[Gerbillid rodents fauna [muridae: gerbillinae] and detection of reservoir host[s] of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis using a nested-PCR technique in Jask city in Hormozgan province in 2008]

Gerbillid rodents [Rodentia: Muridae: Gerbillinae] are the most important reservoir hosts of Leishmania major which is the causative agent of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis [ZCL]. Different gerbil species are reservoirs of ZCL in different parts of Iran. Since Jask City is the most important endemic area in Hormozgan Province and eastern part of Iran, the present study was designed to identify the gerbils' fauna in this city and detect the reservoir hosts of ZCL in Jask City. This was a descriptive study and the rodents were caught in rectangular wire-mesh traps from different areas of the city. The trapped animals were euthanized under choloroform anesthesia. Duplicate impression smears were prepared from the external ears and their morph metric characteristics were measured and recorded. After dissection of the abdomen of the animals by a scalpel liver and spleen of each animal were removed and preserved in a tube containing 70% ethanol and the whole body was incubated in another tube containing 10% formalin and sent to zoology lab for taxidermy and identification of different species. Impression smears were examined for leishman body by means of a light microscope after Giemsa staining. Small parts of spleen and liver of the animals were homogenized and used for DNA extraction. Whole DNA extracted using Proteinase K and Phenol/Chloroform/Isoamyl alcohol methods. The variable segment of minicircles of kinetoplast DNA was proliferatied by means of nested-PCR techniques using species-specific primers [LIN R4-LIN 17 - Lin 19]. All the 106 rodents in this study belonged to five species. Meriones persicus was the dominant species [27.35%]. Microscopic examination detected the leptomonads in a female specimen of Tatera indica [3.7%], a female specimen of Meriones hurricane [3.85%] and a male specimen of Gerbillus nanus species [5.88%], while leishmania kinetoplast DNA was detected in one femalespecimen of T.indica, 2 female specimens [7/69%] of M. hurrianae, and one female and one male specimen [11/76%] of G.nanus species. The parasites were identified as L. major. Different species of gerbil rodents are active and abundant in the vicinity of human residential areas in Jask City. T. indica, M. hurricane and G. nanus species are reservoir hosts of ZCL in this endemic area. In this study we used molecular assay for detection of ZCL reservoir hosts for the first time in south east part of the country. Infection of G. nanus by L. major was detected for the first time in the world

[ nested-PCR based detection of cutaneous leishmaniasis vectors in Jask county, Hormozgan, Iran]

The city of Jask in south east of Iran has been considered an endemic focus of leishmaniasis. PCR-based techniques can detect lower parasite burdens, reducing the number of false negatives and improving the quantification of Leishmania parasites in the sand fly. The aim of this epidemiological study was to detect vector[s] by PCR techniques in the city of Jask located in Hormozgan province. Sand flies were captured using CDC miniature light traps and sticky papers during 2007-2008 and identified by their morphology. DNA extraction performed by Proteinase K and Phenol/Chloroform/Isoamyl Alcohol methods. Leishmania kinetoplast minicircle DNA was amplified by two Nested-PCR techniques using species-specific primers [LINR4-LIN17-LIN19] and [CSB1XR-CSB2XF-LiR-13Z].These primers could differentiate among Leishmania species of Iran. A total of 8123 sand flies were collected. The fauna was identified as eight species [3 Phlebotomus and 5 Sergentomyia]. Phlebotomus papatasi, P. salehi and Sergentomyia theodori were the three most dominant species [59.91%, 17.21% and 7.32% respectively]. 60, 50 and 40 parous unfed female specimens of P. papatasi, P. salehi and S. theodori were investigated for Leishmania DNA infection. Leishmania major DNA was detected in 3 [5%] specimens of P. papatasi and 2 [4%] specimens of P. salehi. Anthropophilic index of these two species were 29.6 and 18 percent, respectively. This study was the first molecular study for detection of cutaneous eishmaniasis vectors in Hormozgan province in Iran. According to the findings of the present study P. papatasi and P. salehi are probable vectors of cutaneous leishmaniasis in this focus

[ effect of phase I periodontal treatment on salivary aspartate aminotransferase [AST] level]

Statement of Problem: Due to the significant correlation between salivary AST activity and periodontal disease, AST activity can be used as a useful marker for monitoring of the periodontal disease

Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine whether the initial phase of periodontal treatment could modify the salivary AST level in patients with moderate to severe periodontitis referred to Periodontics Department of Islamic Azad University, Dental school Tehran [1386]

Materials and Method: In this clinical trial study [before and after], 33 patients [mean age of 45 +/- 9.75] with moderate to severe periodontitis were selected. Plaque index, pocket depth, clinical attachment level, bleeding on probing and salivary AST were determined before and two months after the initial phase of periodontal treatment for all patients. The effects of treatment were assessed by Paired-T and Wilcoxon Sign tests

Result: Following phase I periodontal treatment, plaque index, pocket depth, clinical attachment level and bleeding on probing decreased significantly [ p <0.05]. Salivary AST changed from 40.3 +/- 15.5 to 32 +/- 12.1 [ p <0.01]

Conclusion: Based on the statistically significant decrease in the salivary AST level after the initial phase of periodontal treatment, this biochemical marker may be used for evaluation of periodontal treatment

[Evaluation of the relationship between maternal preeclampsia and lung maturation of preterm infants in Zanjan- Valiasr Hospital]

There are many studies showing that fetal lung maturation in complicated pregnancies like preeclampsia is accelerated. Lung maturation in this condition is due to glucocorticoid secretion in response to stress. There are also contradictory opnions about fetal lung maturation in preeclampsia. In this study the relationship between lung maturation in preterm infants and maternal preeclampsia was investigated. This case - control study was applied to 96 preterm infants with Respiratory Distress Syndrome [RDS] as the case group and 96 preterm infants without RDS as the control group in Zanjan- Valiasr hospital during the years 2004-2005. Both groups were similarized for age, sex, weight and type of delivery. Patient's data were obtained from their medical records and were analyzed by T and X[2] tests. In 31 preterm infants with RDS [31.6%], and in 23 preterm infants without RDS [23.4%], the mother was preeclamptic. This difference was not statistically significant. According to the results of present study, the risk of RDS in preterm infants of preeclamptic mothers is not lower than the non preeclamptic mothers; therefore fetal lung maturation is not accelerated in maternal preeclampsia