In this study, 15 Acanthamoeba isolates from AK patients and 10 environmental samples (water, soil and animal-origin samples) were classified at the genotype level based on the sequence analysis of the Diagnostic Fragment 3 (DF3) of Acanthamoeba small subunit rRNA gene. The obtained results revealed that most of these Acanthamoeba strains belonged to genotype T4 both in clinical and environment...

BACKGROUND Human toxocariasis is contained in the list of neglected diseases. The infection occurs after ingestion of embryonated eggs in contaminated soil. The present study was carried out to estimate the extent of soil contamination with Toxocara spp. eggs in the public places. METHODS Soil samples were collected randomly from 41 public places in various parts in and around of Ardabil, Ira...

ABSRACT A study was carried out to investigate the potential of Corn (Zea mays) for phytoremediation of soil contaminated with Cadmium and Lead. Soil samplings of 0-20 cm depth were taken from the Chaharmahal Bakhtiari province in the western of Iran. Corn plantlets were planted in pots containing 3 kg of these soils. The experiment consisted of 9 treatments including soil without cadmium and L...

The objective of the current research is carrying out the evaluation of the distribution, source, and environmental health risk of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) compounds in soil samples taken from the vicinity of Tehran-Semnan road, Iran. This road is a densely populated one in central northern part of Iran with a heavy load of vehicular traffics and several industrial complexes. Fou...

Background and Objectives In the present study, the Lut Desert, Iran was chosen as one of the hottest places in the world (with the recorded temperature of 70.7°C during 2003-2009) to find out whether any heat-resistant microorganisms were present in the soil. Materials and Methods The samples were collected from surface and depth of three identified places of Gandom Beryan in the Lut Desert....

Windblown transport and deposition of dust is widely recognized as an important physical and chemical concern to climate, human health and ecosystems. Sistan is a region located in southeast Iran with extensive wind erosion, severe desertification and intense dust storms, which cause adverse effects in regional air quality and human health. To mitigate the impact of these phenomena, it is vital...

BACKGROUND The objective of the present research was to determine the frequency of Toxocara spp. eggs in soil samples of public parks, in the city of Tehran, Iran. METHODS A total of 600 soil samples were taken from 120 parks between Aprils to November, 2008. Soil samples were collected from 5 distinct sites in the parks. The samples were washed with saline solution and the collected sediment...

To determine the prevalence of helminth eggs in public places and children's playgrounds, 112 soil samples were collected in 26 sites in Shiraz, southern Islamic Republic of Iran, during September 2002-September 2003. Toxocara cati ova were found in 7 (6.3%) samples, 2 had Ascaris lumbricoides ova, 3 had larvae morphologically similar to Strongyloides stercoralis. Coccidia oocysts were also obs...

BACKGROUND Toxocariasis is an important disease caused by the larvae of parasitic worms such as Toxocara canis and T. cati. Public parks can be the source of toxocariasis for small children. This survey was conducted to determine the prevalence of Toxocara spp. ova in parks of Mashhad and Khaf northeastern Iran. METHODS In this descriptive cross-sectional study, performed in November 2011 to ...