c Gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) were employed to determine the chemical composition of the essential oil (EO) from aromatic water (AW) of Zataria multiflora. Thymol (66.9%), carvacrol (15.2%), and carvone (7.3%) were found to be the major EO constituents. Eighty laboratory BALB/c mice were infected intraperitoneally by injection of 1,500 viable protoscolices and were divided into prevention (40 mice) and therapeutic (40 mice) groups. To prove the preventive effect of the Z. multiflora AW on development of hydatid cysts, the 40 infected mice were allocated into three treatment groups, including the albendazole group (10 mice that received 150 mg/kg body weight/day for 10 days), the Z. multiflora AW group (15 mice that received 20 ml/liter in drinking water for 8 months), and a control group (15 mice that received no treatment). To estimate the therapeutic effect of the Z. multiflora AW on the hydatid cyst, after 8 months of infection, the 15 remaining mice were allocated into three experimental treatment groups of five animals each, including the albendazole group (300 mg/ kg/day for 20 days), Z. multiflora AW group (40 ml/liter in drinking water for 30 days), and control group (no treatment). All mice were then euthanized, and the sizes and weights of the cysts as well as their ultrastructural changes were investigated. The weights and sizes of the hydatid cysts significantly decreased upon treatment with the Z. multiflora AW in both the preventive and therapeutic groups (P < 0.05). The results of scanning electron microscopy also showed considerable damage in the germinal layer of the hydatid cysts recovered from the treated animals.

The essential oil of S. khuzistanica is rich in carvacrol and may be used as a natural scolicidal agent.

seeds extract has been previously reported to have antimicrobial and other medicinal properties. The aim of this study was to evaluate the ovicidal activity of the methanolic extract of seeds against the eggs of The phenolic compounds of the methanolic extract of seeds were identified by HPLC analysis. Catechin, rutin, p-Coumaric acid, chloregenic acid and hesperetin were found to be the major phenolic compounds. eggs were collected from the gall bladder of naturally infected sheep. The eggs were exposed to two concentrations of seeds extract (1 and 3 mg/mL) for 24 and 48 h. To investigate the effect of the seeds extract on the miracidial formation, the treated eggs were incubated at 28 °C for 14 days. The results indicated that eggs were susceptible to the methanolic extract of seeds. Following 24 h exposure of the eggs to seeds extract with concentrations of 1 and 3 mg/mL, the miracidial formation reduced to 5 and 2.2 % respectively (compared with 60 % for the control group). Following 48 h of exposure of the eggs to seeds extract with 1 mg/mL concentration, the miracidial formation reduced to 0.5 %. In this exposure time, no miracidial formation was observed in the eggs exposed to seeds extract with concentration of 3 mg/mL. Therefore, the results of this study indicated that seeds extract has high ovicidal activity against the eggs of . Accordingly, this extract may have the potential flukicidal activity against the immature and mature.

Whole blood samples were collected from 117 male clinically healthy Camelus dromedarius aged between 6 months to 18 years from several farms in Yazd Province of Iran. Trypanosoma evansi-affected camels were detected by Giemsa-stained blood smears, and the positive blood samples (4 out of 117) were submitted to PCR examination and phylogenetic analysis. Basic Local Alignment Search Tool data of the obtained complete internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences revealed that they corresponded to those of T. evansi, Thailand cattle isolate (AY912276) with the homology of 99 %. Both phylogenetic trees generated by ITS1 and complete ITS were unable to clearly show inter- and intraspecific genetic diversity of Trypanosoma spp. isolates. The phylogenetic tree inferred from the ITS2 nucleotide sequences (569 bp) clearly showed the genetic diversity of the parasites. Phylogenetic and molecular analyses of this region showed that two distinct genotypes of T. evansi in Iranian dromedary camels are present. In contrast to the ITS1 and ITS2 regions, multiple alignment of the nucleotide sequence of the 5.8S rRNA showed a high degree of sequence conservation during evolution in various Trypanosoma spp.

Very little is known about parasitic diseases of European pond turtles (Emys orbicularis) in Iran. The objective of this study is to examine parasitic fauna of European pond turtles collected from Fars province, southwest Iran. Carcasses of turtles (n = 52) which died during dredging procedure are collected from earthen fishery basins in Zarghan region. They have been died earlier during dredging procedure in different farms. Three species of helminths in total were found in gastrointestinal tract, including two nematodes (Serpinema microcephalus and Falcaustra araxiana) and one digenean trematod (Telorchis assula). Large intestines of all examined turtles were infected by F. araxiana (100 %, Mean intensity = 18) and this nematode were also found in gastric nodules. Nine turtles (17.3 %, 3 male, 6 female, Mean intensity = 3) were infected with Serpinema microcephalus. T. assula were found in 25 turtles (48.07 %, 5 male, 20 female, mean intensity = 5). Helminths were not found in any examined organs and no ectoparasite found eighter. F. araxiana is the most prevalent nematode in European pond turtles. Detection of Serpinema.microcephalus is in agreement with the fact which this parasite is common parasite of turtles in all over the world. T. assula might be transmitted between variety of reptiles so presence of the trematod should be considered as a risk factor for other reptiles.