The Relationship of Latent Toxoplasmosis and Cigarette Smoking: Seroprevalence, Risk Factor, and Case-Control Study in Fars Province, Southern Iran.

Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic disease with worldwide prevalence. Despite the relatively similar effects of toxoplasmosis and smoking on alteration in neurotransmitters, especially dopamine, little is known about the relation of infection and addiction to cigarette smoking. Therefore, the main objective of this study was to assess the relationship between latent toxoplasmosis and smoking.

Prevalence and Predictors of Infection in Psychiatric Inpatients in Fars Province, Southern Iran.

Background: Psychiatric patients are at increased risk of exposure to infection, which may be linked to their living facilities and behaviors. Limited knowledge on the prevalence of infection and its associated risk factors in psychiatric patients are available to the international medical communities. Thus, the aim of the current study was to assess seroprevalence of and its associated risk factors in psychiatric inpatients in Fars Province, southern Iran.

Indirect immunofluorescence assay using embryonated eggs of Toxocara in human toxocariasis diagnosis is unreliable due to autofluorescence nature.

Toxocariasis is caused by infection with the nematode species Toxocara canis and Toxocara cati. Serological methods using eggs, larvae and adult worms of Toxocara spp. as antigen have been used for the diagnosis of human toxocariasis.

Seroprevalence of Infection among Asthmatic Children in Shiraz City, Southern Iran.

Background: Human toxocariasis is caused by and , the nematodes in the intestine of dogs and cats, respectively. Since the association between asthma and toxocariasis is controversial, the aim of the present study was to investigate the seroprevalence of infection among asthmatic children in comparison with healthy children.

Methods: This case-control study was conducted on 92 asthmatic and 91 healthy children aged 1-16 years old in Shiraz City, Southern Iran in 2019-2020.

Dermal microfilariae of dogs, jackals and cats in different regions of Iran.

Background: Due to the complexity of retrieving skin-dwelling microfilariae, filarioids of dogs presenting dermal microfilariae (e.g. Cercopithifilaria spp.

Global prevalence and associated risk factors of diarrheagenic Giardia duodenalis in HIV/AIDS patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Giardia duodenalis is one of the leading causes of diarrhea, mostly in underdeveloped nations of Africa and Asia. The present review provides insights into the prevalence, odds ratios (ORs) and associated risk factors of giardiasis in HIV/AIDS patients. Four major English databases (Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar) were excavated for relevant literature without time limitation until 20 November 2020.

Introduction of protocols for mass production of tachyzoites of the genotype II PRU strain.

Background: Few investigations of genotype II of the most prevalent form of the parasite in humans, have been carried out on due to the rapid conversion of tachyzoites to bradyzoites in its life cycle. The current study aimed to create animal and in vitro models for production of the tachyzoites of the Prugniaud (PRU) genotype II strain.

Methods: To develop an immunocompromised model and obtain tachyzoites of the PRU strain, BALB/c mice were orally treated with dexamethasone (10 mg/kg), cyclophosphamide (36 mg/kg), and cyclosporine (18 mg/kg) from 5 days prior to inoculation.