Frequency of intestinal parasites on mental disabilities in rehabilitation centers in Ardabil city at 2011

Background:Although all the advances of medical science has come to achieve, parasitic infections including intestinal parasites in many countries especially in developing countries, is a health problem; according to the annual fees paid by that the World Health Organization and governments to eliminate, prevent and treat them, their existence is still visible. In this study the prevalence of intestinal parasite in mental disability community in Ardabil city will be studied

Material and methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study with was design to detect the prevalence of intestinal parasites on the 216 cases of mental disability under the Social Welfare Organization in Ardabil city, with methods of direct smear, formalin ether concentration method and Modified ziehl-neelsen staining

Results:_From 216 patients 95 samples [44%] were infected with at least one parasite including Blastocystis hominis 41 cases [19%], Entamoeba coli cyst 25 cases [11.6%], Giardia cyst 18 cases [8.3%], Trichuris trichura egg 2 cases [0.9%] and contemporary infection with two parasite Entamoeba coli / Blastocystis hominis cysts and_ Entamoeba coli / Iodamoeba butschili cysts 4 [1.9%] and 3 [1.4%] cases respectively. In 0.5% of cases we found Entamoeba coli cyst with 4 nuclei cysts

Conclusion:_According to the results, levels of intestinal parasitic infections in mental disability community in the Ardabil city in compare to other communities was higher that need to pay more attention of the authorities

Genotyping of toxoplasma gondii isolates from soil samples in Tehran, Iran

The protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii can infect any warm blooded nucleated cells. One of the ways for human infection is ingestion of oocysts directly from soil or via infected fruits or vegetables. To survey the potential role of T. gondii oocyst in soil samples, the present study was conducted in Tehran City, Iran. A total of 150 soil samples were collected around rubbish dumps, children's play ground, parks and public places. Oocysts recovery was performed by sodium nitrate flotation method on soil samples. For molecular detection, PCR reaction targeting B1 gene was performed and then, the positive results were confirmed using repetitive 529 bp DNA fragment in other PCR reaction. Finally, the positive samples were genotyped at the SAG2 locus. Toxoplasma DNA was found in 13 soil samples. After genotyping and RFLP analysis in SAG2 locus, nine positive samples were revealed type III, one positive sample was type I whereas three samples revealed mixed infection [type, I and III]. The predominant genotype in Tehran soil samples is type III

Comparative proteomics study on meglumine antimoniate sensitive and resistant Leishmania tropica isolated from Iranian anthroponotic cutaneous leishmaniasis patients

In order to define the protein expressional changes related to the process of meglumine antimoniate resistance in anthroponotic cutaneous leishmaniasis [CL], we performed a comparative proteomics analysis on sensitive and resistant strains of Leishmania tropica isolated from Iranian CL patients. Cell proteins were analysed with 2-dimensional electrophoresis and differentially expressed proteins were identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Image analysis of the matched maps identified 7 proteins that were either over- or down-expressed: activated protein kinase c receptor [LACK], alpha tubulin [X2], prostaglandin f2-alpha synthase, protein disulfide isomerase, vesicular transport protein and a hypothetical protein. The study shows the usefulness of proteomics in identifying proteins that may express differences between sensitive and resistant L. tropica isolates

Induction of apoptosis by miltefosine in Iranian strain of Leishmania infantum promastigotes

Miltefosine is a new drug of choice for the treatment of visceral leishmaniasis. Numerous experimental studies have shown miltefosine is effective on Leishmania donovani, however, effectiveness of miltefosine in treatment of L infantum is not fully understood. The aims of the present study were to evaluate cytotoxic effects of miltefosine on Iranian strain of L infantum, and to determine its 50% inhibitory concentration [IC50] as well as lethal dose. Anti-L. infantum activity of miltefosine was studied by treatment of cultured promastigotes with various concentration of miltefosine. MTT assay was used to determine L infantum viability and the results were expressed as IC50. Annexin-V FLUOS staining was performed to study apoptotic properties of this drug by using FACS flow cytometry. Miltefosine led to dose-dependent death of L. infantum with features compatible with apoptosis including cell shrinkage, DNA laddering, and externalization of phosphatidylserine with preservation of integrity of plasma membrane. The 100% effect was achieved at 22 micro M and IC50 after 48 hours of incubation was 7 micro M. Miltefosine exerts cytotoxic effect on Iranian strain of L. infantum via an apoptosis-related mechanism

Protein profiling on meglumine antimoniate [Glucantime [R]] sensitive and resistant L. tropica isolates by 2-dimentional gel electrophoresis: a preliminary study

Glucantime[R] is the first- line drug for the treatment of all forms of leishmaniasis. Unfortunately, the prevalence of parasites becoming resistant to Glucantime[R] is increasing in several parts of the world including Iran. As protein is the most important target for drugs in response to a variety of signals including drugs so, it seems expression protein patterns in sensitive and resistant Leishmania parasites could greatly help us about the mechanisms of responses to antileishmanial drugs. In this study, we used 2-dimentional gel electrophoresis [2-DE] method to determine protein expression profiles between drug [Glucantime[R]] sensitive and resistant Leishmania tropica isolated from Iranian an throponotic cutaneous leishmaniasis [ACL] patients. We used from the two confirmed genetically of Glucantime[R] sensitive [Mash-4] and resistant [Mash-927] field strains of L. tropica, isolated from ACL patients in north eastern Iran. The two Leishmania isolates were cultured, promastigotes were harvested followed by protein extraction using TCA/Aceton to study protein profiling, 2-DE was done and gels stained with silver nitrate. At least 2236 distinct protein spots were detected. Twelve spots out of them, showed significant changes in expression in resistant compared to sensitive isolates. Of these, 11 protein spots were up- and one was down-regulated. This preliminary study has showed that a number of proteins differentially expressed in drug [Glucan-time [R]] resistance L. tropica and probably the role of these proteins are increasing the parasite resistance against the drug and delay in cell death