Publications by authors named "Furhan Iqbal"

Article Synopsis
  • Pakistan has a diverse rodent population, but until now, there has been no research on the presence of Haemogregarines in these animals, highlighting a gap in understanding their epidemiology and genetic variation in this region.
  • The study collected blood samples from four rodent species in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, finding a 2.86% prevalence of Haemogregarines, with sequencing confirming the presence of Hepatozoon spp. and Lankesterella spp.
  • Results showed that Rattus rattus had the highest infection rates, especially among female rodents, and infected individuals exhibited abnormal blood cell counts and oxidative stress indicators compared to uninfected rodents.
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Hereditary spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA) is a group of genetic neurodegenerative disorders caused by a variety of gene variants. At least 44 types of SCAs have been identified to date, and more than 35 genes and hundreds of variants have been reported that are associated with SCAs. We have investigated a Pakistani consanguineous six-generation family with SCA by using whole-exome sequencing analysis.

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  • Cysticercosis, caused by the larval stage of Taenia hydatigena, significantly impacts the livestock sector in Pakistan, particularly affecting the economic viability of small ruminants such as goats and sheep.
  • A study conducted in Multan found an overall prevalence of 31.33% of T. hydatigena, which was higher in female animals and those aged between 3-5 years, suggesting specific demographic vulnerabilities.
  • Genetic analysis revealed 12 haplotypes with high genetic diversity, indicating an expanding population of T. hydatigena, while comparisons with global data showed substantial variation in genetic profiles among different regions, particularly low gene flow in certain areas. *
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Rodents are the synanthropic mammals that are existing in close proximity to humans and their belongings and have the potential to act as the reservoir for a variety of parasites having zoonotic potential. Present study was designed to report the molecular prevalence and phylogenetic evaluation of Toxoplasma gondii in the blood samples of four wild rodent species [Rattus rattus (N = 122), Mus musculus (N = 64), Rattus norvegicus (N = 57) and Dryomys nitedula (N = 1)] that were trapped during May 2022 till July 2023 from three districts in Punjab (Jampur, Dera Ghazi Khan and Multan) and three districts (Upper Dir, Mardan and Bunar) in Pakistan. Results revealed that 44/244 (18%) rodents amplified ITS-1 gene of Toxoplasma gondii through PCR.

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Birds are known to act as the parasite reservoir and can transmit them to other organisms through food chains. This study aims to report the molecular prevalence and phylogenetic evaluation of various blood borne pathogens (Toxoplasma gondii, Isospora spp., Plasmodium spp.

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Background: HENMT1 encodes a small RNA methyltransferase that plays a crucial role in mouse spermatogenesis through the methylation of the 3' end of PIWI-interacting RNAs.

Objectives: Our study aims to elucidate the relationship between HENMT1 and male infertility in humans.

Materials And Methods: A consanguineous family, having a single non-obstructive azoospermia patient was recruited for pathogenic variants screening.

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  • * A study conducted from May 2020 to March 2021 in Pakistan involved 100 CRC patients and 100 controls, using advanced genetic testing methods to analyze SNPs in different genes.
  • * Results indicated that variations in the FABP2, CYP2E1, and TP53 genes are associated with CRC development, while factors like smoking, marital status, lack of exercise, and family history increase risk, highlighting the importance of these genetic markers in the local population.
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Purpose: Fascioliasis is a zoonotic parasitic disease spread by genus Fasciola that causes considerable health and economic losses to both humans and livestock. Pakistan is an endemic region for fascioliasis and only a few molecular studies have been conducted to describe the etiology of disease in the country.

Methods: Current study involved the molecular characterization of adult fluke specimens (n = 31) through ITS-1 region of rDNA collected from four host species (sheep, goats, cattle and buffaloes) of district Sargodha.

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Background: Copper oxide (CuO) nanoparticles (CO NPs) are in extensive use during our everyday life as antimicrobial agent, lubricant, in manufacturing electrodes of lithium ion batteries as well as for photo catalytic degradation of organic pollutants. Due to extensive and diverse use CuO NPs, they are likely to accumulate in the environment and to affect the live forms. Present investigation was aimed to report the biocompatibility of CO NPs in Wistar rats in sex specific manner.

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Fort Munro is a hill station in Southern Punjab the residents of whom are heavily dependent upon livestock for their living but ticks are a big treat for the livestock. The purpose of this study was to ascertain the tick infestation among the small ruminants of Fort Munro. Ticks (N = 273) were collected from 333 animals (165 goats and 168 sheep) during August and September 2022.

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Raising small ruminants is the main source of income for farmers in Pakistan especially in rural areas of Dera Ghazi Khan in Punjab. Despite having large sheep population, the prevalence of intra-erythrocytic protozoa, Theileria (T.) lestoquardi, has never been reported from this area.

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This study investigates the molecular prevalence and phylogenetic characteristics of two prominent blood-borne pathogens, Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) and Plasmodium spp., in common quails (Coturnix coturnix) sampled from both wild (N = 236) and farmed (N = 197) populations across four districts (Layyah, Dera Ghazi Khan, Lahore, and Multan) in Punjab, Pakistan, during the hunting seasons from 2021 to 2023.

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Domestic yak (Bos grunniens) is an economically important feature of the mountainous region of Gilgit-Baltistan in Pakistan where agriculture is restricted and yaks play multiple roles which includes being a source of milk, meat, hides, fuel and power. However little is known about the parasitic infections in Pakistani yaks. Aim of this research was to report the prevalence and genetic diversity of protozoa parasite (Theileria ovis, 18 S rDNA gene was targeted) and an obligate bacterium (Anaplasma marginale, msp-1 gene was amplified) in the blood that was sampled from 202 yaks collected from four districts in Gilgit-Baltistan during January 2023 till January 2024.

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Order Rodentia is the most speciose among mammals and the members of this order are known to host more than 60 zoonotic diseases and rodents are a potential health threat to humans. This study was designed to report the molecular prevalence and phylogenetic evaluation of various blood borne bacterial pathogens (Anaplasma ovis, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Anaplasma marginale and Bartonella spp.) in the blood samples of four wild rodent species [Meriones rex (N = 27), Acomys dimidiatus (N = 18), Myomys yemeni (N = 6) and Rattus rattus (N = 3)] that were trapped during August till October 2020 from Al Makhwah governorate in Saudi Arabia.

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  • The economy of Pakistan relies heavily on agriculture, leading to widespread pesticide use, with Imidacloprid being a popular choice despite its harmful effects on aquatic life.
  • A study was conducted to examine how different exposure durations to Imidacloprid affected the fatty acid composition in a commercially important carp species, revealing changes in key fatty acids such as Palmitic, Arachidic, Oleic, and Linoleic acids over time.
  • The research concluded that sub-lethal Imidacloprid exposure significantly alters the muscle fatty acid profile of the carp, suggesting potential negative impacts on food quality and fish metabolism, especially with longer exposure periods.
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Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT) is a heritable neurodegenerative disease of peripheral nervous system diseases in which more than 100 genes and their mutations are associated. Two consanguineous families Dera Ghazi Khan (PAK-CMT1-DG KHAN) and Layyah (PAK-CMT2-LAYYAH) with multiple CMT-affected subjects were enrolled from Punjab province in Pakistan. Basic epidemiological data were collected for the subjects.

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  • Caprine theileriosis, caused by the parasite Theileria ovis, poses significant production challenges for goat and sheep farming in regions like Pakistan, where these animals are vital for the economy.
  • A study in the Muzaffar Garh district examined 1,084 goat blood samples over a year using PCR, revealing a low infection rate of 1.11%, with higher prevalence during summer.
  • Young goats showed more infections in winter, and infected animals exhibited altered blood parameters, indicating health issues; hence, the study suggests implementing control measures to combat T. ovis.
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is an intra-erythrocytic gram negative rickettsial bacterium that infects small ruminants, resulting in huge economic losses worldwide. The present investigation aims at reporting the molecular prevalence of in 1200 asymptomatic goats that were enrolled from 4 districts (Layyah, Lohdran, Dera Ghazi Khan, and Rajanpur) in Punjab, Pakistan by targeting the gene of bacterium. Risk factors associated with the prevalence of and phylogeny of bacterium were also documented.

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Azoospermia is a significant cause of male infertility, with non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) being the most severe type of spermatogenic failure. NOA is mostly caused by congenital factors, but our understanding of its genetic causes is very limited. Here, we identified a frameshift variant (c.

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Theileria annulata (T. annulata) and Anaplasma marginale (A. marginale) are among the most extensively reported tick borne pathogens and are associated with huge economic losses worldwide.

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Backgrounds: Acne vulgaris is a chronic inflammatory skin disease of the pilosebaceous unit affecting most teenagers and numerous adults throughout the world. The present study was designed to assess the association of the presence or absence of GSTM1, GSTT1, and single nucleotide polymorphisms rs1695 in GSTP1 and rs1042522 in TP53 gene with acne vulgaris.

Methods: The cross-sectional case-control study was conducted at the Institute of Zoology from May 2020 to March 2021 and included acne vulgaris patients (N = 100) and controls (N = 100) enrolled in Dera Ghazi Khan district, Pakistan.

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