Seroprevalence of brucellosis and risk factors related to high risk occupational groups in kazeroon, south of Iran

Brucellosis is a major zoonosis worldwide. Many people for their professions are at higher risk of contracting the disease. To determine the seroprevalence of brucellosis and its risk factors in a group of high risk professions. In a cross-sectional study, all personnel or students of veterinary schools, slaughters and butchers working in the city were invited to participate [n=141]. A comparison group [n=44] randomly selected from patients who were selected at random from people attended our healthcare center for reasons other than the infectious diseases. 4 veterinarians, 15 veterinary assistants, 42 veterinarian students, 52 butchers, 17 slaughters, 8 slaughterhouse workers and 3 chefs made the first group and 14 storekeepers, 5 students of engineering, 11 clerks, 13 freelance workers, and 1 high school student made the comparison group. While the rate of consumption of most of the studied dairy products was almost similar in both groups, comparison group patients consumed more often milk [p<0.001] and cream [p<0.001] than the high risk group. 11 [7.8%; 95% CI: 3.4%-12.2%] cases from high risk group and none of the comparison group were found seropositive for Brucella. Profession is the main factor in seropositivity. Consumption of dairy products and raw milk is not associated with a higher risk of seropositivity

Comparison of levels of IgG, IgA, and IgM in diabetic patients with different glycemic controls

Immunoglobulins G, A, and M have been reported to be present in statistically significant higher levels in diabetic patients compared to healthy controls. It may be conceived that the levels of immunoglobulins might be significantly higher in diabetics with long-lasting [months of] poor control than in peers with an equally long term period of good control. To assess this possibility, we measured and compared serum levels of IgG, IgA, and IgM in two diabetic populations; one consisting of 27 patients with mean values of at least monthly-measured fasting plasma sugars during the 3 months prior to the study of 140 mg/dL or less, and the second group consisting of 34 diabetics with mean levels of fasting plasma glucoses for each patient during the same interval in excess of 160 mg/dL. We found that, while the mean blood sugars were remarkably different between the groups [P <0.001], the difference between mean values of serum immunoglobulins were not statistically significant [P-values more than 0.3,0.8, and O.8 for IgG, IgA, and IgM, respectively]. We conclude that no relationship exists between long-lasting glycemic controls and serum immunoglobulin levels in diabetics