Visceral leishmaniasis complicated by secondary bacterial infections in Iraqi Kala-Azar

Kala-azar is a vector borne parasitic disease endemic in Iraq. This disease is complicated by secondary bacterial infections which may lead to death. The study was carried out to detect the bacterial infections associated with kala-azar and the effective treatment. Collection of blood, urine, stool and ear exudate specimens from 63 proved kala-azar patients. The bacterial isolates from the specimens were subjected to antibiotics sensitivity test. 63 [46.7%] of 135 hospitalized children with visceral leishmaniasis, developing 102 episodes of infections. The sites of these infections were urinary tract 46 [45.1%], lower respiratory tract 37[36.3%], gastrointestinal 10[9.8%] and middle ear 9[8.9%]. Both Gram negative and Gram positive bacteria were isolated. Most of the isolated bacteria belong to the family Enterobacteriaceae. The antibiotics gentamicin, amikacin and co-trimoxazole were the most effective. Bacterial infections were common among hospitalized children with kala-azar. The commonest were Gram negative bacteria of the family Enterobacteriaceae

Evaluation and comparison of immunchromatography and immunofluorescent techniques in diagnosis and epidemiological studies in Iraqi Kala-Azar

Infantile kala-azar is an endemic protozoal disease prevalent among children in Iraq. A rapid diagnostic laboratory tests are required for immediate treatment. A prospective study was conducted in two pediatric hospitals in Baghdad during the period from Oct. 2005 to Sept. 2006 to evaluate the efficiency of immunochromatography strip test [IC] with rK39 antigen compared to indirect fluorescent antibody test [IFAT] for serodiagriosis of visceral leishmaniasis [VL] to investigate its use for epidemiological studies in Iraqi kala-azar. The study included 54 proved cases for Leishmania donovani [L.D.] bodies in bone marrow, 108 clinically diagnosed cases, 38 with diseases other than VL [tuberculosis, acute amoebic dysentery, urinary schistosomiasis, brucellosis, toxoplasmosis and malaria] and 24 healthy controls. In addition of 3000 patients presented with fever, anaemia and hepatosplenomegaly. The highest sensitivity of the sera was obtained by IC [92.6%] and by IFAT [96. 3%], and the highest specificity by IC [100%] and by IFAT [86.8%]. In the epidemiological study with rK39 strip test 66.1% positive reactions were obtained in patients with fever, anaemia and hepatosplenomegaly. IC strip test with rK39 antigen was more easy to perform but less sensitive than IFAT and the former was more specific than the latter

effects of toxocara canis infection on ethnologically assessed fighting generated by breeding activity in mice

The effect of infection of T.canis infective larvae were investigated on social [intermale] aggression and maternal aggression in mated male and lactating female mice. It has been shown that such infection produced a significant inhibition, mainly of maternal aggression parameters and on offensive behaviours category which associated with this form of fighting. Infection with 4000 infective larvae of T.canis has however no significant effect on most parameters of social aggression in mated male mice. The suppressive effects on maternal fighting could be attributed to the fact that lactating females were more susceptible to this stage of infection. The muscular tone data in this study excluded the involvement of myorelaxation in the suppression of maternal aggression. Postmortem investigation of mated and lactating mice, shows the presence of substantial number of T.canis larvae which managed to migrate to the brain