Detection of leptospires serogroups, which are common causes of human acute leptospirosis in Guilan, northern Iran

This study is performed to reveal most common species and subspecies of leptospires that are main causes of human leptospirosis in Guilan, Northern Province of Iran. We performed IgM-ELISA and MAT on 282 blood samples from patients who attended to 3 hospitals in the flat area of Guilan Province with clinical symptoms consisted with leptospirosis. All specimens with titers >/= 160 against at least one pathogenic strain in MAT and with titers >/= 160 in IgM-ELISA were regarded confirmed positive cases indicative acute disease. For any confirmed positive cases, we determined the strains, which had the highest titer to determine the frequency of most common serovars and serogroups. Seventy of 282 sera had titers >/= 160 against at least one pathogenic strain in MAT and titers >/= 160 in IgM-ELISA. We determined frequency of common causative serogroups which had highest titers in 70 positive cases and only cases which had high titers in MAT and in IgM-ELISA were selected which is a reliable criterion to detect acute disease and to determine causative serogroup. Nine serogroups including sejroe, grippotyphosa, mini, ictero haemorrhagiae, celledoni, autumnalis, cynopteri, pomona, and javanica were more responsible of acute leptospirosis in Guilan

[Study of antibacterial properties of adiantum capillus-veneris extract on eight species of gram positive and negative bacteria]

Adiantum capillus-veneris L. is a traditional medicinal plant which was used in the treatment of bronchitis and coughs, and also to prevent hair loss. Methanolic extract of this plant has demonstrated significant antimicrobial activities. In this study the antibacterial properties of Adiantum capillus-veneris L. extract on eight species of Gram positive and negative bacteria were evaluated. The herbal sample of Adiantum capillus-veneris was collected during the summer [June-July] from the north region of Iran called Condoluse and identified by herbarium laboratory in Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, where a voucher specimen is deposited. The sample was pretreated and extracted with methanol 96% by percolation method and then concentrated and stored in a safe bottle until the experiments started. By using dilution method different dilutions of the extract have been prepared [10%, 5%, 2.5% and 1.25%]. Antimicrobial activity of the methnolic extract of Adiantum capillus-veneris were evaluated against 8 strain of Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria using agar disk diffusion and agar well plate methods. Our results demonstrated that prepared dilutions of the Adiantum capillus-veneris extract had significant effects on Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Helicobacter pylori strains. Also the results indicated no significant inhibitory effects on Salmonella typhi, Shigella sonnei, Pseudomonas aeroginosa, Proteus vulgaris and Streptococcus pyogenes strains. Consistent with the other studies, our investigation demonstrated some antimicrobial effects of Adiantum capillus-veneris extract. With respect to various and multiple chemical properties of this plant, it is suggested that Adiantum capillus-veneris can be used for more medical and therapeutic purposes

[ prevalence and molecular characterization of vancomycin resistant gram positive cocci isolated from patients in Tehran]

Gram positive bacteria, particularly, Staphylococcus aureus, coagulase negative staphylococci and enterococci are of particular concern in hospitals. But there has been increasing concern about the development of vancomycin resistant enterococci and MRSA strains with reduced susceptibility to vancomycin over the last decade. Therefore, the present study was carried out to confirm the identification of vancomycin resistant gram positive cocci, to determine antibiotic resistance pattern and to study vancomycin resistance genes. The isolates from clinical samples were collected from hospitalized patients and outpatients in Tehran. Gram positive cocci species identification was performed by using conventional tests and PCR using specific primers. VRE isolates were subjected to antibiotic susceptibility testing, MICs of vancomycin were determined by the E-test method. Determination of vancomycin resistance genes, vanA and vanB were performed with PCR. Confirmation of transposons was performed with specific primers for vanS. Out of 1030 gram positive isolates, none of the staphylococci or streptococci isolates were resistant to vancomycin. Most of vancomycin resistant isolates in this study were VRE. faecium [96%] and harbored vanA. All of the isolates were positive for vanS the conserved fragment of transposon and carried the identical digestion pattern like type strain. According to the results of this study, all of the vancomycin resistant isolates were enterococcus spp. Vancomycin resistant enterococci itself is now a major and largely untreatable infection, and can pass the vancomycin resistance genes to the other highly virulent gram positive cocci

Characterization of vancomycin resistant enterococcus faecium

To determine the species distribution, updated drug susceptibility patterns and genes conferring resistance in clinical vancomycin resistant enterococcal [VRE] isolates. Clinical enterococcal isolates collected during 7 months, from September 2005 to April 2006 from hospitalized patients and outpatients were studied. Twenty five VRE were isolated from 450 enterococci samples [5.6%]. VRE isolates were subjected to antibiotic susceptibility tests. Genotype of these isolates was determined by PCR. All of the isolates were E. faecium and carried the vanA gene. Antibiotic susceptibility tests showed that the isolates were resistant to ampicillin 25[100%], ciprofloxacin 25[100%], gentamicin 24[96%], erythromycin 25[100%], tetracyclin 10[40%] and chloramphenicol 2[8%]. VRE strains were resistant to three antibiotics and were susceptible to new antibiotics linezolid and dalfopristin- quinupristin. Switching to treatment with these antibiotics would relieve the problem for a short time