Witches' broom disease of lime (WBDL) is a caused by " Candidatus Phytoplasma aurantifolia". The disease was first observed in the Sultanate of Oman in the 1980s and found to be present in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in 1989. A putative leafhopper vector, Hishimonus phycitis , reproducing actively on lime trees, was identified in 1991 in Oman and found to be also present in the UAE in 1993. In July 1997, symptoms of the disease were observed in the southeastern region of Iran near Nikshar (Dapas Kur) and Qasr-e-Qand. Joint serological and molecular characterizations confirmed that the symptoms observed in Iran are those of WBDL and that, on the basis of ELISA and PCR, the WBDL phytoplasma in Iran is indistinguishable from that in Oman and the UAE. H. phycitis was easily recovered by D-Vac ® aspiration not only from lime trees in the affected region but also from lime trees in regions free of the disease. From the extent and severity of the symptoms observed and the presence of the vector, some trees must have become infected 10 yr ago. Eradication of the 500 or so affected trees is underway. A few individuals of Diaphorina citri , the psyllid vector of Huanglongbing, were also collected in the survey. This is the first report of D. citri and of H. phycitis in Iran. The origin of WBDL is discussed.

Background and Aims: Influenza vaccination is one of the best way to prevent and control influenza worldwide. It is manufactured by WHO-licensed companies based on the WHO expertise committee annually. The aim of this study was partial quality control of the commercial human influenza vaccine 2008-9 and its matching with the circulating strains. Materials and Methods: The trivalent imported vaccine was cultured in bacterial and fungal media, injected to the mice and inoculated into the allantoic cavity of Embryonated Chicken Eggs (ECEs). Hemagglutination-Inhibition (HI) assay was carried out on pre and post vaccination serum samples. The bacterial endotoxin was assessed by LAL assay. The Hemagglutinin (HA) content of the vaccine was measured using SRID. Heterogenecity of the circulating influenza strains during 2008-9 seasons in Tehran in comparison to the vaccine strains was determined. Results: No bacterial contamination and no occurrence of mortality and morbidity in animal was observed. The mean fold increase of HI antibody titer in subjects without previous vaccination for H1N1, H3N2 and B strains were 6.7, 3.3 and 1.8 respectively, while in subjects with previous vaccination were 4, 1.6 and 1.1 for same strains. Amino acid variation was found in Tehran H1N1 isolates but the H3N2 isolates showed higher genetic resemblance to the 2008-9 vaccine strain. Conclusion: The sterility, safety, and efficacy of the vaccine were approved and there was some variation in A/H1N1 but not in A/H3N2 isolates in comparison with the vaccine strain.

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