Seroprevalence of Brucellosis,Leptospirosis, and Q Fever among Butchers and Slaughterhouse Workers in South-Eastern Iran

Zoonotic diseases can be occupational hazards to people who work in close contact with animals or their carcasses. In this cross-sectional study, 190 sera were collected from butchers and slaughterhouse workers in different regions of the Sistan va Baluchestan province, in Iran in 2011. A questionnaire was filled for each participant to document personal and behavioural information. The sera were tested for detection of specific IgG antibodies against brucellosis, leptospirosis, and Q fever (phase I and II) using commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). The seroprevalence of brucellosis was 7.9%, leptospirosis 23.4%, and phase I and II of Q fever were 18.1% and 14.4%, respectively. The seroprevalence of Q fever and leptospirosis, but not brucellosis, varied among regions within the province (p = 0.01). Additionally, a significant relationship was found between seropositivity of Q fever and camel slaughtering (p = 0.04). Reduced seropositivity rate of brucellosis was associated with use of personal protective equipment (PPE) (p = 0.004). This study shows that brucellosis, leptospirosis and Q fever occur among butchers and slaughterhouse workers in this area.     

Comparative floral development in Lamioideae (Lamiaceae): Marrubium,Phlomis, and Stachys

A comparative study of floral ontogeny and development was carried out on three genera (Marrubium L., Phlomis L., Stachys L.), representing three tribes of Lamioideae (Marrubieae, Phlomideae, Stachydeae) using epi-illumination light microscopy. The sequence of organ whorl appearance in all three genera is sepals, petals plus stamens, and carpels. Sepal appearance is reversed unidirectional starting from the adaxial side in all except Phlomis, which is unidirectional. Order of petal appearance is bidirectional in Marrubium and Stachys, and simultaneous in Phlomis. Stamens appear unidirectionally starting from the adaxial side in all except in Phlomis, which has an abaxial to adaxial unidirectional sequence. Significant developmental features distinguishing the three genera from each other include (1) weakly monosymmetric, elongated calyx tube, five-lobed corolla, divergent anthers with thecae transverse to the filament, unequally bifid stigma and ovary with glandular hairs in Marrubium; (2) actinomorphic hairy calyx, four-lobed corolla and unequally bifid stigma in Phlomis; and (3) glabrous calyx, equally bifid stigma and symmetric disc nectary in Stachys. Our results indicate some potential for floral ontogenetic features in delimiting the different tribes. The hypothetical evolutionary pathway of organogenesis sequences is discussed.     

Polystyrene-bound Mn(T4PyP): A highly efficient and reusable catalyst for biomimetic oxidative decarboxylation of carboxylic acids with sodium periodate

In this report, highly efficient oxidative decarboxylation of carboxylic acids with sodium periodate catalyzed by a supported manganese(III) porphyrin is described. In the presence of manganese(III) tetra(4-pyridyl)porphyrin supported on cross-linked chloromethylated polystyrene, [Mn(T4PyP)-CMP], as catalyst, carboxylic acids were converted to their corresponding carbonyl compounds via oxidative decarboxylation with sodium periodate using imidazole as axial ligand. The oxidation of anti-inflammatory drugs such Indomethacin and Ibuprofen was carried out successfully and the decarboxylated products were obtained. This catalyst can be reused several times without loss of its catalytic activity in the oxidation reactions.