a single drug, praziquantel. Tanacetum vulgare (Asteraceae) is used in folk medicine as a vermifuge. This study aimed to investigate the in vitro schistosomicidal activity of the crude extract (TV) and the essential oil (TV-...

THE DOMESTIC EQUINES provide shelter and subsistence to approximately 150 kinds of protozoa and worms which live, as internal parasites.^ There are few horse owners who have not had some first-hand experience with many of these, and nearly everyone is familiar, in one way or another, with at least some of them. Among the protozoa are the blood-inhabiting trypanosomes and piroplasmata, the cilia...

The aim of this study was to determine the parasitic and bacterial contaminations of houseflies found around various garbages, and to emphasize the necessity of fly control and taking more efficient strategies for garbage disposal. For this purpose, 800 houseflies from four garbage sources in the city of Kerman (hospital, urban, fruit & vegetable market, and slaughter house wastes) were collect...