[ correlation between clinical signs and genotypes of giardia duodenalis isolated from patients with giardiasis in Kerman City]

Giardiasis is one of the human parasitic diseases caused by a flagellate protozoan named Giardia duodenalis [G.lamblia]. Giardia is one of the most common organisms causing diarrhea in human and also a common gastrointestinal parasite in vertebrates. A total of 352 stool samples were collected from patients infected with giardiasis referred to health centers in Kerman city. Samples were examined by formalin- ether concentration procedure. First, DNA extraction was performed on 30 stool samples containing adequate Giardia cysts and then PCR-RFLP was done on glultamate dehydrogenase [gdh] marker. Clinical signs of patients were recorded in a questionnaire and their relationships with molecular results were analyzed. The highest rate of infection was in the age group of 0-12 years with significant difference with other age groups [P<0.0001]. The most common clinical signs were abdominal pain [71.7%], diarrhea [69%], abdominal cramping [54.1%] and the least common signs were malaise [20.4%] and fever [16.1%]. Of all 30 isolates, 18 samples [60%] were found as genotype All, 5 ones [16.7%] belonged to Al assemblage and 7 samples [23.3%] were BIII assemblage. There was a significant difference between genotyping of Giardia and clinical signs of diarrhea, abdominal signs and nausea [P<0.05]. Higher prevalence of Giardiasis was found in the age group below 12 years, but clinical signs in different age groups and two sexes were identical. Assemblage A showed correlation with mild intermittent diarrhea and assemblage B had correlation with persistent diarrhea

[Sonographic and serological survey of hydatid disease in rural regions of Shahdad and Chatroud, Kerman province, 2006-2007]

Human cystic Echinococcosis [CE] caused by larval stage of Echinococcus granulosus, has a cosmopolitan distribution and is particularly more prevalent in rural regions. Iran is an endemic focus for CE and human cases are reported regularly from medical centers in different parts of Iran including Kerman. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of hydatidosis among rural communities in Shahdad and Chatroud in Kerman province. A total of 451 individuals [87 males and 364 females] were selected by randomized cluster sampling between 2006 and 2007. Demographic features were recorded in a questionnaire and abdominal ultrasonography was carried out. Then 5 ml venous blood sample was collected for ELISA test. Data were analyzed using Chi-square test and Multivariate logistic regression for risk factors analysis. Two hydatid cases [0.4%] were detected by ultrasonography. Serological results showed 8.8% [37 cases] seropositivity, and females [9.7%] were more positive than males [4.9%]. There was a significant difference in CE prevalence in different age groups [p=0.012]. Results showed the seroprevalence of 8.5% and 9% in Shahdad and Chatroud respectively and there was no significant difference in CE prevalence rates between the two regions. Multivariate logistic regression showed that females were 4.6 times more likely to be infected than males [OR=4.6, 95% CI=1.27-16.79]. Proper washing of vegetables decreased the probability of infection by 71% [OR=0.29, 95% CI=0.13-0.65].Dog ownership was not a significant risk factor of CE [OR=0.28, 95% CI=0.06-1.22, P=0.09]. Housewives [9.6%] and farmers [9.1%] were more seropositve than other groups. The study showed that seroprevalence of hydatid disease is relatively high in rural regions of Shahdad and Chatroud

Epidemiology of cryptosporidium infection of cattle in kerman/Iran and molecular genotyping of some isolates

Cryptosporidiosis is one of the most important parasitic zoonoses of human and animals. This infection is common in mammals and caused by the coccidian parasites of the genus Cryptosporidium. The Present study was designed to determine the epidemiology of Cryptosporidium infection in cattle in Kerman by using conventional morphological as well as molecular methods for molecular characterization. Fecal samples of cattle were collected fresh and directly from the rectum. Cryptosporidium oocysts were isolated by using formalin-ether sedimentation method followed by modified Ziehl-Neelsen staining technique. DNA of a number of isolates was extracted using QIAamp DNA stool mini kit [Qiagen]. A nested PCR-RFLP protocol amplifying - 850 bp fragment of SSU-rRNA gene used to differentiate species and genotypes of the isolates, using Sspl and Vspl as two restriction endonucleases. For each slide at least 20 oocysts were measured. Seventy eight of 412 cattle [18.9%] were found to be infected. Cryptosporidium infection was associated with diarrhea [P = 0.026] in a way that 31.8% of diarrheic cattle [14.44] and 17.4% of non diarrheic cattle [64.368] were infected. The rate of infection in suckling calves <2 months age was significantly higher than others [45.134 vs. 33.6%, P = 0.000]. In this study 4 isolates of C. andersoni and 8 isolates of C. parvum were found for the first time in Iran by using molecular techniques. Cryptosporidium infection is common in cattle of Kerman. Moreover, in spite of the presence of C.parvum as the dominant species in Iran, the presence of C. andersoni in Iran is reported for the first time by molecular techniques. Economic and public health problems resulted from infection by C.andersoni require more investigations in other parts of Kerman province and Iran