title: Evidence of morphine like substance and μ-opioid receptor expression inToxacara canis(Nematoda: Ascaridae).
abstract: Toxocara canis(Nematoda: Ascaridae) is an intestinal nematode parasite of dogs, which can also cause disease in humans. Transmission to humans usually occurs because of direct contact withT. caniseggs present in soil contaminated with the feces of infected dogs. This nematode has extraordinary abilities to survive for many years in different tissues of vertebrates, and develop to maturity in the intestinal tract of its definitive host. Survival of parasitic nematodes within a host requires immune evasion using complicated pathways. Morphine-like substance, as well as opioids, which are known as down regulating agents, can modulate both innate and acquired immune responses, and let the parasite survives in their hosts. In the present study, we aimed to find evidences of morphine-like substance and µ-opiate receptor expression inT. canis, using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The results indicated thatT. canisproduced morphine-like substances at the level of 2.31± 0.26 ng g-1wet weight, and expressed µ-opiate receptor as in expected size of 441 bp. According to our findings, it was concluded thatT. canis, benefits using morphine-like substance to modulate host immunity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran.
authors.forename: Mostafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Golabi
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran.
authors.forename: Soraya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Naem
authors.affiliation: Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran.
authors.forename: Mehdi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Imani
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran.
authors.forename: Nowruz
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Dalirezh
keywords: HPLC; Immune modulation; Morphine-like substance; RT-PCR; Toxacara canis