Prevalence and risk factors of trichomoniasis among women in Tabriz

We investigated frequency of trichomoniasis among non-pregnant women in health centers of Tabriz, Iran. 1000 non-pregnant women aged 15-49 in health centers of Tabriz, Iran were examined by wet smears and Diamond culture methods for Trichomonas vaginalis, during the period of March to September 2005. Among 1000 specimens 92 cases were revealed to be positive for Trichomonas vaginalis by culture method and 31 cases by wet smear method. There was no significant difference in the isolation rate of trichomoniasis in women according to age, occupation, husband education level, abortion, parity, menstrual status and contraception use. The difference in the isolation rate of trichomoniasis in women with marriage age of more than 18 years [10.9%] and in women with marriage age of less than 18 years [8%] was statistically significant, Infection rates in different education levels did not show statistically significant difference. Trichomonas vaginalis is one of the important diseases with a high prevalence in women in Tabriz. Eradication of this disease is possible with extensive public health education and administration of specific therapeutic agents to the infected patients

[Isoenzyme analysis of the leishmania parasites, isolated from reservoir hosts, vectors and human in Northwest of Iran]

Despite their very wide geographical distribution in the Mediterranean region, most Leishmania infantum strains belong to zymodeme MON-1. As different Leishmania species are known to cause different clinical symptoms and may require different treatment protocols, therefore this study was done to identify and characterize the leishmania agents causing visceral, Leishmaniasis [VL] in humans, reservoirs and vectors in the north-west of Iran by Isoenzyme analyses. In this descriptive and cross sectional study, The samples collected from 12 VL confirmed patients [bone marrow aspirates], 26 dogs [spleen and hepatic aspirates] and more than 100 sand flies from northwest of Iran between 2005 and 2006. All aspirated material from human, canine and sandflies demostrated growth of Leishmania parasite in NNN and ?MEM media. The above species compared with WHO reference strains, Leishmania [Leishmania] donovani [DD8], L [L] infantum [IPT-1], L [L] tropica [K-27], and L[L] major [5-ASKH], using thin layer starch gel electrophoresis. The enzymes investigated in this study were ALAT, ASAT, SOD, ES,NH, MPI, GPI, MDH, 6PGD, PGM, PEPD, and PDK In this study L.infuntum. MON-1 was the only zymodeme present in all samples of dogs and human sandflies. We concluded that the visceral Leishmania [VL] focus in northwest of Iran is evidently Mediterranean type, which extends from Portugal and Morocco to Pakistan and the Central Asia and domestic doges act as the reservoir host in northwest of Iran, where the complete life cycle of zymodeme MON-1 has been identified

Saliva or serum, which is better for the diagnosis of gastric Helicobacter pylori infection?

Helicobacter pylori is known as an agent which may involve in the occurrence of peptic ulcer, gastric cancer and also other known and unknown diseases. Treatment of the infection with antibiotics eradicates the disease and prevents its pathologic effects. A noninvasive and inexpensive method for detection of the infection is needed. In this study the diagnostic values of serum and saliva anti H. pylori IgG was evaluated. The saliva and blood samples were collected from 11.4 patients who underwent upper GI endoscopy and gastric biopsy. Tissue samples were examined by rapid urease test and microscopic study. Saliva and serum samples were tested by ELISA-based test for anti H. pylori IgG, using a commercial kit. From 114 cases, 61[53.5%] patients were positive for H. pylori in rapid urease test and microscopic study and 53[46.5%] were negative in both tests. Rates of positive result for H. pylori in patients with and without peptic ulcer were almost similar. Mean values of anti H. pylori IgG in saliva and serum of H. pylori positive patients were higher than H. pylori negative patients. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and accuracy of tests in saliva were 83.6%, 71.7%, 77.3%, 79.1%, 78.1% and in serum were 90.2%, 86.8%, 88.7%, 88.4% and 88.6% respectively. It was concluded that ELISA-based anti H. pylori IgG test in saliva could be used as an alternative diagnostic test in the absence of other invasive procedures