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Objective: To clarify the epidemiological aspects of visceral leishmaniasis in Kaleybar and Khoda-Afarin districts, north-west of Iran. Methods: A total of 1 420 human (children under 12 years) samples, 101 domestic dogs samples (Canis familiaris), and 577 female sand fly samples were collected. Sera of human and dogs were tested using the direct agglutination test, and sand flies were identified at species level using the microscopic method. Furthermore, a structured questionnaire was applied to evaluate the correlation between the potential risk factors and the related clinical signs/ symptoms with the human and dogs' seropositivity. Results: Totally, 2.18% of human samples were positive at titers≥: 800; among them, 13 cases (41.94%) were above 1:3 200, and clinical symptoms were observed in all of them except for an 11-year old girl. Anti-Leishmania infantum antibodies were found at titers ≥1: 320 in 9.90% of dogs' samples, half of them had at least one sign of canine visceral leishmaniasis. Moreover, 10 Phlebotomus species were identified in the study areas, and Phlebotomus (Larroussius) major group was the predominant species. There are significant correlations between the presence of anti-Leishmania infantum antibodies and the fever (P<0.001), anemia (P=0.001) and weight loss (P=0.016) in children. On the other hand, significant correlations were revealed between the Leishmania infection and the shelter (P=0.039), cutaneous lesion (P=0.005), lymphadenopathy (P=0.001) and weight loss (P<0.001) in the infected dogs. Conclusions: Visceral Leishmania infection is prevalent in rural areas of Kaleybar and Khoda- Afar districts located in East-Azerbaijan province, therefore active detection and treatment of visceral leishmaniasis cases should not be neglected.
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Background: Toxocariasis is considered as an important neglected tropical disease. Although, the prevalence of Toxocara eggs in soil has previously been reported in different parts of Iran, the extent of this condition is not precisely known in Kermanshah city, west of Iran
Materials and Methods: A total of 126 soil samples were collected from different zones of Kermanshah public places during April-June 2014. The samples were examined for Toxocara spp. eggs via modified floatation method using sodium nitrate [NaNO3] and the data was analyzed using Data Analysis and Statistical Software [STATA Ver.13.1]
Results: Toxocara spp. eggs were found in 17 [13.5%] out of 126 samples collected from the studied areas. There was a significant difference between contamination rate in the areas with low levels of health status and that in the areas with high levels [p=0.003]
Conclusion: according to the results obtained in the present study public parks, streets, and squares of Kermanshah are contaminated with eggs of Toxocara spp. Considering these findings, establishment of a wisely planned health program for controlling helminthes in the soil and the population of the stray dogs and cats in order to reduce the distribution of parasitosis is strongly recommended
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Background: herbal medicines in compared with chemical drugs have fewer side effects and can be a good medicinal alternative. The olive includes 20 different species of the family Oleaceae, with Olea europaea as the most recognized. Several studies have shown the immunomodulating effects of olive leaf extract. This study aimed to identify the immunoregulatory effect of olive leaf Sevillana variety on interleukins 12 and 10 which resulted from the murine macrophages in vitro
Materials and Methods: in order to isolate macrophages, peritoneal macrophages BALB/C were used. To determine the cytotoxic effect of different concentrations of the olive leaf extract on macrophages, MTT assay was performed. Concentrations of 200, 100, 50, 25, 12.5, 6.25, and 3.1[micro]g/ml in the time intervals of 12, 24, and 48 hours were evaluated. Three appropriate concentrations were selected to commence with the study of the determination of the amount of cytokines. Cell culture supernatant growth medium supernatant was collected at 12, 24, and 48 hours after adding the extract in order to examine the amount of cytokines. ELISA test was conducted using interleukins 12 and 10 measurement kits
Results: CC50 of the olive leaf extract at 12, 24, and 48 hours was 260.3, 170.5, and 150 [micro]g/ml, respectively. According to the results, an increase in the concentration and duration of the study resulted in observable significant differences in the production of interleukins 10 and 12. As a result, the production of IL-10 and 12 experienced decreases and increases, respectively
Conclusion: it seemed probable that the olive leaf extract had the capability to increase the production of IL-12 through activation of the classic macrophages and also deactivate the regulatory macrophages with an increase in IL-12 and a decrease in IL-10. Therefore, this can strengthen the immune system of the host in the early stages of infection. The other immunomodulatory effects of olive leaf must be considered by appropriate research
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Entamoeba moshkovskii and E. dispar are impossible to differentiate microscopically from the pathogenic species E. histolytica. Multiplex polymerase chain reaction [Multiplex PCR] is a widespread molecular biology technique for amplification of multiple targets in a single PCR experiment. For detection and differentiation of the three-microscopy indistinguishable Entamoeba species in human, multiplex PCR assay using different DNA extraction methods was studied. A conserved forward primer was derived from the middle of the small-subunit rRNA gene, and reverse primers were designed from signature sequences specific to each of these three Entamoeba species. A 166-bp PCR product with E. histolytica DNA, a 580-bp product with E. moshkovskii DNA and a 752-bp product with E. dispar DNA were generated in a single-round and multiplex PCR reaction. We recommend this PCR assay as an accurate, rapid, and effective diagnostic method for the detection and discrimination of these three Entamoeba species in both routine diagnosis of amoebiasis and epidemiological surveys
Subject(s)
Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction , Entamoeba histolytica , DNAABSTRACT
An inflammatory bowel disease [IBD] is most common in highly industrialized Western countries but uncommon in less developed areas of the world where helminths are frequent. The hygiene hypothesis proposes that the recent increase in allergic and autoimmune diseases is due to modern highly hygienic life styles and medical conditions. Loss of routine exposure to parasitic helminths, as a result of increasing lifestyle-associated factors, may be one factor leading to the increased disease prevalence. In animal models and clinical trials of IBD, gastrointestinal nematodes colonization suppresses intestinal inflammation through multiple mechanisms including induction of innate and adaptive regulatory circuits. Studies using helminths like Trichuris suis or Necator americanus showed that these helminths are safe and may be effective therapeutic approaches for the control of IBD and other immune diseases. The aim of present review was to exploring the therapeutic use of helminths for the control of IBD
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Trichomonas vaginalis causes trichomoniasis and metronidazole is its chosen drug for treatment. Ferredoxin has role in electron transport and carbohydrate metabolism and the conversion of an inactive form of metronidazole [CO] to its active form [CPR]. Ferredoxin gene mutations reduce gene expression and increase its resistance to metronidazole. In this study, the frequency of ferredoxin gene mutations in clinical isolates of T.vaginalis in Tehran has been studied. Forty six clinical T. vaginalis isolates of vaginal secretions and urine sediment were collected from Tehran Province since 2011 till 2012. DNA was extracted and ferredoxin gene was amplified by PCR technique. The ferredoxin gene PCR products were sequenced to determine gene mutations. In four isolates [8.69%] point mutation at nucleotide position -239 [the translation start codon] of the ferredoxin gene were detected in which adenosine were converted to thymine. Mutation at nucleotide -239 ferredoxin gene reduces translational regulatory protein's binding affinity which concludes reduction of ferredoxin expression. For this reduction, decrease in activity and decrease in metronidazole drug delivery into the cells occur. Mutations in these four isolates may lead to resistance of them to metronidazole
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Entamoeba histolytica antigenic markers such as Serine-Rich E. histolytica protein [SREHP] have recently been used for vaccine preparation, genetic diversity studies of Entamoeba histolytica isolates and for differentiation between E. histolytica and E. dispar species. This study was carried out with the aim of expression of a recombinant Serine Rich E. histolytica protein in the laboratory to use it in the ELISA kit. In this study which is an exploration method, an Iranian isolate of Serine-Rich E. histolytica gene which had previously been cloned in bluescript plasmid [pBSc], was cut using BamHI restriction enzyme. After extracting and purification from gel, the SREHP gene was sub cloned into pET32a expression vector. The inserted gene was confirmed with Rosconis solution, PCR and sequencing methods. PCR was performed with the SREHP specific primers as well as pET T7 promoter primer. The cloned gene was also digested with HindIII and BamHI restriction enzymes. Recombinant plasmid was conveyed to competent cell BL21 [DE3]. A colony of the plasmid including SREHP gene was cultivated and induced with IPTG. The result of expressed protein was observed on the SDS-PAGE gel. The SREHP gene was sub cloned into pET32a expression vector. A recombinant plasmid including an inserted SREHP gene was screened and confirmed with quick check method using Ruscoins solution, as well as PCR by special primers [SREHP and universal pET primer], digested with BamHI and HindIII restriction enzymes. Finally an open reading frame of 666 nucleotides from inserted SREHP gene was obtained with the sequencing method. The recombinant protein of Serine-Rich E. histolytica in presence of IPTG was expressed in five hours and the result of expressed protein in the length of 44 KDa was observed on SDS-PAGE gel. SREHP protein was successfully cloned and expressed in this study. However additional studies are recommended for preparation and purification of the SREHP in a large quantity and the using it for the ELISA test