The worldwide resurgence of tropical bed bug Cimex hemipterus beginning in the late 1990s has led to growing concern. Molecular data on pyrethroid resistance, which is essential for the control strategies, is unknown for C. hemipterus in Iran. The current study evaluated the deltamethrin resistance status of C. hemipterus by bioassay and molecular tests. Live bed bugs were collected from sleeping quarters (dormitories) in the city of Tehran and used for insecticide bioassay tests. For bioassay evaluation, mixed-sex pools of adult bugs were exposed to deltamethrin (0.025%)-treated paper. Polymerase chain reaction assay evaluated resistance-related mutations in the voltage-gated sodium channel gene (VGSC) gene of studied populations. On the basis of the bioassay test within the 48-h exposure to deltamethrin, C. hemipterus were determined to be resistant. Knockdown time ratios (KR50) in the studied populations of C. hemipterus was 5.5-fold compared with those of the C. lectularius Teh strain. DNA sequencing of the VGSC gene revealed the presence of mutations at M918I and L1014 in C. hemipterus. According to the bioassay and molecular results of current study, C. hemipterus showed a high degree of pyrethroid resistance. The application of multiple approaches including physical, biological, and chemical tests should be regarded in future bed bug control strategies.

The presence of symptomless malaria infection in endemic areas and misdiagnosis can lead to failure in malaria eradication strategies. The present study was performed to assessment the prevalence of asymptomatic carriers in the Saravan and Suran district, an endemic area of malaria infection in Sistan and Baluchistan Province (2019–2020) using microscopic methods, ELISA, RDT test, multiplex nested-PCR and LAMP. The samples (n = 525) were collected from asymptomatic person of Saravan and Suran district to assessment malaria infection by using microscopic, ELISA, RDT test, multiplex nested-PCR and LAMP techniques. The microscopic and RDT tests were negative for malaria infection. Based on the ELISA test, 2 and 26 out of 525 samples was positive for P. falciparum and P.vivax antigens, respectively. The multiplex nested-PCR and LAMP techniques could detect only 2 and 3 cases of P. vivax, respectively. To improve the sensitivity, specificity and high reliability of malaria removal, especially in endemic areas, all sensitive tools such as microscopy, RDT, LAMP and nested PCR should be used.

Allergic reaction of leech bite is frequently reported due to complication of leech therapy and also unwanted leech infestation. The study pointed out hazards of leech bites and proposed preventative measures such as using gloves and boots while labors work on the farm

Background: Cryptosporidium parvum is an important coccidian parasite infecting many mammals, including human. This parasite can manifest as chronic severe diarrhea in immunocompromised individuals, especially those with AIDS. The present study reports the recombinant production of rP2 and rP23 antigens of C. parvum as antigens for detecting human cryptosporidiosis using indirect ELISA tests. Methods: The coding sequences of rP2 and rP23 proteins were codonoptimized, commercially synthesized and sub-cloned in the pET28a expression vector. The expressed proteins were purified by Ni-NTA column chromatography and confirmed by Western blotting. The efficacy of rP2/rP23 proteins for serodiagnosis was evaluated by positive (n = 20) and negative (n = 20) human sera, confirmed by the Ziehl-Neelsen staining as the gold standard test. Results: In ELISA test, the sera from C. parvum-infected patients reacted strongly to rP2/rP23. The sensitivity and specificity related to the diagnostic potential of rP2/rP23 in the ELISA assay were 100%. Conclusion: Our results showed that combination of rP23 and rP2 antigens in ELISA significantly increases the performance of C. parvum serodiagnosis in human cryptosporidiosis.