Objective: Clostridium botulinum is one of the important causes of food-borne intoxication in the world. This bacterium is produced the most lathal bacterial toxin in nature. The aim of this study was to evaluate the distribution of pathogen types of Clostridium botulinum (types A, B, E) in some natural fishes of Iran. Materials and Methods: Two hundred and forty samples (120 gill and 120 intestine samples) of four species of fish consisting of Salmo trutta fario, Sander lucioperca, Pamadasys argenteus, and Scombromorus cormmerson were examined. Each of samples after enrichment and centrifugation, were adjusted to pH 6.2 and divided into three (heated, untreated, and tripsinized) portions and mouse BIOASSAY tested for detection of C. botulinum toxin. Monovalent standard antitoxins were used for detection of toxin type. Result: The results showed the contamination rate of C. botulinum in Northern and Southern fishes were 8.33% and 1.66% respectively. Among different species of aquatic fishes, the most rate of contamination belong the Sander lucioperca (10%), Salmo trutta fario (6.66%), Pamadasys argenteus (3.33%) and the least rate of contamination observed in Scombnromorus cormmerson fishes (without contamination). This study also demonstrated that type E was predominant type in both northern and southern aquatic fishes. From total positive cases, 50% are related to E type, 25% B type, and 16.6% A type respectively. Conclusion: According to studied data on Botulism epidemiology in the country, preservation of products under 3°c and use of fishes at proper temperature are necessary to prevent food borne Botulism intoxications.    

The response of second third instars as well as adult Pulvinria aurantii Cock. to mineral oil and the determination of LC50 & LC90 was tested, using BIOASSAY technique under LABORATORY conditions of 25±4°C,75±5 R.H. and 12h. of L.D. In this research, six different concentrations of mineral oil were chosen and sprayed on fourteen Two-year old sweet orange (Thomson Navel on Citrus aurantium (rootstock)) trees. From each tree, ten leaves and each leaf five crawlers on average were tested. Probit analysis has been done using P/PROBAN LSTATS computer programmed after preliminary calculations. Based on the LABORATORY results and our calculations, the rate of mineral oil concentration which caused the death of 50% and 90% of second, third instars was 0.593 & 1.013 liter in one hundred liters of water, respectively. Considering the rate of LC90 to control the instars and adult female of Pulvinaria aurantii Cock. As well as their fiducially limit, the most suitable mineraloil concentration range for instars seems to be between 0.919% to 1.222% and for adult female between 1.887% to 3.183%, respectively.

Background: Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) is a major mediator of inflammatory responses and also plays a role in Febrile non-hemolytic reactions (FNHRs) after platelet concentrates (PCs) injection. It is thought contaminating WBCs are the source of these cytokine so inactivating or decreasing of these WBCs will be effective to decline of the cytokines. Due to difference results between different methods for TNF measurement, in this study we compared Immunoass and BIOASSAY methods to determine TNF-α in supematants of PCs. Materials and Methods: TNF-α was measured by ELISA (Immunoassay) and by the L929 cytotoxicity BIOASSAY in supernatant of random donor PCs (RD-PC) prepared by platelet rich plasma (PRP). These platelet concentrates were divided in 4 groups: 1- unfiltered , non-irradiated RD-PCs (N=13) 2- unfiltered and y-irradiated RD-PCs (N=16) 3- filtered, non-irradiated RD-PCs (N=14) 4- filtered and y-irradiated RD-PCs (N=11) Results: Our results showed: TNF- α was increased (by ELISA) in unfiltered non-irradiated units during storage but not in γ-irradiated and filtered RD-PCs in day 3. Compared to unfiltered PCs in filtered units, pre-storage filtration and irradiation prevented a rise in the TNF-α in day 3 of storage. There was no correlation between ELISA and the cytotoxicity L929 BIOASSAY Conclusion: It has been previously reported that different quantitative results can be obtained when TNF alpha is measured in biological fluids by BIOASSAY and Immunoassay. This is thought to be related to the presence of antigenic forms of TNF alpha that cannot be detected by BIOASSAY, such as complexes with soluble receptors (sTNF-R) or TNF alpha monomers.

Background: pyrrolizidine alkaloids have been isolated from Echium amuenum. These alkaloids knowing as hepatotoxic, damage the liver. Mutagenicity of pure pyrrolizidine alkaloids has been identified. Thus, the mutagenic effect of the methanolic flower extract was tested using Amest test.Materials and Methods: The long maceration process (for 48 hrs) is carried out in order to extract all constitutes. Thin layer chromatography (TLC) method was used to evaluate aflatoxin B1 contamination and histidine amino acid presence. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined with the dilution method. Salmonella typhimurium strain TA100 was used to determination of mutagenicity. The genotype was confirmed by using histidine requirement, R- factor presence, rfa and uvrB mutations tests. The mutagenicity assay was performed by four extract concentrations (0.25, 0.5, 0.75 and 1mg/ml). Sodium azide (NaN3) and methanol were used as the mutagens (positive control) and negative control, respectively in the absence or presence of liver-metabolizing enzymes.Results: The data indicate that Echium amuenum has not significant mutagenic activity against negative control. The presence of liver-metabolizing enzymes did not exhibit a significant change against the properties of extract.Conclusion: It seems that this extensive used plant in traditional medicine, doesn’t contain mutagenic or genotoxic effect in usual doses.