Seroprevalence of Toxocara in Children from Urban and Rural Areas of Ilam Province, West Iran

OBJECTIVES: The present study was performed to determine the seroprevalence of Toxocara in children ≤ 10 years old, from rural and urban areas of Ilam. METHODS: Serum samples from 383 children ≤ 10 years old, were selected randomly from rural and urban areas of Ilam province and surveyed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. RESULTS: The total rate of infection with Toxocara was 22% (31% with a history of contact with dogs and cats, and 14% without a history of contact). Of those infected, 23% were male and 18% were female, 36% lived a rural life and 20% had an urban life. A significant correlation was found between the incidence of disease, and urban and rural life, as well as exposure to dogs and cats. There was no correlation between prevalence and gender or age. CONCLUSION: Given the high prevalence of infection with Toxocara amongst children in Ilam province, preventive work in the community such as education in risk management and periodic treatment with anti-parasitic drugs and elimination of stray dogs and cats is an appropriate measure.

New features of fascioliasis in human and animal infections in Ilam province, western Iran

The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of human and animal fascioliasis in ILam Province, Iran. Fascioliasis, caused by Fasciola hepatica, is one of the most important zoonotic diseases. Snails are an intermediate host. Human infection with the parasite can led to hypertrophy and hyperplasia in bile duct. It also economic importance and further information is essential about the epidemiology of the parasite in ILam province. The study on animals was descriptive and retrospective. All records from abattoirs were analyzed. It was conducted on 27242 indigenous animals including 17055 sheep, 5703 goats, and 4484 cattle. For the study of human Fascioliasis infection 600 human sera, from person among 5-80 year old, were collected and ELISA test was used for identification of IgG antibody to Fasciola hepatica by commercial kit. The overall prevalence of Fasciola hepatica among 27242 slaughtered animals was 0.98%. Out of 267 domestic animals, 98 sheep, 28 goats and 141 cattle were infected with the parasite. The highest and lowest infection rate of 3.14% and 0.1% were cattle and goat, respectively. The prevalence of IgG antibody was 0.66% [n = 4] against Fasciola hepatica in humans. Three infected people were living in rural areas. The highest infection rate [3 people] was found in women. Ilam province is among the areas where the prevalence of Fasciola hepatica is low. This is probably due to the drought in the region in recent years that makes conditions difficult for the survival of snails, the intermediate hosts. But there is a risk of the disease increasing in incidence, in this region

Prevalence of helminthes infection of stray dogs in Ilam Province

Stray dogs are considered as an important health problem in societies because they can carry dangerous diseases such as hydatidosis, toxocariasis and coenurus cerebralis to humans and animals. Therefore, the study of helminthes infections in all parts of Iran for evaluation of infection state, and provision of the infection control programs is essential. The aim of this study, was to determine the prevalence of parasitic cestodes in stray dogs around Ilam city. In this study, 65 stray dogs were killed by shooting with the municipality officers and were dissected considering health rules. After laparotomy, internal organs are inspected, and bowels completely collected in separate containers containing 10% formaldehyde. Transferring the samples to the parasitological laboratory, the bowels were cut using forceps, and its contents passed through the sieve, and the worms were separated. Azo carmine and carminic acid staining was used for diagnosis of isolated cestodes. The number of 65 dogs, 54 dogs [83%] had at least one species of cestodes; that 32% [21 dogs] infected by Taenia ovis, 9% [6 dogs] by Echinococcus granulosus, 15.4% [10 dogs] by Taenia hydatigena, 20% [13 dogs] by Taenia multiceps, 18.5 /% [12 dogs] by Dipylidium caninum and 10.8% [7 dogs] by Mesocestoides lineatus. In this study, it was shown that helminthic rate in stray dogs is very high around Ilam. These parasites are important in terms of health and economic aspects. Therefore, it is more essential that we note to parasitic infections, to develop control programs

Assessment of the microbiological safety of salad vegetables from different restaurants in Ilam

Vegetables, used in preparing salads, are most important part of the diet. These materials are often irrigated by untreated urban wastewater. Wastewater, contaminated with ova of parasites, bacteria and protozoa, are used as fertilizers and it can cause a variety of infectious diseases. The purpose of this study is detection of microbial contamination of salad used in Ilam's restaurants. In this study, 42 samples were collected from all restaurants placed in Ilam city and transferred to the laboratory. Brilliant Green Medium, Trypton water and Coax reagent used for detection of Escherichia coli. Water broth, Selenit systein, Tetrationat, Salmonella-shigella agar and Briliant green was used for identification of salmonella. For detection of Enterococcus, KF agar medium containing a diphenyl Tetrazolium chloride was used. Sabro dextrose agar medium [SDA] was used for detection of mold and yeast and wet mount and concentration methods used for parasitology investigations. The results of this study indicate that about 66.66% of samples were infected with Enterococcus, 69% had E. coli contamination and 83.33% of samples were contaminated with yeast. Samples were negative for presence of Salmonella and mold [mold not more than 103]. Parasites contamination of samples was [4 cases] 9.5% for Giardia lamblia, [10 cases] 23.8% for Taenia eggs, 31% [13 cases] for Hymenolepis nana 16.6% [7 cases] for Entamoeba coli. The results of this study showed that salads are contaminated with infectious agent and the use of appropriate disinfectants and washing the vegetables used in salad preparation is essential for controlling infectious diseases

Echinococcosis/hydatidosis in Ilam province, western Iran

Hydatidosis is a zoonotic disease of global prevalence. It causes considerable health problems and economic losses throughout the world, including Iran. The objective of this study was to assess the current status of echinococco-sis/hydatidosis in the province of Ilam [western Iran]. From April to September 2011, 65 stray dogs were collected from urban and rural areas of Ilam City. Parasites were isolated from the dogs and stained with carmine. A taxonomic study was carried out by measuring different parts of hel-minths. Meat inspection documents from slaughterhouses in Ilam were used to assess the prevalence of hydatidosis during a 3-year period in sheep, cattle, and goats. ELISA test was used to detect the presence of antibodies to hydatidosis in human sera. Clinical records from 2000 to 2010 of either treated or diagnosed patients from public hospitals of this province were reviewed. The prevalence of Echinococcus granulosus infection in stray dogs was 9%. A total of 81,726 animals were assessed for hydatidosis; 2.94% [2403 cases] had liver hydatidosis and 2.34% [1918 cases] had lung hydatidosis. Within a 10-year period, 140 patients [91 females and 49 males] were treated for hydatidosis. Of 1200 human sera, 2.25% [27 patients] were seropositive for hydatidosis. Hydatidosis is endemic in Ilam Province especially in rural area. The health and economic losses caused by the disease are significant; thus, our efforts need to be focused on the control of this disease

Evaluation of rabbit antibody response against 8 and 16 kDa recombinant subunits of antigen B from Echinococcus granulosus

OBJECTIVE@#To immunize rabbits with 12 and 16 kDa recombinant subunits of antigen B from Echinococcus granulosus (E. granulosus) and measuring polyclonal antibody and humoral immune response using ELISA and gel diffusion.@*METHODS@#Two mentioned antigens were cloned and expressed in expression vector and purified by affinity chromatography. Four young rabbits were selected and challenged intradermally with yielded recombinant antigens. Rabbits' sera were collected post infection and were tested using ELISA and gel diffusion for polyclonal antibody detection 10 days after last injection.@*RESULTS@#The specific antibody against the recombinant peptides was efficiently produced within 4 weeks post infection.@*CONCLUSIONS@#Produced recombinants proteins could induce the immune response of the rabbits successfully. This process might improve the clarification of diagnosis and vaccination as regards hydatidosis.

Evaluation of fast-ELISA versus standard-ELISA to diagnose human fasciolosis

Background: the present study was conducted to evaluate and compare a fast-ELISA [F-ELISA] method versus standard- ELISA [S-ELISA] to diagnose human fasciolosis

Methods: serum samples were obtained from 35 individuals infected with fasciolosis, 27 infected with other parasitoses and 22 from healthy people. The samples were examined with S-ELISA [30-minute incubation periods] and F-ELISA [10-minute incubation periods] for total antibody response against fasciolosis

Results: the optimum conditions for S-ELISA and F-ELISA were respectively as follows: antigen 10 and 5 micro g/mL, sera 1:500 dilution for both, peroxidase-conjugated goat anti-human IgG diluted 1:7000 and 1:10000. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 11.0. Cut-off vale for S-ELISA and F-ELISA was determined as 0.56 and 0.42, respectively. The sensitivity, specificity; positive, and negative predictive values were detected as 97.2%, 100%, 94.6%, and 95.6% for both tests

Conclusion: cut-off values, sensitivity, specificity, and other important parameters of the two evaluated tests determined that the F-ELISA method could be used with no detectable difference