frequency distribution of parainfluenza, adeno and respiratory syncytial virus infections in children below 2 years old with bronchiolititis, by multiplex polymerase chain reaction method, afzalipoor hospital, kerman, 2006

Acute respiratory infections are common cause of mortality during childhood. This study was designed to determine the incidence of adenovirus, parainfluenza virus and respiratory syncytial virus in respiratory infections by Multiplex PCR method. This study included 168 children under 2 years of age with clinical diagnosis of bronchiolitis. Nasopharyngeal specimens were taken and transferred to the virology laboratory in VTM transport medium. Following extraction of viral DNA and RNA, Multiplex RT-PCR was performed. From 168 specimens, 33 cases [19.6%] were infected with parainfluenza viruses, 18 cases [10.7%] with adenovirus and 63 cases [37.5%] with RSV. The rest of the specimens were negative for these viruses, which indicated that these specimens had been probably infected with other viral agents not investigated in this study, or with mycoplasma. No significant correlation was found between WBC count, ESR values, degree of air trapping, coryza, fever, cough, retraction rale, wheezing and the type of viral infection. Also no significant correlation was found based on age, sex or general condition of patients. Major causes of viral infections in this study were respectively respiratory syncytial virus [RSV], parainfluenza and adenovirus

[Determination of reservoir[s] and vector[s] of cutaneous leishmaniasis by nested-PCR in Marvdasht District, Fars Province, Southern Iran]

Cutaneous leishmaniasis [CL] is an increasing public health problem in several parts of Iran. In southern parts, the incidence of CL has been doubled over the last decade. This epidemiological study was done for determination of reservoir[s] and vector[s] of cutaneous leishmaniasis in rural regions of Marvdasht, Fars province, southern Iran during 2003 and 2004. A total of 126 rodents were collected from three villages using live traps and their Giemsa-stained smears were studied for leishmania infection. After DNA extraction from positive smears, Nested-PCR was used for the identification of parasite species. In another procedure, 200 sand flies were collected by aspirator and after species identification DNA extraction and PCR was done. The collected samples included Meriones libycus [75.4%], Cricetulus migratorius [14.3%] and Microtus arualis [10.3%]. Eight out of 95 Meriones libycus [8.4%] were found to be infected with Leishmania major. None of the other species were positive. Among the collected female sandflies 75% were identified to be Phlebotomus papatasi and 2.7% of them were found with L.major infection. Only 2.7% of Phlebotomus papatasi were found naturally infected with Leishmania major. This is the first report of detection of L.major by Nested-PCR in P.papatasi as a proven principal vector of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis in Fars province, south of Iran

[Determination of fauna and monthly activity of sandflies in the south of baft district, Kerman Province in 2004]

In the recent years, there has been an increasing rate of kala-azar disease in the south of Baft [Kerman/Iran]. A survey on the records of admitted patients in the main hospital of Kerman city from 1993- 2003 showed that from the total of 36 cases of visceral Leishmaniasis, 12 cases [33/3%] were from south Baft. Since awareness of visceral Leishmaniasis vectors status has a key role in disease control and programming, this study was carried out in order to determine the fauna, monthly activity, host preference, and susceptibility of dominant species to 4% D.D.T insecticide. For this purpose, 1710 sandflies [17 species] were collected by sticky traps and aspiratory methods and based on the standards during their monthly activity. The results of the investigation showed that the activity of sand flies starts in April and ends in October with two Peaks in July and September. The predominant species of this area were P. papatasi [33.74%] and P. alexandri [29.82%] that were observed during all months of sandflies activity. According to the result of blood-fed index by ELISA test and using dog and human antiserums, P. papatasi [43/3%] and P. alexandri [33/3%] were positive to human blood. Diagnostic dosage test showed that P. papatasi is susceptible to D.D.T 4% with one hour exposure

Nitric oxide production following vaccination with killed mycobacterium tuberculosis [H37Rv] and BCG

Protective immune response induced by viable BCG has been suggested by several investigators. Both killed BCG and Mycobacterium tuberculosis are able to induce response. Nitric oxide [NO] is one of the non- specific responses produced against these agents. To survey the effect of alive, killed BCG and also killed Mycobacterium tuberculosis [H37Rv strain] on NO Production. 6-8- week-old female BALB/c mice were used. Three groups were vaccinated with viable, killed BCG and killed Mtb, respectively. One group received PBS as a control. After 5-8 weeks of vaccination, peritoneal cells of all groups were collected in usual manner and plated out in 96-well plates. Cells were treated with killed H37Rv, killed BCG and viable BCG alone or with rIFN gamma and NO inhibitors [aminoguanidine and NGMA]. Supernatant of each well was collected after 24h. NO level was estimated by Griess method by ELISA reader at 540nm absorbance. Results indicated that NO induction level in vaccinated groups were higher than control [P