ABSTRACT
Cytokines play a fundamental role in the regulation of immune responses in remission and/or relapsing of leishmaniasis. Therefore, immunotherapy for the treatment of canine visceral leishmaniasis [CVL] has represented a principle approach in control of the infection. The present research aimed to evaluating the immunotherapeutic potential of a novel herbal immunomodulator drug [IMOD] on CVL. Twelve mongrel dogs were intravenously infected with Iranian strain of L. infantum and randomly divided into three groups; 1: negative control [non-infected], 2: immunotherapy with IMOD and 3: positive control [non-treated]. Cell proliferation and Th1-/Th2-type cytokines were measured in peripheral blood mononuclear cell [PBMC] by cell proliferation kit I [MTT] and enzyme-linked immunospot [ELISpot] assays, respectively. At the 60 days follow-up assessment, no adverse effects were observed in treated interventional group. Cellular proliferation assay indicated that PBMCs of IMOD group had higher stimulation index [SI] than positive control group [p <0.05]. Enhancement of CD4+ T cells such as IL-2, IL-4 and IL-10 were detected in negative control group due to in vitro IMOD stimulation 30 days post-treatment. In accordance to decreasing trends of Th1 and Th2 cytokines in positive control group, the mean number of IFN-gamma, IL-2, IL-4 and IL-10 spot forming cells [SFCs] down regulated for IMOD group during the study. These data indicate that IMOD had immunomodulatory potential but is not sufficient for total parasitic cure due to balance of Th1/Th2 cytokines. This is a preliminary study and we propose to undertake a series of experiments to evaluate the CVL due to in vitro modulatory effects of IMOD
ABSTRACT
Chlamydia trachomatis is the most common bacterial sexually transmitted infection in the world, but the effect of this infection on male fertility is still controversial. Despite reports of interaction between Mycoplasma genitalium and sperm, this pathogen in semen samples of infertile men is less studied. We studied, the prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis and Mycoplasma genitalium infection in infertile men. Among attending Avicenna Infertility Center, 120 men who had abnormal semen analysis tests were selected and the samples were taken. After detailed analysis of semen quality, DNA was extracted from each sample by chelex. Samples were evaluated for these two pathogens by multiplex PCR. Results were statistically analyzed. Chlamydia trachomatis and Mycoplasma genitalium was detected in 23/3% and 12/5% of the samples, respectively. Although, Mycoplasma genitalium infection rises by increasing [P=0.640] and decreasing in age of first sexually activity [P=0.203], and also positive cases of Chlamydia trachomatis infection showed increase regarding age increase [P=0.619] and age decrease in first sexually activity [P=0.511], but these differences were not statistically significant. All in all, regarding to the increased prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis infection compared with the only similar study in Iran and high prevalence of Mycoplasma genitalium infection in infertile men, this assessment was done. A multiplex PCR protocol rapidly and simultaneously identify these organisms in comparison with uniplex from clinical samples. Based on our results screening for Chlamydia trachomatis and Mycoplasma genitalium infection among infertile men seems to be valuable