Detection and genotyping of helicobacter pylori among gastric ulcer and cancer patients from Saudi Arabia

Background and Objectives: Helicobacter pylori [H. pylori] infection is cause of several gastrointestinal diseases in humans. Virulence genes of H. pylori are associated with severity of disease and vary geographically. The aim of present study was to detect H. pylori in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded [FFPE] tissues and further investigate prevalence of babA2, cagA, iceA1, iceA2, vacA s1/s2 and vacA m1/m2 genotypes in H. pylori from gastric cancer [GC] and gastric ulcer [GU] patients' biopsy samples

Methods: We used FFPE tissues of 35 GC and 10 GU patients' biopsy samples. Using Polymerase Chain Reaction [PCR], detection of H. pylori strain was performed by using specific primers targeting 16S rRNA and ureC encodes for phosphoglucosamine mutase genes. We have identified different virulence genes of H. pylori by PCR

Results: Of all the 45 samples tested, 20 GC and all 10 GU samples were positive for identification of H. pylori using specific genes [16S rRNA and ureC]. The prevalence of babA2 [100%] was significantly higher in GC as compared to GU [40%] samples. The rate of virulence genes vacAs1 was higher in both GU 8 [80%] and GC [100%]

Conclusions: Our study finds that vacAs1am1 and babA2 are most prominent genotypes and may play role in development of Gastric cancer

Genotype and antiretroviral drug resistance of human immunodeficiency virus-1 in Saudi Arabia

To analyze antiretroviral drug resistance and determine the genotype of human immunodeficiency virus [HIV]-l in Saudi patients by sequencing an amplified region of the viral pol gene. This retrospective study analyzed data from plasma samples submitted for genotypic drug sensitivity monitoring. Samples were analyzed at the Special Infectious Agent Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center of King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from August 2004 to June 2009. The Viroseq2.5 kit [Celera/Abbott] was used with ABI Prism 3100 sequencer. All patients were Saudi nationals and were on antiretroviral therapy, some experiencing treatment failure. Based on protease region [PR], genotypes of 63 samples were as follows: C:22, G:21, B:9, CRF02_AG:5, D:3, A:l, F:l, and J:l. Based on reverse transcriptase region [RT], genotypes were as follows: C:23, G:24, B:9, CRF02 AG: 2, D:2, A:l, and F:l. Antiretroviral susceptibility testing results were as follows: 52% of the isolates were susceptible to all 3 major classes of antiretroviral drugs used, 41% had mutations known to confer high level resistance to one or more of the nucleoside analogue reverse transcriptase inhibitors, 16% had mutations known to confer high level resistance to non-nucleoside analogues reverse transcriptase inhibitors, 13% had mutations known to confer high level resistance to one or more of the protease inhibitors [PI]. Most isolates were susceptible to 2 or at least one class of antiretroviral, and only 3% of the isolates had resistance to several members of all 3 classes. Antiretroviral resistance is not uncommon in Saudi patients on antiretroviral therapy

Legionella infection; an environmental and clinical study during hajj season

Respiratory system is most commonly affected during Hajj season. [1] to determine the prevalence of Legionella in drinking water, cooling sprinklers and other sources of water consumed in pilgrimage area of the holy city, Makkah; [2] to study the prevalence of pneumonia caused by Legionella species from clinically suspected cases; and [3] to determine whether there is any relationship disease incidence and water supply system. The clinical samples were received from in-patients of the following five Ministry of Health [MOH] Hospitals; Hera General Hospital, Al-Noor Specialist Hospital, King Faisal Hospital, King Abdul-Aziz Hospital, and Ajyad Hospital during Hajj 2003. The patients included in the study were those who fulfilled the following criteria; clinically diagnosed as pneumonia, negative on routine cultures and found negative for acid fast bacilli [AFB] from sputum/bronchial aspirate [BAL]. Serological tests was done by Enzyme linked Immunosorbent assay [ELISA] for Legionella antibodies total lgG and IgM. Out of total 133 patients suspected for Legionella, 83 [62.4%] were male and 50 [37.6%] female. The male versus female ratio was 1:0.6. The major age group affected was between 50-70 years [63.2%]. There were 4 [3.0%] cases of Legionella species isolated from microbiological cultures. The overall seropositive rate among clinically suspected cases was 4.51%. A total of 560 water samples were collected from Arafat, Muzdalifa, Mena, and areas around the Holy Mosque and found negative for Legionella species. Pneumonia was one of the most common illnesses among pilgrims. The water supplied to all areas of the pilgrimage was free from the Legionella and no link has been established among the patients with water supply systems. Both clinicians' awareness and availability of specialized laboratory tests for atypical pneumonia such as Legionella is necessary. Although, all water samples found negative for Legionella but it is recommended to screen all water reservoirs for Legionella annually before Hajj season

Efficacy of air sampler sartorious MD8 and settle plate method for quantitative estimation of air microorganisms

The main aim of the study was to identify pathogenic strains floating in the environment of Makkah city during Hajj 1424-H and to compare the efficacy of air filter device Sartorious MD8 to the traditional method called exposing settle plate method for the quantitative estimation of microorganisms. Air samples for identification of bacteria and fungi were taken from three different environments; outdoor, indoor, and microbiology department. Seven outdoor locations were selected; Muna, Arafat, Jamarat, slaughter areas, tunnels, grounds and toilet surrounding. For the in-door environment, the following clinical units of Hera General Hospital were selected; intensive care unit, nursery, emergency room, operation room, medical ward, and surgical ward, microbiology environment three places were selected microbiology departments of Hera General Hospital, Al-Noor Specialist Hospital, and Umm Al-Qura University. Mean bacterial and fungal colony count was calculated in each area by both methods. The four major potential human pathogens Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and Aspergillus fumigatus were isolated. Mean bacterial and fungal colony count was significantly found higher in air filter method. The air pier [MD8] was found more effective for monitoring the viable bacteria and fungi in hospital environment outdoor environment as compared to the exposing settle plate method