Rafidain Journal of Science

Serum samples collected from (566) aborted ewes were examined serologically for the presence of toxoplasma and brucella antibodies in Ninevah by using indirect haemagglutination test (IHAT) for toxoplasmosis and by using Rose Bengal plate agglutination test (RBPT) for brucellosis. Also vaginal swabs were cultured on modified brucella agar followed by biochemical test to confirm the positive samples with RBPT From the specimens examined. (45.78%) gave positive reactions to IHAT and (18.5%), (13.5%) gave positive reactions to RBPT and culture respectively. The antibodies titers in IHAT ranging from 1/16 to 1/256 and the titer 1/32 showed highest positive cases while the titer 1/256 showed fewest positive cases.

Many selective simple and differential nutrient media were used for the isolation and identification of Aeromonas species. As for cultural characteristics, an examination of Modified Rimler Shotts was carried out and it was found that this medium was preferable for isolating Aeromonas species. This might be because this medium gave a kaleidoscopic colour variations for different Aeromonas species, besides some other positive discerning characteristics that this medium provides while other media block distinction. By accounting the recovery percentage compared to nutrient agar medium, it was noticed the A. sobria was the better growth on MRS medium followed by A. hydrophila and A. caviae.

Standard wounds were made in the backs of 20 rabbits, four groups were divided every group contain five animals which were then treated for 7 days as follows: First: sterile wounds without treatment ; Second: infected wounds with no treatment ; Third: infected wounds dressing with honey; and, Fourth: infected wounds treated with 3% hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Wounds were infected by inoculating Staphylococcus aureus . All treated wounds showed reduction of inflammatory exudation, faster wound contraction, granulation tissue formation and epithelization. However, the overall healing was significantly higher in wounds treated with honey as compared to H2O2 treated wounds. Honey treated wounds, showed less neutrophilic infiltration and marked proliferation of angioblasts and fibroblasts in comparison to H2O2 treated wounds. Moreover, infected wounds became sterile within one week of application of honey

The brachial plexus of sixty upper limbs belongs to thirty Iraqi cadavers were examined searching for variations. This study ducuments some variation which have not been reported by previous workers.

This study include (408) anaemic children (243 Male and 165 Female) with ratio (1.4: 1) their haemoglobin level was below 100 g/l.
They were admitted to Ibin-Al-Atheir paediatric hospital in Mosul from February till September 1997. Routine haematological tests were done and some special haematological tests were performed when indicated. Three hundred children 300 out of 408 (73.5%) were admitted because of infection. The most common type of anaemia was normochromic normocytic as (53.18%), the second anaemia type was hypochromic microcytic anaemia (32.11%), haemolytic anaemia represented (8.83%), the rest type of anaemia were normochromic macrocytic anaemia (5.14%) and dimorphic anaemia (0.74%).
While children below three years of age showed microcytic hypochromic anaemia of moderate type and 36 (8.83 %) suffered from haemolytic anaemia.

Twelve isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa were collected from different human infection cases, from Al-Razzi teaching hospital laboratories in Mosul. They were diagnosed using the API 20E System. The bacterial isolates were classified into four groups according to their resistance to six antibiotics (ampicillin, tetracycline, chloramphenicol, gentamycine, streptomycin and trimethoprim).
No spontaneous curing for plasmid DNA content that confer resistance to above antibiotics, was observed in the tested isolates. But, by using the sodium dodecyl sulfate at concentration of 1% (W/V) with different incubation periods as curing agent, the bacterial colonies that lost their antibiotics resistance appeared with different curing rates. The results showed 100% of curing for streptomycin resistance while for chloramphenicol and tetracycline the curing percent occurred between 17% to 83% and little effect of SDS on ampicillin and trimethoprime resistance in some isolates. In addition, curing of plasmid DNA by elevated temperature (45°C) was carried out and the results revealed high percentage of curing for all antibiotics resistance as they were compared with that induced by the action of SDS. The percentages of bacterial colonies that lost their antibiotic resistance were more than 60% and reached to 100% for curing the ampicillin resistance in the three tested isolates.

Different concentrations of seed extract of anise Pimpinella anisum L. were tested against 2nd instar larvae of mosquito Culex pipiens molestus F. One hundred percent mortality was observed at 10 µg/ml and the LC50 was 7 µg/ml after 48h following exposure.Results showed that seed extract was effective up to 30 days of storage. The seed extract exhibited growth-inhibiting activity. Various morphogenetic aberrations was found in the mosquito after treatment of 2nd instar larvae. Most of the treated larvae died in the larval exuvium. Unmelanized and melanized pupae were also noted and the adults were unable to free their appendages.