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Introduction: Echinococcus granulosus is the causative agent of hydatid cysts, which are distributed worldwide. Nowadays, much research is being done to inactivate hydatid cyst protoscoleces. This study was conducted with the aim to compare the scolicidal effect of two chemical compounds 12 and 2 on hydatid cyst protoscoleces in vitro. Material & Methods: The scolicidal activity of two amini-hydrox-phenylcoumarin and amini-bromo-phenylcoumarin at concentrations of 1.2, 1.5, 1.10 and 1.100 after 15, 30 and 60 minutes of incubation was tested separately and each of the experiments was repeated three times. The viability of protoscoleces was checked with 0.1% eosin dye under a light microscope. Subsequently data were analyzed using GraphPad version 5 software and two-way repeated measures ANOVA and values (P > 0.05) was considered a significant level. Findings: The results of this study showed that the chemical compound amini-bromophenylcoumarin at a concentration of 1.10 destroyed 100% of protoscoleces after 60 minutes of exposure compared to the control group, but amini-hydroxophenyl-coumarin, at a concentration of 1.100 could destroy 98% of protoscolecia after 60 minutes of exposure. Discussion & Conclusion: The results of the present study showed that amini-bromophenylcoumarin had stronger protoscolicidal effects than amini-hydroxophenyl-coumarin. However, further studies and in vivo studies are needed to evaluate the efficacy of these chemical compounds.

Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a zoonotic disease and with has a global distribution. Today, much research carries out to inactivate hydatid cyst protoscoleces. In particular, herbal compounds have received more attention due to their cheapness, easy access, low toxicity, and side effects. This study aimed to compare the scolicidal effect of hydroalcoholic extract of Allium sativum (garlic) and Ferula asafoetida (angozeh) on hydatid cyst protoscoleces in vitro. The scolicidal activity of A. sativum and F. asafoetida extracts were evaluated at concentrations of 50, 100, 150, 200, and 250 mg/ml following 10, 30, and 60 minutes of exposure. Each reaction was repeated three times. The viability of protoscoleces was examined with a 0.1% eosin stain under a light microscope. The chemical composition of two extracts was analyzed using Gas ChromatographyMass Spectrometry (GC–MS). Statistical analyses were performed with GraphPad software version 5.0. The results of this study showed that F. asafoetida extract, at a concentration of 250 mg/ml after 60 minutes of exposure, killed 100% of the protoscoleces compared to the control group, but the hydroalcoholic extract of A. sativum at the same concentration and time, it was able to kill 98% of protoscoleces. The main chemical components of A. sativum and F. asafoetida identified as allyl methyl trisulfide (12.8%) and methyl ester (13.9%), respectively. The findings of the present study showed that F. asafoetida has more potent scolicidal effects than A. sativum. However, further studies are needed to evaluate the effectiveness of the F. asafoetida plant.

Hyalomma spp. is responsible for the transmission of bacterial, protozoan, rickettsial and viral pathogens in animals and humans.The aim of this study was to evaluate the acaricidal activity of iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe2O3 and Fe3O4 NPs) size 15 nm against Hyalomma spp. in vitro. The acaricidal activity of Fe-NPs was evaluated at concentrations of 50, 125, and 250 µg/ml and controls (distilled water and Cypermethrin) following 10, 30, and 60 min of exposure in triplicate and the experiments were performed two spraying and contact methods. The results of this study showed that all concentrations of Fe-NPs had acaricidal activity, and a concentration of 250 µg/ml at an exposure time of 10 min had the highest acaricidal effect (85.7%). The median lethal concentration (LC50) values were 50 µg/ml in 60 min, and (LC99) values were 150 mg/ml in 30 min for Hyalomma spp.. The results showed that the spray method was more effective than the contact method. Statistically, there was no difference between the acaricidal effect of trivalent iron (Fe2O3) and quadrivalent (Fe3O4) iron nanoparticles. The findings of the present study showed that Fe-NPs had potent acaricidal activity. However, further in vivo studies are required to evaluate the efficacy of this nanoparticle.

Objective(s): Hyalomma spp. is responsible for transmission of protozoan, bacterial, rickettsial and viral diseases in humans and animals. Recently, there was a wide number of promising attempts to evaluate and use of nanoparticles for the control of ticks. Methods: The aim of this study was to evaluate the acaricidal activity of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) size 15 nm against Hyalomma spp. in vitro. The arcaricidal activity of Zn NPs were evaluated at concentrations of 50, 125 and 250 mg/ml and controls (distilled water and Cypermethrin) following 10, 30 and 60 min of exposure in triplicate and the experiments were performed two spraying and contact methods. Results: The results of this study showed that all concentrations of Zn NPs had acaricidal activity and concentration of 125 mg/ml at exposure time of 30 min and concentration of 250 mg/ml at all exposure times had highest acaricidal effect (100%). The median lethal concentration (LC50) values were 50 mg/ml in 60 min and (LC99) values were 150 mg/ml in 30 min for Hyalomma spp.. The results showed that the spray method was more effective than the contact method. Conclusions: The findings of present study showed that Zn NPs had potent acaricidal effect and recommended as an effective acaricidal agent. However, further in vivo studies are required to evaluate the efficacy of this nanoparticle.

Objective(s): Nanoparticles (NPs) are particles with the size range approximately from 1 to 100 nanometers that are made in different shapes. Nanotechnology is an emerging technology that expected to open some new opportunities in order to destroy and control of microorganisms using of materials and systems at the scale of the atom. Echinococcus granulosus is the agent of cystic echinococcosis (CE), which has a cosmopolitan distribution. This parasite causes hydatid cysts that can afflicted at various organs of mammalian host such as liver, lung even in heart, brain and bone which may lead to death. The current methods for treatment of human CE include surgery. Methods: This study was undertaken for the first time to evaluate the scolicidal effect of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO- NPs) against hydatid cyst protoscolices in vitro. The scolicidal activities of the zinc oxide nanoparticles were tested in concentrations of 50,100 and 150 mg/ml following 10, 30 and 60 min of incubation and tested were repeated at three times. Data were analyzed by SAS software. Results: The results showed that the zinc oxide nanoparticles at the concentration of 50 mg/ml leads to killing 19/6% protoscolices at 10 minutes. In 150 mg/ml concentration, the black ZnO particles were covered on all protoscolices, and they could not be seen or counted. Conclusions: This investigation showed that ZnO-NPs a statistically significant difference in the protoscolicidal activity with different dilutions but, is not recommended as a powerful scolicidal agent.