Detection and molecular characterization of cryptosporidium species in recreational waters of Chaharmahal va Bakhtiyari province of Iran using nested-PCR-RFLP

The aim of this study was to detect and characterize Cryptosporidium spp. in water samples collected from recreational ponds of Chaharmahal va Bakhtiyari Province of Iran. Thirty water samples were collected from November 2009 to May 2010. Each sample contained 10 liters of water. We used the SSU rRNA-based PCR-RFLP technique. Out of thirty samples examined, 6 [20%] were positive for different Cryptosporidium spp. Restriction pattern analysis showed that C. parvum has been the most prevalent genotype, followed by C. hominis and C. canis, respectively. In this area, the higher prevalence of C. parvum compared with other genotypes is consistent with the distribution of cattle. Farm animals, particularly cattle are the main source of cryptosporidial contamination for recreational waters in this area

Seroprevalence of anti-Toxoplasma antibodies among pregnant women from Chaharmahal and Bakhtyari province using indirect immunoflurescent in 2006-2007

The most serious form of Toxoplasma gondii infection, congenital toxoplasmosis occurs when a non-immune woman is affected during the pregnancy. Thus, having knowledge about Toxoplasma seroprevalence among women during childbearing ages and /or pregnancy is of public health importance. Therefore, this study was performed to determine the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma antibodies during the first trimester of pregnancy in women aged 15-45 years referred to the health centers of the province. In this descriptive-analytical study, 384 serum samples from pregnant women aged 15-45 years during the first trimester of their pregnancies were examined and tittered for anti-Toxoplasma antibody using Indirect Immunofluorescent Antibody [IFA] method. Using X[2] test, the data were analyzed. Total anti-Toxoplasma antibodies were found in 106 women out of 384 [27.6%], with serum levels ranged between 1:20 and 1:2560. The highest rate of anti-Toxoplasma antibodies was found in pregnant women aged 40-45 years [50%] [p<0.05]. There was a past history of spontaneous abortion in 29.3% of the sero-positive subjects. Also, 38.5% of the sero-positive women had a history of cat keeping in their house or had a close contact with the animal [p<0.05]. There was also a history of lamb meat consumption in 82.2% of sero-positive subjects [p<0.05], while the rate of anti-Toxoplasma antibodies was 65% for raw vegetables consumers. The highest and the lowest rates of anti-Toxoplasma sero-prevalence occurred in Shahrekord [51.9%] and Farsan [6%] districts, respectively. This rate was also 25% and 29.5% for urban and rural areas, respectively. The findings showed that a large proportion of pregnant women from this area are at risk of infection with Toxoplasma and may be infected during next months of their pregnancies or in their further pregnancies

Application of direct agglutination test [DAT] for the diagnosis and seroepidemiological studies of visceral leishmaniasis in Iran

Visceral leishmaniasis [VL] is one of the most important parasitic diseases which is endemic in different parts of Iran. Serological studies were conducted by direct agglutination test [DAT] on 12144 human serum samples, collected from four geographical zones of Iran. Sero prevalence, geographical distribution, clinical signs and symptoms for human visceral leishmaniasis based on DAT for the period of 2002 through 2005 were determined. From 516 kala-azar cases detected: 50.6% were from Meshkin-shahr and Moghan districts in Ardabil Province, northwest of Iran and 49.4% were detected from other areas of Iran. In physical examination of seropositive cases, which were detected by DAT with anti-leishmanial antibodies at titers of 1: 3200 to 1: 102400, almost 50% of suspected individuals showed the classical kala-azar signs and symptoms. Predominant signs and symptoms in 233 hospitalized patients with anti-Leishmania antibodies at 1:3200 and higher, were fever [88.0%] and splenomegaly [84.5%]. Statistically significant difference was found between males [58%] and females [42%] [P< 0.01]. Moreover, 93.6% of the VL patients were < 5 yr of age, and 6.4% were older than 5 yr that this difference was statistically significant [P< 0.01]. From 1383 serum samples collected from domestic dogs in the villages that are known as endemic foci of human leishmaniasis, 152 [11.0%] were positive by DAT [>/= 1:320]. Parasitological and serological examinations that were performed in 30 wild canines showed that 10% of these animals were infected by L. infantum. L. infantum Lon49 is the principal agent of the disease in human as well as animal reservoir hosts in different parts of Iran. For the first time in Iran, L. tropica isolated from both skin lesions in the face and bone marrow aspiration in a HIV+ man who co-infected with VL as well as in an infected dog from Ardabil Province