Background: Milk and dairy products have an essential role in human health; however, they are easily contaminated and are likely to transfer Pathogenic foodborne bacteria. Since traditional dairy products are very popular and are frequently used by the community, the aim of this study was to assess the contamination rate of raw milk and traditional dairy products by Pathogenic bacteria and mold in Mashhad, Iran. Methods: A total of 200 samples were collected from five districts of Mashhad, Iran in the summer of 2018. Samples were tested for Coliform, E. coli, S. aureus, Salmonella spp, Listeria monocytogenes, mold, and yeast according to the Iranian national standard methods. Results: Results showed that 65% of the samples were positive for at least one Pathogenic bacteria. The prevalence of Coliform, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella spp., molds, and yeast in all dairy products were 62. 5%, 32. 5%, 59. 5%, 27. 5%, 26%, and 100% respectively. Conclusion: The results indicated that considerable numbers of traditional dairy products were contaminated with Pathogenic microorganisms in Mashhad, Iran which emphasized the need for stricter hygienic rules and general education about the safety of traditional foods.

Objective: Non-specific cervicitis or inflammatory changes in a smear report are common which are usually unclear for clinical approaches. To investigate the frequency of inflammation and Pathogenic vaginal microorganisms in cervical smears among an Iranian population sample.Materials and methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out on Pap smear samples of women referred to gynecological clinic of Taleghani Hospital in Tehran, Iran, between October 2008 and March 2009. This study was conducted on 528 conventional Papanicolaou cervical smears. The frequency and severity of inflammation and prevalence of bacterial vaginosis (BV), Trichomonas vaginalis (TV), and vaginal candidiasis (VC) was determined in the samples. Also co-infection of the microorganisms in Pap samples was evaluated. percentage, mean±standard deviation of the outcome parameters were calculated. The comparison between data was performed with the Pearson’s chi square or Fisher’s exact test.Results: The prevalence of BV, VC, and TV in Pap samples was 17%, 11%, and 0.4% respectively. Overall, the prevalence of these microorganisms in women of reproductive age was higher than menopausal women. There was a significant association between VC and the presence of inflammation in our samples.Conclusion: Based on our results, inflammation in the Pap smears can suggest an infection of VC and the patients should be considered for proper VC treatment.

In the temperature range of 10 to 80 ºC and in a batch digester, a typical activated sludge was digested aerobically. Reaction rate constants were determined by measuring the amounts of volatiles removed from the suspended solids at different time intervals during the process. The maximum value of the reaction rate constant (0.45 d -1) occurred in the temperature range of 55-60˚C. Removal of indicator organisms (pathogens) in the sludge, during the batch digestion, was also studied. Sludge digestion at 60 ºC provided a noticeable difference in reduction of the indicator organisms as compared to digestion carried out at 55 ºC. Optimum thermophilic aerobic digestion for high rate removal of volatile suspended solids and effective inactivation of pathogens happened in temperature range of 60-65 ºC.

Background and objective: Antibiotic resistance is a serious threat to human health, especially vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly and individuals with poor immune systems. So finding natural, cheap and effective antimicrobial compounds is necessary. The aim of this study was to investigate the antimicrobial effect of coriander (Coriandrum sativum) on a number of infective bacteria including Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.Materials and methods: This experimental study was carried out from February 2014 until May 2015 in the industrial microbiology laboratory, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad. We used maceration method, aqueous and ethanolic solvents for the extraction of coriander (Coriandr um sativum). Plate count agar and disc diffusion method were used to determine the sensitivity of strains. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) were measured using microplate.Results: The results showed good antibacterial effects on Pathogenic strains. The most considerable effect of ethanolic coriander extract was observed on Staphylococcus aureus at a concentration of 80 mg/ml. The minimum inhibition zone in this concentration belonged to Pseudomonas aeruginosa. MIC of ethanolic extract of the Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were 25.6, 12.5 and 25mg/ml, respectively and MBC of them were 25.6, 25 and 50mg/ml, respectively. Ethanolic coriander extract has a higher antimicrobial effect than aqueous extract, so MIC and MBC of aqueous coriand erextracts on Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were, 12.5, 25 and 50 mg/ml and MBC regarding them were 25, 50 and 100 mg/ml, respectively.Conclusion: Our results showed that coriander herbs has significant antimicrobial effects on Pathogenic bacteria, suggesting that the highest antimicrobial effect was observed on Staphylococcus aureusas a gram-positive organism and the lowest antimicrobial effect was on Pseudomonas aeruginosa as a gram-negative one.

Background: Plant-derived Essential Oils (EOs) have shown remarkable antimicrobial activity against spoilage and Pathogenic microorganisms isolated from food products. The objective of the current study was to determine in vitro antimicrobial effects of selected EOs against these microorganisms. Methods: Antimicrobial activity of EOs against food-borne and spoilage microorganisms was screened by disk diffusion assay; then, the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Minimal Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) were determined. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS 23. 0 software for Windows. Results: Oregano and thyme EOs showed the highest antimicrobial activity and the lowest MICs, while anise, fennel, garlic, and ginger showed a lower activity with significant differences (p<0. 05). It was demonstrated that Salmonella Typhimurium, Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis, and Yersinia enterocolitica were the most sensitive bacteria to all the EOs tested (p<0. 05). Among Gram-positive bacteria, Listeria innocua was demonstrated to be the most sensitive to most of the EOs (p<0. 05). Furthermore, Staphylococcus aureus and Listeria monocytogenes were shown to be more sensitive than Enterococcus spp. (p<0. 05). Yeasts were significantly (p<0. 05) more sensitive than bacteria and were inhibited by most of the EOs. Conclusion: The use of the analyzed EOs may be interesting to food processors because of their antimicrobial properties. However, it is necessary to test their use in food products and gauge their sensory implications.

BACKGROUND: Lactobacilli are known as a valuable source of antimicrobial compounds and have a high potential of use in food biopreservation against food related microorganisms.OBJECTIVES: Antimicrobial potency of 63 dairy lactobacilli isolates against four highly important food-related microorganisms were evaluated. In addition, a new way in data organization was introduced, which led to a more informative and rational comparison of indicator microorganisms' susceptibilities to a set of compounds. Correlation of pH and antimicrobial properties was investigated.METHODS: Microbroth dilution assay was used to evaluate indicator microorganisms' susceptibility to lactobacilli CFCS (cell free culture supernatant). Results were organized by both the conventional way - demonstrating the minimum inhibitory and lethal concentrations of CFCS - and a new suggested method, representing comparative effectiveness of each CFCS specimen against indicator microorganisms of comparison interest.RESULTS: Susceptibilities of tested strains were in the following order: Escherichia coli O157: H7>Listeria monocytogenes>Aspergillus parasiticus>Candida parapsilosis. Despite the high susceptibility of L. monocytogenes, it showed the highest resistance to death among the tested microorganisms.Eefficiency of Lactobacilli CFCS in killing the tested strains showed the following susceptibility order: E. coli O157: H7>A. parasiticus>C. parapsilosis>L. monocytogenes. Antimicrobial property was in correlation with the pH value of CFCS. PH had a pronounced impact on susceptibilities of C. parapsilosis and E. coliin pH values of concentrated CFCS lower than 4 and 4.5, respectively.CONCLUSIONS: Potency of lactobacilli isolates in growth inhibition of the indicator microorganisms was found promising, and the suggested data organization method provided additional information, leading to more precise comparison of indicator microorganisms.

Introduction: Bacterial meningitis is an acute infectious inflammation of the protective membranes covering the brain. Its early diagnosis is vital because of its high morbidity and mortality. It is mostly diagnosed by a gold standard diagnostic tool i.e. Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) analysis. However, it is sometimes difficult and or impossible to do this procedure and an alternative diagnostic tool is needed. Contrast enhanced magnetic resonance imaging can detect the pus or other changes in subarachnoid space. But our optimal aim is to use an imaging method without using contrast to be useable and available in more specific condition.Methods: This study aimed to survey the role of non-contrast Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) in the diagnosis of the bacterial meningitis. MEDLINE/PubMed Central, Web of Science and Scopus were searched without time period and language limitation until March 2017. We found 6410 papers in our initial search. After assessing the content of the papers based on Cochrane library guidelines and inclusion/exclusion criteria, 6 relevant studies were included in the systematic review. All of included studies were observational studies.Results: MRI studies demonstrated that Fluid Attenuation Inversion Recovery (FLAIR) and Diffusion-Weighted Image (DWI) MR imaging among all MRI modalities can detect some abnormalities compatible with bacterial meningitis. FLAIR and DWI-MR imaging are potentially useful to diagnose bacterial meningitis and can be used in emergent condition in which bacterial meningitis is highly suspicious and the other diagnostic tools are not available or feasible.

Background and objective: In recent years, due to the common use of commercial antimicrobial drugs in the treatment of infectious diseases, the resistance to one or more antibiotics is increasing. The use of Lepidium draba as an herbal plant in Iran, has a long history. The aim of this study was to evaluate the anti-microbial activity of Lepidium draba extract on some of microorganisms causing infection (in vitro). Materials and methods: In this experimental study, the extract of Lepidium draba aimed by maceration method. Extraction efficiency was calculated based on dry weight. The antimicrobial effect of the Lepidium draba extract was studied by evaluated minimum inhibitory concentration, minimum bactericidal/fungicidal concentration, and determination of the zone of microbial growth inhibition (disc diffusion agar and well diffusion agar) on Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi, listeria innocua, Staphylococcus epidermidis and Candida albicans. Results: The minimum inhibitory concentration and the minimum fungicidal concentration of aqueous extract of Lepidium draba were 64 and 128 mg/ml for Candida albicans (the most sensitive strain to extract), respectively. The minimum inhibitory concentration of extract for Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi, Listeria innocua, and Staphylococcus epidermidis was 256, 256, 128 and 128 mg/ml, respectively. The minimum bactericidal concentrations of the extract of Lepidium draba for these strains were 256, 256, 128, and 256 mg/ml, respectively. For all infectious strains, analysis of data at 5% significance level showed that, by increasing the concentration of the extract, the diameter of zone of microbial growth inhibition (disk diffusion agar and well agar diffusion) had increased. The results showed that the diameter of zone of microbial growth inhibition in the well agar diffusion method was higher than the disk agar diffusion method. Conclusion: The extract of the Lepidium draba had antimicrobial effect on all strains. The most susceptible and resistant to this extract were candida albicans and Escherichia coli, respectively. It is recommended that further studies be conducted in vitro and animal model to use this plant for treating infectious diseases and control the growth of Pathogenic microorganisms.