This study is carried out to investigate the prevalence of Coxiella burnetii (C. burnetii) infections in cattle using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay targeting IS1111A transposase gene. A total of 130 lactating cows were randomly selected from different areas in Wasit province, Iraq and subjected to blood and milk sampling during the period extended between November 2018 and May 2019. ELISA and PCR tests revealed that 16.15% and 10% of the animals studied were respectively positive. Significant correlations (P<0.05) were detected between the positive results and clinical data. Two positive PCR products were analyzed phylogenetically, named as C. burnetii IQ-No.5 and C. burnetii IQ-No.6; and then recorded in the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) under an accession numbers of MN473204.1 and MN473205.1. Comparative identity of the local strains with NCBI-BLAST strains/isolates revealed 97% similarity and 0.1-0.6% of total genetic mutations/changes. NCBI-BLAST Homology Sequence reported high significant identity (P<0.05) between the local, C. burnetii IQ-No.5 and C. burnetii IQ-No.6; strains and C. burnetii 3345937 (CP014354.1) Netherlands isolate at 99.10% and 99.06%, respectively. The current study concluded that the percentage of infected cows with coxiellosis is relatively high, and Coxiella should be listed as abortive pathogen. Therefore, additional studies should be performed including different animals, samples, and regions.
Calendula officinalis L. (Asteraceae) known as marigold is known to have several pharmacological activities and used for the treatment of several diseases as measles, jaundice, constipation and several inflammations. Marigold flowers contain several chemical constituents mainly flavonoids, triterpenoids and essential oil. In this study marigold flowers cultivated in Iraq had been investigated for its flavonoids content. The study revealed the presence of quercetin and kaempferol glycosides and the absence of myricetin glycosides. The flowers were extracted with ethanol 70% fractionated with different solvent and the flavonoids were isolated by preparative HPLC. The isolated flavonoids were identified by measuring melting points, UV, IR,
... Show MoreIntroduction and Aim: Beta-thalassemia is a serious inherited genetic disorder and an increasing health burden globally. Beta -thalassemia is caused by genetic globin abnormalities within the hemoglobin beta (HBB) gene. This study aimed to characterize the HBB gene mutations in beta -thalassemia among southern Iraqi patients. Materials and Methods: The study included 30 beta -thalassemia patients referred to the Thi-Qar Center for Genetic Diseases, Iraq and 15 control samples from a random group of apparently healthy individuals. Genomic DNA was isolated from blood sample collected from each individual. The DNA was amplified for specific regions of the HBB gene and the amplified products sequenced. The sequences generated were analysed for
... Show MoreThis research dealt with study of cladistics taxonomy of five species related to the genus Rumex L. and Polygonum L. from family polygonaceae in Iraq by using Mesquite software V.2.75. This research support strongly delimiting the species P. aviculare L. and P. lapathifolia L.as suggested in floras publication while R. dentatus L. is setted in single group whereas R. vesicarius L. and R. conglomeratus Murray were included in the same group. Also, this study involved characteristics of shape, dimensions, color, and ornamentation of seeds and fruits as the seed forms were ranging from lenticular to trigonous. In terms of size calculations, the seeds of R. vesicarius was recorded the higher range (4.0- 4.5) mm in length w
... Show MoreContracaecum rudolphii Hartwich, 1964 is a nematode which causes major concerns to human and wildlife animal’s health. However, the population genetics of C. rudolphii has been poorly studied in Iraq. In order to gain a deeper understanding in the outline of the genetic diversity of the nematode C. rudolphii that were isolated from its host cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo (Linnaeus, 1758), in the middle areas of Iraq, twenty specimens of C. rudolphii adults were isolated from nine individuals of P. carbo. The first (ITS-1) internal transcribed spacers (ITS) of ribosomal DNA (rDNA) of C. rudolphii were amplified using conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR); then, the amplicons were subjected to sequencing. Concatenation of ITS-1 (rD
... Show MoreThe aim: Infection with the hepatitis B virus (HBV) caused by blood transfusion is a big problem throughout the world. The aim of study is to determine the faster and more accurate methods for detection of hepatitis B infections by serological screening and PCR- amplification. Materials and methods: A total of 140528 donors were tested for HBsAg and total anti-HBc from January to October 2021 in Iraq’s National Blood Transfusion Center; however, only 100 samples with HBsAg (-) and anti-HBc (+) were collected and tested for HBV DNA using quantitative real-time PCR. Results: From 2015 to 2021, the percentage of HBsAg positive donors was 0.33 percent in 2015, 0.32 percent in 2016, 0.30 percent in 2017, 0.28 percent in 2018, 0.23 pe
... Show MoreA total of sixty raw milk samples were collected from (street vendors and shops) from Baghdad city, Iraq. The samples were inoculated into peptone water and, then, subcultured onto MacConkey agar and Blood agar. Identification of isolates was confirmed by microscopic examination, cultural characteristic, biochemical tests, Vitek (VITEK®2 system), and Biolog GN substrate reactions followed by 16S rRNA and specific genes sequencing. Of 60 raw cow’s milk samples, Providencia spp. were identified only in 4 samples (6.67%) and P. rettgeri was the most common, 2/4 (50%), followed by P. stuartii and P. vermicola, 1/4 (25%). Antimicrobial susceptibility tests were conducted against ten antibiotics by the disc diffusion method. All Provid
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Detection of virulence gene agglutinin-like sequence (ALS) 1 by using molecular technology from clinical samples (
Toxoplasma gondii has a worldwide distribution and it is one of the most prevalent infectious agents in Iraq. The study was conducted on 200 serum samples of unmarried female university of students age ranged between 18 to 26 years to detect Toxoplasma gondii antibodies. The aim of this study was to detect T. gondii antibodies among unmarried female students in Iraqi universities using different serological tests. Seventy six (38%) serum samples out of 200 subjects were positive for toxoplasma antibodies by Latex agglutination test (LAT). Among 76 LAT sera positive ,only 58 (29%) serum samples were positive with toxoplasma IgG ELISA test , however , the results of IgM ELISA assay were positive only for 3 (1.5%) unmarried
... Show MoreThe genus Latrodectus Walckenaer, 1805 (Araneae: Theridiidae) is a worldwide distribute genus (Graudins et al., 2001), it includes a group of species commonly referred to as widow spiders. It's considered a taxonomically complex genus as the status of several forms had not been properly evaluated and specific boundaries are not well defined or understood (Levi, 1959; 1967; Garb et al., 2001), therefore, in multiple cases, populations has been uncritically referred to as different taxa. Discriminating between Latrodectus species using morphology has always been problematic (Levi, 1983), it is difficult taxonomically and readily separated from members of other Theridiid genera (Mirshamsi, 2005). The Genus Asagena Sundevall, 1833 was revalidat
... Show MoreThe cellular and molecular toxicity effect of Aloe Vera crude extract on meristem cells of onion (Allium cepa) roots were studied . Different concentrations of this crude extract 20% ,10% ,5% ,2% ( and 40%) were used at different periods ; 24 ,48 and 72 hour . Number of chromosomal aberrations and the mitotic index was calculated . In addition, the genetic effects were observed by using randomly amplified polymorphic DNA ( RAPD ) technique . The results showed that the gel crud extract of Aloe vera had inhibition effects on the growth of the onion roots with 10% EC50 value. Significant effects of this gel crud extract were also observed on the chromosomal a
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