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@#Introduction: Dermatophyte infections are superficial infections that affect the skin and are caused by fungi, namely dermatophytes. Objectives: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of dermatophyte infections among patients who attended the Dermatology Department in Setif public hospital, Algeria and to determine the associated risk factors to these infections. Methods: A cross-sectional study with a sample size of 400 respondents was designed to collect the data using a validated pre-tested questionnaire from February to June 2019. The collected data was then analyzed using IBM SPSS version 25. Results: The response rate was 98.4% (315 respondents) with an overall mean age (SD) of 38.81 (16.37) years old. The prevalence of dermatophyte infections among respondents was 33.7%, 26% of them have single infections. On the other hand, multiple logistic regression analysis showed an increased odd of having dermatophyte infections by three times among patients from low-income families (OR=3.23, 95% CI=1.09- 4.78, p=0.03). Similarly, the presence of chronic diseases led to a twofold increase in the odds of having dermatophyte infection among patients (OR=2.27, 95% CI=1.01-10.49, p=0.045). It was also found that poor attitudes towards preventing dermatophyte infections increased the odds of having dermatophyte infection by near to three times (OR=2.58, 95% CI=1.14-4.74, p=0.002). Conclusion: The high prevalence of dermatophyte infections presents a significant concern in Setif Province, Algeria. In this context, further efforts are needed to review the practiced control measures to optimize the effectiveness of these measures, which may reduce dermatophyte infections, especially among patients with chronic diseases.
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In this study, the infection of root arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi(arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, AMF of Panax quinquefolium in Shandong province was investigated, and the distribution characteristics and infection regularity of AMF were found out. The AMF of P. quinquefolium roots in different habitats was examined by alkali dissociation-trypickin blue staining method to study the infection rate and infection intensity. The contents of ginsenoside(Rb_1, Re, Rg_1, Rb_2, Rd and Rh_1) in the roots of P. quinquefolium was determined by HPLC. The experimental data were SPSS 17.0 statistical software for One-way analysis of variance, cluster analysis and correlation analysis. The results showed that the AMF infection in roots of P. quinquefolium, and there were obvious structures such as hyphae, arbuscular branches and vesicles, and the AMF infection rate and infection intensity showed obvious spatial and temporal heterogeneity with the growth age and origin of P. quinquefolium. The infection rate of AMF in roots of P. quinquefolium from 1 to 3 years increased significantly with the increase of growth years(P<0.05). The infection intensity and infection rate of P. quinquefolium showed a similar change trend, the AMF infection rate and infection intensity reached the highest level in the third year. Cluster analysis showed that the infection rates of roots of P. quinquefolium in similar geographical locations could be clustered together. Correlation analysis showed that the AMF infection rate of P. quinquefolium root was significantly positively correlated with the infection intensity, and the AMF infection rate and infection intensity were significantly positively correlated with the contents of ginsenoside Rg_1, Re and Rb_1. This study explored the distribution characteristics and regularity of AMF in roots of P. quinquefolium under the protected cultivation conditions, and provided basic data for ecological cultivation of P. quinquefolium and research and development of biological bacterial fertilizer.
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Fertilizers , Fungi , Ginsenosides , Mycorrhizae , Panax , Plant RootsABSTRACT
Objectives of the Study:An Epidemiological Research, a cross-sectional study, was conducted to determine the magnitude of human contamination of irrigation canal perimeter as it relates to the prevalence and intensity of schistosome cercarial infection in snail vectors.Place and Duration of Study:The study was conducted along water canal located within an irrigation area, Kano River Project Phase I, Kadawa, between January and June, 2012.Methodology:The study area was categorized into Zone of Heavy Contamination (ZHC), Zoneof Light Contamination (ZLC) and Zone of Free Contamination (ZFC) based on the density of faecal lumps observed along the canal perimeter using 1m2quadrat sampling technique. Snail vectors of schistosomiasis were collected from these zones, identified and subjected to cercarial shedding. Brevifurcate apharyngeate cercariae were identified as schistosome cercariae.Results:Of the 827 snails collected 28.54% shed schistosome cercariae. The breakdown of infection prevalence was 31.37%, 27.69% and 26.26% for ZHC, ZLC and ZFC respectively. Three snail species recovered in the study area, Bulinus globosus, B. rohlfsi and Biomphalaria pfeifferi had infection intensity of 8.6, 5.67 and 3.94 respectively, with total mean intensity of 4.67. A Chi-squared analysis did not show any significant difference in infection prevalence in the three zones (χ2cal.0.025, χ22, 0.05= 5.99). However, infection intensity was significantly different in the three zones and among the three snail species using analysis of variance (P<0.05). Conclusion:Human environmental contamination with faeces and urine around irrigation canals remains the source of infection to snail hosts and then to humans. It is presumed that contact control through avoidance of defaecation in the open and building of pit latrines near water contact points along irrigation canals will be effective means of drawing a barrier to infection with schistosomes in the study area
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Objective To understand the prevalence of human intestinal parasite infections in Lahu Ethnic residents so as to provide the evidence for effective control. Methods The prevalence of soil-transmitted nematode infections in local people was determined by Kato-Katz technique and individual sanitary behaviors and habits were requested by a standardized questionnaire in 3 villages of Xiaojie Township,Jinghong City,Yunnan Province. The relationship between intestinal parasite infections and behav-ioral characteristics was analyzed. Results Of 289 subjects,255 individuals were infected with soil-transmitted nematodes;the prevalence was 88.24%. Among the infected individuals,210 were found infected with hookworm and the infection rate was 72.66%;154 subjects were infected with Ascaris lumbricoides and the infection rate was 53.29%;13 were infected with Trichuris trichura,and the infection rate was 4.50%;16 were infected with other parasites and the infection rate was 5.54%. The percentag-es of people with light infection of hookworm,A. lumbricoides and T. trichura were 90.48%,97.40%and 100%,respectively. Con-clusions There is high prevalence of soil-transmitted nematode infections in Lahu Ethnic residents in Jinghong City,but the in-fection intensity was generally low. The control and monitoring of soil-transmitted parasite infections should be strengthened in this area.
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F0.01(1,5)=16. 30,P0. 05). Conclusion Laboratory results thus suggest that infection intensity is related to snail size per se, whereas prevalence in the field is related to snail size only through the correlation between size and age. In addition, under these experimental conditions, infected snails were no larger than uninfected snails, so the gigantism snails observed in the field might not be attributable to Trichobilharzia-induced effect.