Identification and genetic variation of fasciola species from Tabriz, north-western Iran

Fascioliasis is considered as the most important helminthic infection of cattle and sheep. Traditional approaches using morphlogical and biologic characters cannot cause a certainty in the accurate and precise identification and intra-specific differences of Fasciola spp. In this study, we identified Fasciola species using ITS-1 marker and described genetic variation of each species of the parasite in isolates from Tabriz slaughterhouse in West Azerbaijan Province, north-western Iran. Overall, 100 samples [50 from sheep and 50 from cattle] morphologically detected as Fasciola worms were studied for identification of Fasciola species by PCR-RFLP method and intra-species variation of the parasite using RAPD-PCR technique. A region of approximately 460bp in all samples was successfully amplified. There were no identifiable variations among the size of PCR products. Two and three fragments in samples correspond to F. hepatica and F. gigantica was seen, respectively, through PCR-RFLP method. No difference was seen in digestion pattern according to host [sheep or cattle]. Different types of each species of the parasite was observed using RAPD-PCR technique. We could have an estimate of frequency of F. hepatica and f. gigantic and different genotype of the parasite in isolates from one locality in north-western of Iran. By extension of such studies in future to other animal hosts [buffalo and goat] and including more regions to sampling, the reliability of the results and their application for control programs in zoonotic diseases will be increased

Plasmodium vivax MSP-3 beta gene as a genetic marker for the parasite detection in comparison with SRNA gene

The importance of accurate diagnosis of all of major diseases cannot be underestimated and efficient laboratory testing is vital to identifying and treating life-threatening illnesses including malaria. In this study, we compared the potential of one of merozoite surface protein genes, PvMSP-3 beta, for detection of Plasmodium vivax in blood samples by PCR with routinely used marker, ssrRNA gene. One hundred P. vivax microscopy-positive blood samples were simultaneously tested with two genetic markers, including PvMSP-3 beta gene and ssrRNA gene by PCR and nestedPCR method, respectively, and their sensitivity and specificity in detection of P. vivax was compared. An important difference was seen in sensitivity between the 2 genetic markers, 100% in case of ssrRNA gene vs. 95% of PvMSP-3 beta gene. The specificity of the two markers was same [100%]. Microscopic diagnoses of thick and thin blood smears was used as "golden standard" method. Due to critical importance of accurate detection of the parasite in malarious area, the PvMSP-3 beta gene cannot be a suitable marker for detection of P. vivax in blood sample by PCR. More investigations are needed to find other valid markers

[Detection of plasmodium vivax by nested PCR in marious areas of western north of Iran]

Malaria is one of the most important parasitic diseases in tropical and sub-tropical areas of the world and kills a large number of People annually. Diagnosis of the disease is preformed by microscopic and molecular methods. This study has been designed for detecting of latent/sub-patent infection caused by plasmodium vivax in individuals with history of vivax malaria without any clinical signs by means of microscopic and molecular methods. In this descriptive study, the blood samples of 38 individuals from Parsabad [Ardabil province] and Kaleiber [East Azarbayejan province] has been collected one year after primary diagnosis of vivax malaria and effective treatment of the diseases, based on the standard country's protocol, as well as upon primary microscopic detection of thin and thick blood smears. They were assessed by Nested-PCR method in Pastor Institute of Iran. All samples were negative by microscopic method; we found one vivax positive case via Nested-PCR. Microscopic examination is a selective and standard method in malaria diagnosis. Due to the probability of existence of latent/sub-patent infection in endemic areas and microscopic misdiagnosis of thin and thick blood smears and epidemiologic importance of malaria diagnosis, the use of molecular methods such as Nested-PCR in individuals with history of vivax malaria to detect any latent/sub/patent infection seems to be beneficial

Partial sequence analysis of merozoite surface protein-3 alpha gene in plasmodium vivax isolates from malarious areas of Iran

Approximately 85-90% of malaria infections in Iran are attributed to plasmodium vivax, while little is known about the genetics of the parasite and its strain types in this region. This study was designed and performed for describing genetic characteristics of plasmodium vivax population of Iran based on the merzoite surface protein-3 alpha gene sequence. Through a descriptive study we analyzed partial P. viva merozoite surface protein-3 alpha gene sequences from 17 clinical P. vivax isolates collected from malarious areas of Iran. Genomic DNA was extracted by Q1 Aamp DNA blood mini kit, amplified through nested PCR for a partial nucleotide sequence of PvMSP-3alpha gene in P. vivax. PCR-amplified products were sequenced with an ABI Prism Perkin-Elmer 310 sequencer machine and data were analyzed with clustal W software. Analysis of PVMSP-3alpha gene sequence demonstrated extensive polymorphisms, but the sequence identity between isolates of same types was relatively high. We identified specific insertions and deletions for the types A, B and C variants of vivax in our isolates. In phylogenetic comparison of geographically separated isolates, there was not a significant geographical branching of the parasite populations. The highly polymorphic nature of isolates suggests that more investigations of the PvMSP-3alpha gene are needed to explore its vaccine potential

Diversity of merozoite surface protein-3beta gene of plasmodium vivax isolates from Iran

Plasmodium vivax malaria accounts for approximately 88% of malaria cases in Iran. There is limited information on genetic diversity of P. vivax in the country and a need to develop and apply an effective vaccine against the disease is necessary. Among many potential candidates, MSP -3beta gene is promising target. This study was designed and carried out to determine the variation of this gene as genetic marker in population of malarious areas of Iran. Blood sample of 85 P. vivax isolates from four southern and east-southern provinces of the country assessed for polymorphism of PvMSP-3beta gene by PCR/RFLP method. Based on the size of PCR product of the gene, 7 genetically different types of parasite has been distinguished. Two alleles were simultaneously visible in 19% of the cases. Results from PCR/RFLP analysis of PvMSP-3beta gene showed at least 15 allelic groups. Multiple infections have been found in 2.4% of the cases. PvMSP-3beta gene was highly diverse in P. vivax isolates of malarious areas of Iran, and can be a suitable marker for population genetic studies of P. vivax. More investigations on PvMSP-3beta genes are needed to reveal genetic structure of P. vivax in Iran

[Comparison of the mean level of C3 and C4 complements in pre-eclamptic patients and normal pregnancy]

Hypertension is still an important cause of mortality in mother, fetus and neonate. Up to 25% of perinatal mortality in developing countries is due to hypertension. The role of immunologic factors in development of preeclampsia is increasing. Decreased level of C3 and C4 complements in preeclamptic patients has been documented in some studies. The goal of this study is to compare the level of C3 and C4 in patients with normal pregnancy versus those with pre-eclampsia. This cross-sectional study was performed during one year, among pregnant women with a gestational age of more than 20 weeks and blood pressure over 140/90 mmHg plus proteinuria over 300 mg in 24h-urine or over 30 mg/dl in random urine. We selected 23 preeclamptic cases and 34 controls. Mean level of C3 in pre-eclamptic patients was 98.8 +/- 25.82 mg/dl and 112.5 +/- 29.03 mg/dl in controls [p<0.005]. Mean level of C4 in preeclamptic patients was 27.9 +/- 10.62 mg/dl and 35 +/- 11.25 mg/dl in controls [p<0.05]. In this study, the level of C3 and C4 in pre-eclamptic patients was lower than in those without pre-eclamsia. It is suggested that decreased level of these complements can be considered as a predictive factor of preeclampsia. More studies are warranted in this field

[ survey on the starting age of complementary feeding and some of its associated factors in the breast-feeding infants [Semnan, Iran]]

There is a relationship between children's survival, development and health and their feeding. Malnutrition is a common complication in most of the developing countries. Complementary feeding begins in infants when they can not obtain enough energy and nutrients from mother's milk. Both early and late beginning of complementary nutrition lead to severe complications, and suitable age for feeding in infants is after month 6. The present study was performed to estimate the age of beginning of complementary feeding and related factors in infants of Semnan. In this cross sectional study, 400 infants aged 6-12 months were analized via questionnaire. In each of 8 health centers in Semnan, 50 mothers who referred to health care centers, filled up questionnaires. 76.3% of mothers begin the complementary feeding from 6 months after delivery. The most common complementary food, which was used, was cereal [69.5%]. Mean [ +/- SD] beginning age of complementary feeding was 5.86 +/- 0.60 month. Most of mothers [97.5%] had received information about infant's feeding through appointments, books, vaccination card and pamphlet prior to their infants reaching to age 6 month. There was a significant relationship between occupation of mother [P=0.049], age of mother [P=0.040], father's educational level [P=0.002], type of delivery [P=0.015] and the begining age of complementary feeding. However, no significant relationship was observed between gender, type of milk, birth order, type of health care center, mother's educational level, first complementary feeding, type of mother's education and the starting age of complementary feeding. The findings of current study showed that 97.5% of mothers were educated for beginning of complementary feeding in a suitable time; however, about 23% of them didn't begin complementary feeding in an appropriate time. Therefore, it seems more effective education is necessary to give by health care centers to mothers especially for older mothers and those have normal delivery

[ survey on the prevalence of unwanted pregnancy and some related factors in pregnant women who referred to the medical laboratories in Semnan]

Unwanted pregnancy is one of the most important problems in communities. It endangers the mother and child health and it imposes much expense on the health and treatment system. Studies show that the total number of pregnancy in the world is about 200 million cases per year; approximately one third of them are unwanted pregnancy. Ninety fiver percent of these unwanted pregnancies occur in the developing countries such as Iran. Regarding the high prevalence rate of the unwanted pregnancy in these countries, thus, we decided to evaluate the unwanted pregnancy prevalence rate in Semnan. This cross-sectional study was performed on 405 women referring to Semnan laboratories for pregnancy test. Following receiving the result of test, a questionnaire was completed by patients or interviewer. The Chi-square test was used to analyze the data in the 5% significant level. The prevalence of unwanted pregnancy prevalence was 25.7% [95% Confidence Interval: 21.4%-30%]. The prevalence of unwanted pregnancy was 7.9%, 27.9%, 77.3%, 78.9% and 91.7% in women without children, with one, two, three, and four or more children, respectively. The prevalence of unwanted pregnancy was 25.4% in housewives and 27.4% in employed women. In addition, 63.6% of illiterate women, 31.8% of women with primary school certificate, 29.3% of the guidance, school literate ones, 19.5% with high school and 19.7% with academic studies had unwanted pregnancy. There was a significant relationship between the unwanted pregnancy prevalence and the literate level of women, the number of children and age [P=0.0001]. But there was no significant relationship between the unwanted pregnancy prevalence and employment. Regarding the high unwanted pregnancy prevalence in Semnan compared to its mean in Iran and greater prevalence of unwanted pregnancy in the illiterate women, it seems reconsideration in the family planning services by health centers and expansion of the training programs about preventing the pregnancy in community especially for illiterate women is necessary

Evaluation and comparison of clinical educational groups function and structure in Tabriz Medical Science University, 2001

Medical education of IRAN witnessed a lot of changes in recent years. Evaluation of educational activities has been one important intervention introduced in this regard. We designed a new format and evaluated the function of educational groups of Tabriz Medical Science University at 2000. Educational groups, structure and function of internal medicine ward, infectious disease group, urology ward and genecology ward were compromised with each other. There was a lot of difference between function of educational groups. In some groups, students had no pleasure from the education. it is necessary to investigate the problems of education and solve them by regular and exact program and educational intra group evaluation