Evaluation of ELISA and brucellacapt tests for diagnosis of human brucellosis

Brucellosis is one of the most common zoonotic diseases in Iran and human brucellosis is endemic in all parts of the country. Because of the difficulty in the diagnosis of brucellosis, particularly in endemic areas, the use of new and feasible diagnostic tests seem to be of great importance for resolving the diagnostic obstacles. We evaluated the usefulness of a new serological test based on an immunocapture-agglutination technique in comparison with ELISA test for serological diagnosis of brucellosis. A total of 11 patients with brucellosis, who had positive blood cultures for BruceIla species, and 47 suspected patients were included in this study. Serum samples collected from these patients were tested by brucellacapt and ELISA and the results were, consequently, compared. In patients with positive blood culture, all the samples gave positive results with brucellacapt test while IgM ELISA, IgG ELISA and [IgG + IgM] ELISA tests were positive in 8, 9 and 11 patients, respectively. Out of the 46 suspected patients, [IgG + IgM] ELISA, Brucellacapt, IgG ELISA and IgM ELISA were positive in 37, 15, 34 and 37 patients, respectively. The best cut-off point ofELISA-IgG was 10.78 IU/ml which produced the maximal sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of human brucellosis. Both the [IgG + IgM] ELISA and Brucellacapt tests demonstrate a high specificity in this study. According to the results of the current study, it is found that both tests are valuable tools for diagnosis of brucellosis in Iran as an endemic area of brucellosis. It is strongly suggested that a combination of both tests to be used for the diagnosis of brucellosis

Effects of low-power gallium aluminium arsenide laser irradiation on the mast cells of skin wounds in rats

Low-power lasers relief pain in some musculoskeletal disorders and accelerate wound healing process. However, there are few reports on effects of low-power lasers on mast cells. In this study the effects of low-power gallium aluminium arsenide laser [Ga.Al. As.laser] radiation on number and degranulation of mast cells of open skin wound bed of rats were studied using quantitative histological methods. Forty-six male rats were randomly divided into experimental and control groups. Each group divided into 3 subgroups based on duration of study: 4, 7 and 15 days. Under general anesthesia and sterile conditions one circular full thickness skin wound was made on the dorsum of neck of each rat. The wounding day was considered as the day zero. From the day one, experimental rats received Ga. Al. Ar. laser radiation at anenergy density of 1.2 J/cm [2]. After doing daily treatments, on days 4, 7 and 15, rats were killed by ether and samples were obtained from wound bed and normal adjacent skin from each rat. Samples were fixed in formalin saline and were prepared for routine histological study. Sections were stained by 0.1% watery solution of toluidine blue and total number of mast cells and their grades [one, two and three] were counted. In grade one, mast cell is intact, in grade two some granules have been extruded from the cell and in the mast cells of grade 3, degranulation is more extensive and widespread. Data were analysed by Student t test. On the day 4, total number and grade one mast cells were significantly higher in the control group [P<0.01]. On days 7 and 15, total number of mast cells and their grades were higher in the experimental group. The grade 2 mast cells on day 7 and grade 1 mast cells on day 15 of experimental group was significantly higher than control group [P<0.05]. Low-power gallium aluminium arsenide laser irradiation on open skin wound of rats reduced significantly total number of mast cells and intact ones at inflammatory phase, and significantly increased active mast cells at proliferation, and intact ones at remodeling phases of the wound healing process