Ducks and in-contact backyard chickens on 20 smallholder backyard farms in 4 districts of Shiraz, Southwest of Iran, were monitored for antibodies against H9N2 avian influenza virus using hemagglutinationinhibition (HI) test. A total of 200 unvaccinated ducks and backyard chickens were sampled. The mean H I titers and seroprevalence in ducks and backyard chickens were 8.3, 5.7 and 78.4, 62.9%, ...

Background and objectives: The Verbascum genus is the largest genus of Scrophulariaceae family which has extensive natural habitat in southwest of Iran. Phenolic acids are one of the most important chemical compounds that have different biological activities including anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral, anti-tumor and antioxidant. Therefore, this study was con...

Scorpion stings are common in Iran, particularly in the southern and southwest regions of the country, and they pose a serious health problem. Hemiscorpius lepturus is the most venomous scorpion in the region. The present study was conducted to investigate the in vivo effects of scorpion venom in experimental mice. Haematological parameters (white and red blood cells numbers and haematocrit lev...

Since the 19th century, opium has been produced and consumed in the areas of Asia, currently referred to as the Golden Crescent and the Golden Triangle (1). The Golden Crescent lies in South and Southwest Asia, including districts in the Northwest Frontier Province of Pakistan, the adjacent Badakhshan area of Afghanistan and the Baluchistan area of Iran. The area has been the scene of tradition...

The prevalence of asthma was determined in a random sample of schoolchildren in Ahvaz city, southwest Islamic Republic of Iran, based on the International Study of Asthma and Allergy in Childhood (ISAAC) protocol. The prevalence of ever wheeze and current wheeze was 11.1% and 7.4% among 1410 children aged 6-7 years (parent-reported) and 17.7% and 10.3% among 1450 children aged 13-14 years (self...