ABSTRACT
Tuberculosis [TB] is an important issue which its control is still unsatisfactory at global level. Traditional diagnostic techniques for active TB diagnosis are inadequate: the diagnostic gold standard is the culturel exam which suffers from lengthy processing and requires highly specialized laboratories. Nowadays more specifie tests hâve been recommended. The aim of this study is to evaluate the performance of Quanti FERON-TB [QFT] Gold In Tube-Test as a substitute for specifie test tuberculin skin test for diagnosis of latent tuberculosis infection in high risk groups. One hundred thirty four [134] individuels who worked in Bo-Ali hospital [Zahedan] enrolled in this study. They had no active tuberculosis. TST and QFT tests were performed. The cut-off point of TST was considered based on 15 [mm] or more indurations as positive. The resuit of QFT was evaluated by manufactured guidelines. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify the putative risk factors of positive tests. Proportion of employees with latent TB were 1 1 1 [82.8%] were positive by either TST or QFT, and 76[56.7%] were positive by both tests. Agreement between the tests was high [73.8%, k=0.39; 95% E.21-0.44]. Positive family history of Tuberculosis was significant risk factor for both positive tests. This study showed high latent tuberculosis infection prevalence in hospital workers and high agreement between TST and QFT. Decision to select one of the tests will be depended on the population, purpose of study and availability of resources. The results revealed that the QFT can be appropriate alternative test for high risk group
ABSTRACT
To clinically characterize the cutaneous leishmaniasis and identify the causative parasite species in Mirjaveh, an important geographical region across the border of Iran-Pakistan at Southeast of Iran. A number of 116 patients during a year since March 2005 to April 2006, subjected to the study. Clinical information collected and scrapings were taken from cutaneous lesions and used for microscopic examination, NNN cultivation and kinetoplast DNA-PCR amplification. The cases comprised of 48 males and 68 females, 84 [72.4%] Iranians and 32 [27.6%] non-Iranians. They aged between 2 months to 68 years with the most affection of children, 0-10 years [55.2%]. The patients presented a total of 248 active lesions with an average of 2.14. The ulcers distributed mostly on upper extremity [42.3%] then on face [32.7%], followed by lower extremity [20.6%] and other parts [4.4%]. The majority of ulcers stated to be developed rapidly, <1 month [40.3%] or 1-2 months [45.2%]. However, from 248 ulcers, only 19 [7.7%] found to be wet and the remaining were dry or moderately wet, 45 [18.1%] and 184 [74.2%], respectively. kDNA-PCR assay detected 51 out of 73 samples, all of which were identified as L. major, the causative agent of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis. L. major is the species responsible for cutaneous leishmaniasis in Mirjaveh, however the pattern of clinical findings, does not completely resemble the ZCL characteristics. These indicate that the manifestation of the lesions may not necessarily correspond to the Leishmania species and may be unreliable to conclude the speciation of parasite without laboratory identification