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Objective: To evaluate the prevalence and risk factors of intestinal parasitic infections in the urban and rural areas of Shushtar County, southwest Iran. Methods: A total of 1 008 fecal samples were analyzed by direct smear examination, formalin-ether concentration, and Ziehl-Neelsen and trichrome staining; furthermore, PCR was used to distinguish Trichostrongylus and hookworm species based on 28S rRNA gene. Results: Totally, 16.0% cases tested positive, either with a pathogenic or a non-pathogenic parasite. Protozoa were detected in 14.0%, helminths in 1.0%, protozoa and helminth co-infections were detected in 0.3%, and co-infections of two protozoa were detected in 0.7% of cases. The most common protozoa and helminths were Giardia duodenalis (7.7%) and Trichostrongylus spp. (0.5%), respectively. Among five microscopy Trichostrongylus positive cases, Trichostrongylus culbriformis was successfully identified in three isolates by sequencing. In the rural areas, the prevalence of parasitic infection was higher (9.8%) than that in the urban areas (6.2%). A significant association was found between educational level, type of drinking water, animals contact, hand-washing, and clinical symptoms. Conclusions: This study indicates that intestinal parasitic infections remain as a public health priority in Shushtar County. It seems that drinking water and environmental sanitation are the main risk factors of parasitic infections in rural areas.
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Objective: To investigate Echinococcus (E.) granulosus genotypes as the causative agents of hydatidosis in humans in the southwest of Iran (Khuzestan province). Methods: In this study, isolates of 80 archived human paraffin embedded hydatid cysts were collected from pathology laboratories in Ahvaz city, Khuzestan province. DNA was extracted and examined by nested-PCR of ribosomal DNA (rDNA) internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1), and PCR-RFLP. In addition, the sequences of fragments of genes coding for Cox space1 and NADH dehydrogenase 1 (ND1) were also examined. Results: Of the 80 paraffin samples, 44 (55.0%) were from the liver, 27 (33.8%) from the lung, and the rest from other organs. The amplified hydatid genomic DNA showed that the cysts were E. granulosus strains. The results of PCR-RFLP and sequencing analysis revealed the presence of G1 genotype (sheep strain) in all human isolates. Furthermore, no camel strain (G6) was detected among all samples in the regions studied. Conclusions: The molecular findings indicate that the predominant genotype involved in E. granulosus transmission in southwest of Iran is the common sheep strain (G1), which occurs in human populations. These results may have important implications for hydatid disease control in the studied areas.
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Objective To evaluate the efficacy of combined ABZ and PZQ and their solid lipid nanoparticles in chemoprophylaxis of cystic echinococcosis (CE). Methods ABZ and PZQ loaded solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) were prepared by high shear homogenization and microemulsion congealing techniques with some minor modification. Nanoparticles average size, polydispersity index (PDI), and particle size distribution were determined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and photon correlation spectroscopy. Forty females BALB/c were experimentally infected by protoscoleces (PSC) and randomly divided into four equal groups of 10 mice. After the end of the 3 months treatment period and 2 months rest, mice were sacrificed and the peritoneal cavity was opened for removal, counting, measuring, and histological analysis of hydatid cyst. Results The results indicated that ABZ and PZQ chemoprophylaxis treatment reduced the wet weight and size of developed cysts 77.3% and 79%, respectively. The corresponding result for the ABZ and PZQ loaded SLNs was 83% and 85%, respectively. Conclusions This study for the first time demonstrated that ABZ and PZQ loaded SLNs is superior to free ABZ and PZQ for the chemoprophylaxis of CE in mice.
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Giardia duodenalis is one of the most important human enteric parasites throughout the world. Clinical symptoms of this parasite vary from asymptomatic infection to chronic diarrhea. Still it is not clear, whether different types of pathogenesis are due to different strains of organism or to variable host factors. The purpose of this study was to investigate possible correlation of clinical symptoms with assemblages among symptomatic and asymptomatic cases collected from southwest of Iran. Fecal samples were collected from 100 symptomatic and asymptomatic cases, which were positive for G. duodenalis. The samples were subjected to semi-nested PCR and RFLP for gdh gene. Among symptomatic patients, 54% had mixed genotypes AII and BIII, 28% and 18% of samples indicated assemblages BIII and AII, respectively. In contrast, among asymptomatic cases, 64%, 26% and 10%samples had mixed genotypes, BIII and AII assemblages, respectively. Statistical analysis using Chi-Square test showed that there was no significant correlation between assemblage and clinical symptoms in current study. High prevalence of mixed infection in both groups may affect this conclusion, therefore further study in more details are necessary to clarify these finding. Additionally, it is important to carry out investigations regarding human host factors as well
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Due to danger of spillage of cyst materials during surgery, chemoprophylaxis is routinely recommended for cyctic echinococcosis. However, for prophylactic purposes the time for starting and the duration of administration of prophylactic drug regimen is not yet clear. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the chemoprophylactic efficacy of one month administration of albendazole or a combination of albendazole plus praziquantel against protoscoleces stage of Echinococcus granulosus when administered before inoculation with the protoscoleces. Two days before infestation, 30 mice were assigned in three equal groups of control, albendazole and albendazole plus praziquantel, Control group received dimethylsulfoxide [DMSO]. The drugs were suspended in DMSO and administered by gavage for one month [5 consecutive days and two days off every week] in doses of 50mg/kg/day albendazole or 50mg/kg/day albendazole plus 600mg/kg/day praziquantel. The mice were then infected by IP injection of 2000 protoscoleces. Then, three months after the last dose of drug, mice were sacrificed and the number of infected animals, the number, wet weight and cyst sizes were recorded. The results showed that albendazole chemoprophylaxis reduced the number, weight and cyst sizes by 63.78%, 79.39% and 60.98%, respectively. The corresponding results for the combination of albendazole plus praziquantel were 91.70%, 90% and 80.3%, respectively. All the differences were statistically significant. Combination of albendaiole and praziquantel is more effective than albendazole alone in controlling the development of secondary hydatidosis, when administered for a period of 4 weeks
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Female , Animals, Laboratory , Albendazole , Drug Therapy, Combination , Praziquantel , Mice , Drug Evaluation, Preclinical , Echinococcus granulosusABSTRACT
To investigate the effect of lifestyle and related risk factors on brucellosis among nomads in Khuzestan, Iran. It is a descriptive, cross-sectional study conducted in North of Khuzestan, Southern Iran from March 2004 to June 2004. A total of 3594 person took part in this study by randomized cluster sampling. The diagnosis of brucellosis was made by measuring Brucella antibodies. Wright and 2ME with titers equal 1/80 or more were considered positive. Risk factors, such as exposure to animals, ingestion of unpasteurized dairy products were derived from questionnaires. Two hundred and twenty eight out of 3594 were positive for brucellosis [6.3%]. Causative factors included consumption of raw milk [94.7%], fresh cheese [100%], uncooked meat [95.1%], animal skin contact [100%], contact with placenta [27.2%] and living with animal [82%]. This study showed that prevalence of brucellosis among nomads in Iran is high due to their life style