Alternative drugs against Trichomonas vaginalis

To investigate the effect of drugs other than metronidazole, 3 non- pregnant women infected with Trichomonas vaginalis were treated with doxycycline, 2x200 mg/ day for 1 week. Another 3 women were treated with praziquantel, single dose, 40 mg/ kg body weight. No therapeutic effect was detected for either drug. In vitro, oxytetracycline led to death of T. vaginalis at a concentration of 15 mg in 0.5 mL medium. Extract of Myrtus communis caused death of T. vaginalis at pH 4.65, but failed to do so at pH 6.00. Extract of Eucalyptus comaldensis [50 mg in 0.1 mL medium] at pH 5.35 caused death of T. vaginalis after 24 hours

Intestinal parasites, including Cryptosporidium species, in Iraqi patients with sickle-cell anaemia

Stool samples were obtained from individuals admitted to three hospitals in Basra during November 1997-May 1998. Of 40 patients with sickle-cell anaemia, 25 [62.5%] had parasitic infections. In the apparently healthy comparison group, 26 of 175 individuals [14.8%] had intestinal parasitic infections, a statistically significant difference. The most common intestinal parasites isolated in the sickle-cell patients were Blastocystis hominis [36%] and Giardia lamblia [28%]. The isolation rate of Cryptosporidium species in sickle-cell patients [5%] was not significantly different from that in apparently healthy individuals [1.14%]. We report for the first time the isolation of Isospora belli from a sickle-cell patient in Iraq and the Mediterranean region

Risk factors for vaginal trichomoniasis among women in Basra, Iraq

We investigated Trichomonas vaginalis infection among 352 women with vaginal discharge, 46 were found to be infected, an infection rate of 13%. There were no significant differences in the isolation rate of T. vaginalis in women according to occupation, educational level, economic status, age, marital status, parity, menstrual status and contraception use. The difference in the isolation rates of T. vaginalis in women with a history of abortion [7.6%] and in women with no history of abortion [15.7%] was statistically significant

Sexually transmitted diseases among women with habitual abortion

Sexually transmitted disease as a risk factor for habitual abortion was investigated in a case-control study in Basra between October 1994 and May 1995. Of 81 women with habitual abortion, 41 [50.6%] had a sexually transmitted disease. In the normal pregnancy group, 64 of 119 women [53.8%] had a sexually transmitted disease [X[2] = 0.712, P > 0.05]. The isolation rates of Candida spp., Trichomonas vaginalis, Gardnerella vaginalis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae in women with habitual abortion were not significantly different from those in normal pregnant women. No association was found between the presence of a sexually transmitted disease and habitual abortion [odds ratio = 0.9]. No positive case of syphilis was diagnosed using VDRL and TPHA tests. There was a significant relation between the presence of a sexually transmitted disease and the presence of vaginal discharge, vaginal pH > 4.5 and the frequency of sexual activity/week > 2

Urogenital trichomoniasis in an Iraqi population

Vaginal swabs were obtained from 300 females and examined by the wet preparation and culture methods. Trichomonas vaginalis was identified in 34 female subjects [11.3%] with vaginal discharge. Pregnant women showed the highest rate [15.0%]. The next highest infection rate [12.9%] was noticed during the menstrual years. Women aged over 40 years showed a rate of 3.8%. A total of 235 males were also investigated; 150 [63.8%] presented with urethral discharge and 85 [36.2%] were apparently healthy and asymptomatic. Among those with discharge, infection was identified in 11 subjects [7.3%], against 2 [2.4%] among the asymptomatic subjects. The majority of positive cases were in the age group 21-40 years

Hepatic abscess among Iraqi patients

Hepatic abscess was studied in 21 established cases in Basrah hospitals [Southern Iraq] during 1985 to 1988. Age of patients varied from 19 to 60 years. There were 7 females and 14 males and most of them from urban areas. All patients had a single abscess and the common site affected was the right lobe. Microorganisms isolated from 19 patients included a variety of aerobic and anaerobic bacteria and a protozoan Entamoeba histolytica. Escherichia coli was the most common etiologic agent for the pyogenic abscesses. Therapy was a combination of an open surgical drainage and antimicrobial agents. Usually the drug regimen included metronidazole in combination with either tetracycline, ampicillin or gentamicin. No mortality was recorded on a long-term sequelae