Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii among HIV Patients in Jahrom, Southern Iran

Toxoplasma gondii is an important opportunistic agent especially in immunocompromised hosts and can cause significant morbidity and mortality. Hence, detection and monitoring of anti-Toxoplasma antibodies are of a great interest in HIV-infected patients. A study on the prevalence of toxoplasmosis and associated risk factors was carried out among HIV-infected patients in Jahrom, southern Iran. The prevalence of anti-Toxoplasma IgG antibodies was 21.1% in HIV-infected patients by ELISA. PCR was performed on all of the samples, and 1 of the blood samples was positively detected. Among the HIV patients, anti-Toxoplasma IgG antibodies were significantly higher in age group of 30–39 years old (P=0.05). The seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis in patients with CD4+<100 cells/μl was 33.3% that was significantly higher than the other groups (P=0.042) with or without IgG antibodies. The CD4+ count mean of seropositive patients was lower than that of seronegative patients. The seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis in patients with highly active antiretroviral therapy was significantly less than patients without therapy (P=0.02). In conclusion, this study showed low seroprevalence of latent toxoplasmosis among HIV-infected patients in the region and confirmed the need for intensifying prevention efforts among this high-risk population and also the risk of toxoplasmosis reactivation which could be important among this population.

VanA and vanb positive vancomycin-resistant staphylococcus aureus among clinical isolates in Shiras, South of Iran

The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of vancomycinresistant Staphylococcus aureus isolated from clinical samples in Shiraz hospitals. From March to December 2012, 100 S aureus isolates [mainly from wound and blood] were collected from three hospitals in Shiraz, south of Iran, After identification of Staphylococcus aureus by biochemical, microbiological and molecular methods, antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed by Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion test for 13 different antibiotics Vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolates were determined by vancomycin agar screening test and PCR for vancomycin resistant genes [vanA and vanB]. The lowest and highest resistance was seen for quinupristin-dalfopristin [n=l] and ampicillin [n=95], respectively Vancomycin agar screening test showed that 37 isolates can grow on these media. Further study by PCR also detected vanA and/or vanB genes in all of these strains Also, 19 isolates showed either vanA or vanB but were susceptible according to vancomycin agar screening test. In total, van A and vanB resistant genes were detected in 34% and 37% of clinical isolates, respectively. The results showed that the frequency of vancomycin resistance genes [vanA, vanB] is very high in Staphylococcus aureus strains isolated from patients in south of Iran. Thus, urgent interventions are needed to keep the emergence and transmission of these isolates to a minimum

role of rotavirus in acute pediatric diarrhea in Isfahan, Iran

Acute diarrhea is one of the most important causes of morbidity and mortality in young children. This study was conducted to assess the prevalence of rotavirus infections in children with acute gastroenteritis in Isfahan. Also seasonal variations and the effects of environmental conditions, type of nutrition and child care on the prevalence of rotavirus infections are evaluated. A total of 185 hospitalized children with acute diarrhea and 91 controls were selected by simple random sampling. Stool specimens were obtained at the time of admission and checked for rotavirus antigens by ELISA method. Demographic data regarding age, sex, type of nutrition [breast-fed vs. bottle-fed] and child care [at home vs. day care-center] of children with acute diarrhea were also recorded. Rotavirus was detected in the feces of 57 [30.8%] children with acute diarrhea and 11 [12.1%] stool samples from control children [p<0.05]. 84.2% of cases with rotavirus gastroenteritis were under 2 years of age with highest prevalence in children 6-12 months of age. The relative frequency of rotavirus gastroenteritis was higher in winter [41.4%] than other seasons. Bottle-fed children and those cared at child care centers showed higher relative frequency of rotavirus gastroenteritis. Rotaviruses are important and prevalent etiologic agents of acute gastroenteritis in young children in Isfahan. Being in day care centers and bottle-feeding can serve as precipitating factors of rotavirus diseases in this age group