Serologic Tests of IgG and IgM Antibodies and IgG Avidity for Diagnosis of Ocular Toxoplasmosis

This prospective study was aimed to detect acute and chronic ocular toxoplasmosis by comparison of anti-Toxoplasma gondii IgM and IgG antibody levels and IgG avidity test. One hundred and seventeen patients with ocular toxoplasmosis (OT) who referred to the Farabi Eye Hospital, Tehran, Iran were included in this study. Of the patients, 77 cases were positive for anti-T. gondii IgG, and 8 cases were positive for anti-T. gondii IgM. IgG avidity test revealed 11, 4, and 102 cases were low, intermediate, and high, respectively, and 6.8% and 9.4% of cases were positive for IgM and IgG avidity tests, respectively (P=0.632). Agreement (Kappa value) between paired tests IgG-IgM, IgG-IgG avidity, and IgM-IgG avidity was 0.080, 0.099, and 0.721, respectively (P < 0.05). This study showed that conventional serologic tests (IgM and IgG levels) and IgG avidity correlate well each other and can be used to differentiate recent infections from old OT. It seems that reactivated old infections rather than recently acquired infections are majority of Iranian OT patients.

[Sero-prevalence of toxoplasma gondii infection among women in first trimester of pregnancy of women in Razavi- Khorasan Province]

Introduction and Aims: toxoplasmosis is a usual infection caused by the intracellular protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii. Primary infections during pregnancy are usually asymptomatic for the pregnant woman but can cause severe neonatal problems. This study designed to determine seroprevalence of IgG and IgM and its related factors among first trimester pregnant women referring to health centers of Razavi Khorasan Province, Iran

Materials and Methods: in this cross sectional study 786 serum samples were collected from pregnant women aged from 15 to 46 years in Khorasan Razavi province, during 2013-2014. The seroprevalence IgG and IgM antibodies were measured by using of commercial kit in both urban and rural areas and data were analyzed using the SPSS v.19

Results: the seroprevalence of IgG antibodies to T. gondii was 31.17% while IgM seroprevalence was 5.47% and 1.65% were positive for both IgG and IgM antibodies. The seroprevalence of T. gondii is directly proportional to the age, but inversely proportional to education and there was not any significant difference between urban and rural areas

Conclusion: sero-prevalence of T. gondii-specific antibodies is nearly high among pregnant women in Razavi-Khorasan province with a significant ratio of women at risk of T. gondii infections. Screening of T. gondii infections during antenatal care should be considered in this area as the chief strategy to diminish congenital toxoplasmosis

Anti-giardial activity of chloroformic extract of tanacetum parthenium and artemisia annua in vitro

Giardiasis is a one of the most prevalent intestinal parasitic diseases in human, treatment of this disease through medicinal plants is very important since parasite resistance to chemical drugs exists. Thus, in this study, the in vitro anti-giardial activity of chloroformic extract of Tanacetum parthenium and Artemisia annua on cyst and trophozoite of Giardia lamblia were separately investigated. In this experimental study chloroformic extracts of Artemisia annua and Tanacetum parthenium on cyst and trophozoite of G. lamblia in vitro were prepared in 1, 10, 50 and 100 mg?ml concentrations for 5, 10, 30, 60 and 180 min. Purified cysts were used for encystations and culture in TYI-S-33 medium. Then, 2 ml of each solution was placed in test tubes, to which 10,000 washed cysts and trophozoites were added. The contents of the tubes were gently mixed and incubated. The percentages of dead parasites were determined by counting 500 cysts. Non treated parasites were considered a control group in each experiment and the viability of the parasites checked with Eeosin staining and statistical analysis were done. The results showed that chloroformic extracts of A. annua at 100 mg/ml concentration affected on Gardia cyst 86% and 100% trophozoite after 1 hour. T. parthenium at 50mg/ml concentration killed cysts [83%] and trophozite [100%] after 1 hour, respectively. T. parthenium chloroformic extract had a better effect on cyst and trophozoite of Giardia at 50 mg/ml after 1 hour exposure than A. annua extract. According to this study, A. annua and T. parthenium chlorofomic extracts could be considered as a more effective anti-giardial agent. Chloroformic extract of T. parthenium was also shown the anti-giardial activity compared with A. annua and control groups at all exposure times. Therefore, in the future research using these plants are recommended against Giardia in low concentration in the in vivo, also to find fractions of the pharmacological effects of these plants