primary splenic cyst is a rare entity and majority of the cases are classified as epithelial cysts. they are uncommon, comprising only about 10% of benign non-parasitic cysts. most of the cysts are asymptomatic, and they are incidental findings during abdominal ultrasonography. we report a case of 20 years old male who presented with 1 year history of mild abdominal pain and left upper quadrant...

Background: Intestinal protozoa transmitted by food are the most common opportunistic parasites among the HIV+/AIDS patients. As, there is no report about prevalence of food-borne intestinal parasites in such patients in Yazd, so this study was performed to determine the prevalence of intestinal protozoa in the HIV+/AIDS patients in comparison with HIV- individuals. Methods: A case-control stu...

Understanding changes in the interactions between parasitic plants and their hosts in relation to ontogenetic changes in the hosts is crucial for successful use of parasitic plants as biological controls. We investigated growth, photosynthesis and chemical defences in different-aged Bidens pilosa plants in response to infection by Cuscuta australis. We were particularly interested in whether pl...

Plant-parasitic nematodes produce at least one structurally unique class of small helix-rich retinol- and fatty-acid-binding proteins that have no counterparts in their plant hosts. Herein we describe a protein of the plant-parasitic root-knot nematode Meloidogyne javanica, which is a member of the nematode-specific fatty-acid- and retinol-binding (Mj-FAR-1) family of proteins. The mj-far-1 mRN...

Biological indicators are species that can be employed to monitor environmental quality and ecosystem health. Different groups of organisms such as plants, animals, bacteria and parasites regularly produce certain molecular signal in response to changes in their environmental milieu. Parasites are important tools for providing wealth of information on physicochemical quality, environmental stre...

There have been a few reports from Iran concerning infection by Cryptosporidium species, but they have referred particularly to infection in animals and their handlers. This study of infection in humans was carried out over a two year period in a large urban area in a cold region of western Iran. 554 stool specimens were examined with modified Ziehl - N eelson (MZN) staining for Cryptospor...

BACKGROUND Echinococcosis is a dangerous zoonotic parasitic disease. Ocular echinococcosis is very rare, especially the hydatid cysts in subretinal space. We present a case of subretinal echinococcosis and management. CASE PRESENTATION A 37-year-old man with subretinal echinococcosis who developed panuveitis and visual impairment. The patient lives on agriculture and animal husbandry, which m...

Infection of crop species by parasitic plants is a major agricultural hindrance resulting in substantial crop losses worldwide. Parasitic plants establish vascular connections with the host plant via structures termed haustoria, which allow acquisition of water and nutrients, often to the detriment of the infected host. Despite the agricultural impact of parasitic plants, the molecular and deve...