Publications by authors named "Majid Fasihi-Harandi"

Objective: Different Acanthamoeba species are among the most ubiquitous organisms causing serious diseases in humans including central nervous system (CNS) and eye infections. Contact lenses, lens care solutions and the hospital environments particularly the indoor and outdoor environments of ophthalmology wards where people are present with different types of eye diseases, are the potential sources of human infection. The purpose of the present study was the molecular investigation of free-living amoebae in the used contact lenses, lens care solutions and hospital samples from the ophthalmology wards and operating rooms in a referral hospital in southeastern Iran.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Echinococcosis, a neglected zoonotic disease caused by Echinococcus tapeworms, presents significant public health challenges worldwide. Cystic and alveolar echinococcosis has substantial health and economic impacts, necessitating effective prevention and control strategies. The present review provides a framework to expand our knowledge regarding key components of echinococcosis prevention and control, including phases, options, targets and available tools as well as current gaps and challenges in the field.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Rupture of a hydatid cyst can lead to the development of a disseminated form of intra-abdominal cystic echinococcosis if not diagnosed and treated promptly. Anaphylactic shock is a definite indication of cyst rupture. The presented clinical case was a young athlete with a disseminated form of cystic echinococcosis, which was investigated in 2023 at the Syzganov National Scientific Center for Surgery of Kazakhstan.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • Scientists are studying a disease called cystic echinococcosis (CE) to understand how it affects humans and why some people get it and others don't.
  • They looked at specific genes (HLA class II) in patients to see if there was a connection between these genes and different stages of the disease.
  • The study found that a certain gene (HLA-DRB1*03) was less common in sick people than in healthy ones, suggesting it might help protect against CE, but more research is needed to be sure.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Thyroid Hydatid Cyst (THC), a pathological state induced by the larval form of Echinococcus granulosus, represents a multifaceted clinical entity with nonspecific symptoms, making both diagnosis and treatment intricate. The current understanding of THC's attributes is somewhat limited. To gain a broader perspective on the disease's clinical and epidemiological characteristics, we have systematically reviewed the existing literature.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • - The study highlights that free-roaming dogs in urban Iran are major carriers of zoonotic parasites, specifically Echinococcus and Taenia species, which can risk human health through environmental contamination with their feces.
  • - Researchers collected and analyzed dog fecal samples in Kerman using various identification techniques, discovering taeniid eggs in 10.8% of the samples, indicating significant parasite presence.
  • - The findings underscore a potential public health concern regarding cystic echinococcosis transmission among humans, emphasizing the need for further monitoring and control measures in urban areas.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

There is a significant focus on the role of the host microbiome in different outcomes of human parasitic diseases, including cystic echinococcosis (CE). This study was conducted to identify the intestinal microbiome of patients with CE at different stages of hydatid cyst compared to healthy individuals. Stool samples from CE patients as well as healthy individuals were collected.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • The study evaluated the expression of specific genes in different regions (protoscoleces, germinal layer, neck, and sucker) of adult parasites, aiming to understand their role in development.
  • Conducted at Kerman University in 2018, researchers cultured protoscoleces to obtain strobilated worms, isolated various regions for analysis, and used RT-qPCR and immunohistochemistry for gene expression profiling.
  • Results indicated that certain gene expressions varied significantly across different regions, suggesting their potential role in the differentiation of the parasite throughout its life cycle.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Cystic Echinococcosis (CE) as a prevalent tapeworm infection of human and herbivorous animals worldwide, is caused by accidental ingestion of Echinococcus granulosus eggs excreted from infected dogs. CE is endemic in the Middle East and North Africa, and is considered as an important parasitic zoonosis in Iran. It is transmitted between dogs as the primary definitive host and different livestock species as the intermediate hosts.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Cystic echinococcosis (CE) or hydatid disease is a global public health concern which imposes considerable economic costs on the communities in endemic regions. CE surveillance data are not adequately reliable. The present study reports the development and outcomes of a CE registry in Iran.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • * The study collected 100 CE cyst samples from cattle and buffalo in Rawalpindi and Peshawar to determine the species and genetic diversity of E. granulosus in these animals.
  • * Results indicated that E. granulosus s.s. was the most common species found, with E. ortleppi identified for the first time in Pakistan, highlighting the need for further research to enhance control measures against CE.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Developing more sensitive methods for the diagnosis of echinococcosis is essential. In this study PCR assay for sensitive detection of specific cell-free DNA (cfDNA) of Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato in the sera of the sheep naturally infected with echinococcosis was investigated.

Methods: To extract cfDNA from 35 infected sheep, the modified phenol-chloroform method was used for two different volumes (0.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Over-expression of K+ channels has been reported in human cancers and is associated with the poor prognosis of several malignancies. EAG1, a particular potassium ion channel, is widely expressed in the brain but poorly expressed in other normal tissues. Kunitz proteins are dominant in metazoan including the dog tapeworm, Echinococcus granulosus.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small RNA molecules (21-23 nucleotides) that play a significant role in liver fibrosis by regulating gene expression.
  • These miRNAs can be classified into two types: pro-fibrosis miRNAs, which promote liver fibrosis by activating certain cell signaling pathways, and anti-fibrosis miRNAs, which help maintain normal liver cell function and inhibit fibrosis.
  • Understanding how these miRNAs work could lead to new treatments for liver fibrosis by targeting their specific functions and pathways.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • Fascioliasis is a worldwide disease caused by liver flukes, affecting livestock and humans, particularly prevalent in northern Iran, with limited studies on local species.
  • The study aimed to identify different Fasciola species, including hybrids, in livestock from Golestan province using morphometric measurements and molecular techniques.
  • Results showed 110 infected isolates, identifying 81 as F. hepatica and 29 as F. gigantica through one method, while 72, 26, and 12 were classified as F. hepatica, F. gigantica, and hybrids, respectively, marking the first molecular evidence of hybrid forms in ruminants.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Fascioliasis, caused by Fasciola hepatica, is a neglected zoonotic food-borne trematodiasis. The Caspian littoral in northern Iran is endemic for the disease, and human fascioliasis is well-known in that region. In the present study, we report the diagnosis, identification, and clinical management of a human case of fascioliasis associated with common bile duct (CBD) obstruction from a non-endemic remote area in southeastern Iran.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • Echinococcus granulosus has a complex life cycle that relies on specific transcription factors (TFs) and miRNAs to regulate gene expression during its development.
  • The study identified 394 unique TFs and 818 differentially expressed genes, leading to a network involving 8 specific miRNAs and 8 TFs that influence the parasite’s metabolic processes.
  • By validating TF expression through quantitative polymerase chain reaction, the research highlights potential targets for interrupting the parasite's development and controlling dog infections.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Trichinellosis is considered as a cosmopolitan zoonosis caused by different species of the small nematodes of the genus . The present study aimed to provide a broad review for exploring sp. infection in humans and animals of Iran and Turkey.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Introduction: Diagnosis of echinococcosis is difficult and usually performed based on clinical findings, imaging, and serological test. However, all of them have limitations, especially in follow-up approaches.

Areas Covered: Detection of cell-free DNA (cfDNA) and micro-RNA (miRNA) is currently a hot topic for diagnosis of echinococcosis diseases.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a significant global health issue caused by a type of tapeworm, with unclear mechanisms of how the disease develops in its intermediate hosts.
  • In this study, researchers cultivated protoscoleces (the larval stage of the parasite) for 105 days to observe the effects of growth factors insulin and BMP-4 on the morphology and biology of microcysts.
  • Findings showed that treatment with insulin and BMP-4 led to increased microcyst formation and size, reduced apoptosis, and altered calcium deposition, indicating these hormones potentially influence the progression of the disease.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Introduction: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is characterized by the destruction of the blood-brain barrier, loss of myelin sheath, and contribution of inflammatory interleukins such as TNF-alpha, interleukin-17, and interleukin-6.

Methods: The current study investigated the effect of antigen B of hydatid cyst fluid on the reduction of anti-inflammatory cytokines and nerve conduction velocity in rats with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE)-induced MS. After isolation of antigen B from sterile cyst fluid, the rats were randomly divided into four groups: saline, EAE, EAE + teriflunomide (EAE + TF), and EAE + antigen B (EAE + AngB).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • * Out of the participants, 31 were found seropositive, with a notable connection between asthma severity and age, but no significant correlation between asthma and seropositivity was established overall.
  • * A comprehensive literature review identified 80 articles on the asthma-parasite relationship, primarily involving children, and suggested more research, particularly long-term cohort studies, is necessary to better understand this association.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Sumac has been traditionally used by people as a medicinal plant for the treatment of different disorders. Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is one of the major zoonotic diseases of human with a worldwide distribution. Long term albendazole therapy is usually associated with side effects including impaired liver function and leukopenia.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Cystic echinococcosis or hydatid disease is one of the most important zoonotic parasitic diseases caused by Echinococcus granulosus, a small tapeworm harbored in the intestine of canines. There is an urgent need for applied genetic research to understand the mechanisms of pathogenesis and disease control and prevention. However, the lack of an effective gene evaluation system impedes direct interpretation of the functional genetics of cestode parasites, including the Echinococcus species.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF