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Objective: Recent studies determined that the amoeboid form of Blastocystis acts as a factor in stimulating the host's immune responses and ultimately results in urticaria and other skin disorders. The present study was conducted in order to determine the prevalence of Blastocystis in people referred to Bushehr city health centers and the relationship of this parasite with urticaria., Methods: Fecal samples were collected from 180 males and females referred to Bushehr health centers and a questionnaire containing demographic information was completed for each person. Samples were examined by preparing direct smear (wet mount) and then formalin-detergent sedimentation techniques. Data were analyzed using SPSS 22.0 software and chi-square test., Results: The results showed that 11.1% of cases infected with Blastocystis and 55% of patients with Blastocystis had various gastrointestinal symptoms. Statistical analysis showed that there was no significant relationship between infection with some demographic factors such as sex, age, literacy level and residence, but this was significant with some clinical symptoms such as itching and urticaria., Conclusion: Despite the existence of conflicting information and many ambiguities about the Blastocystis , this emerging pathogen is very important in terms of causing allergic and skin disorders in sufferers, therefore, it is necessary that patients with urticaria be evaluated for Blastocystis along with other diagnostic procedures and physicians should request a test before any medical intervention. Thus, diagnosis and treatment of these people can play an important role in improving the health of society.

Objective: The aim of the current research is to evaluate the antiparasite effects of compounds isolated from marine ascidian tunicates on Trichomonas vaginalis ., Methods: Ascidian tunicates after collection were cut into small pieces, freeze-dried, and powdered. The resulting material was subjected to extraction in double-distilled water, ethanol, n-hexane, and dichloromethane. To fractionate the extracts and identify the most bioactive compound, silica gel column chromatography and GC-M/S analysis were used., Results: Fraction 18 of silica gel column chromatography of ethanol extract was the most effective against T. vaginalis . The respective IC 50 , CC 50 , and SI values for fraction 18 were 28.62 μg/mL, ˃800 μg/mL, and ˃27.95. GC-M/S analysis of this fraction identified a major phenolic compound (2, 4-bis (1, 1-dimethyl ethyl), whose toxicity against vero cells was only 10.15%., Conclusion: The ethanolic fraction containing phenol-2,4-bis (1,1-dimethylethyl), which has a potent lethality effect on T. vaginalis , may be considered as an antiparasite drug candidate.

Background and Objectives: Plasmid-mediated AmpC producers are considered an increasing concern. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of plasmid-mediated AmpC β-lactamases (pAmpCs) in Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates., Materials and Methods: A total of 228 clinical isolates of K. pneumoniae were collected in Bushehr province, Iran, from December 2017 to February 2019. Cefoxitin disks were applied for screening AmpC-producing isolates. Furthermore, 3 phenotypic confirmatory tests including combine disk test (CDT), double disk synergy test (DDST) and modified three dimensional test (M3DT) were used. Finally, the presence of pAmpC genes was tested by multiplex PCR., Results: We identified 18 pAmpC-KP isolates among the 228 isolates (7.9%): 12 DHA (66.6%) and 6 CMY (33.3%). In the present study only 47% of cefoxitin-resistant isolates were pAmpC producers. The sensitivity of CDT, DDST, and M3DT was 89%, 67% and 100% and the specificity was 90%, 90% and 85%, respectively. In addition, M3DT displayed a higher rate of efficiency (92%) than CDT (89%) and DDST (79%) in detecting plasmid-meditated AmpC producers., Conclusion: DHA was the most prevalent pAmpC beta-lactamase in this study. DDST and CDT tests proved inefficient to detect two and six pAmpC producers, respectively, while M3DT represented the best overall performance., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Tehran University of Medical Sciences.)