Measles vaccination coverage and seroprevalence of anti-measles antibody in south-east Islamic Republic of Iran

Discrepancies often exist between recorded immunization coverage and the real immunity level in a community. To estimate the vaccination coverage against measles in south-east Islamic Republic of Iran, a cross-sectional study was conducted in 3 districts during summer 2011. Using probability proportional to size cluster sampling, 1368 children aged 30-54 months were selected. Serum samples of 663 who had received 2 injections of mumps-measles-rubella [MMR] vaccine were checked for anti-measles IgG. Vaccination coverage for the second dose of MMR vaccine was 93.7%. The prevalence of anti-measles IgG in those who had received at least 2 MMR vaccine doses was 94.6%. There was a statistically significant association between the serological results and variables that reflected poor accessibility to health services. Combining serological results with coverage data, the proportion of the community protected against measles was estimated as 88.6%, which was below the limits defined for the measles elimination goals

Seroprevalence of poliovirus antibodies among 7-month-old infants after 4 doses of oral polio vaccine in Sistan-va-Baluchestan, Islamic Republic of Iran

Despite high coverage rates of polio vaccine in the Islamic Republic of Iran, the seroconversion rates of infants may be inadequate. This study measured seroprevalence of antibodies against poliovirus serotypes 1 to 3 [PV1, PV2 and PV3] in 7-month-old infants who had received at least 4 doses of trivalent oral polio vaccine. A serosurvey was conducted in 2010 in rural areas of Chabahar, Sistan-va-Baluchestan province. Using cluster sampling, 72 eligible infants were tested for antibody against the 3 poliovirus serotypes according to WHO guidelines. Antibody titres >/= 1:10 were considered positive. The seropositive rates for antibody against PV1, PV2 and PV3 were 84.7%, 95.8% and 70.8% respectively. Only 63.9% of participants were seropositive for antibodies against all 3 poliovirus serotypes. Except for PV2, the seroprevalence of antibody against the other 2 poliovirus serotypes, especially PV3, was unsatisfactory

Risk of polio reintroduction to border regions of Islamic Republic of Iran: seroprevalence study of children with at least 5 doses of oral polio vaccine

Movements of populations from countries where polio has not been eradicated is a concern in the Islamic Republic of Iran. A cross-sectional, community-based study was implemented in 2010 in 2 districts in Sistan-va-Baluchestan Province near the south-east border. The aim was to determine the seroprevalence of antibodies in children aged 20 [+/

Use of meta-anaglysis to determining the associated factors of an outbreak occurred in the summer 2005 in Iran

According to the report of Iranian Center of Disease Control, in the summer of 2005 an outbreak of cholera [Inaba serotype] occurred in Iran. The outbreak lasted the mid of September. The aim of this study was to use the result of different studies performed during this period to determine source of infection. This is a meta-analysis study, which studies performed in Qum, Arak, Karaj, Golestan and Ghazvin were eligible. All of these studies were case control ones performed during the August 2005. The total of cases were 531 Pooled odds ratios was used to estimate by fixed and random method. All computations were performed by Stata 8 software. The estimated pooled odds ratios resulted from 5 differemt studies were used in the meta-analysis as the following: travelling [1.64; 95% CI: 0.98-1.88], non-pasteurized ice cream [0.88; 95%CI: 0.48-1.61], post toilet hand washing [3.72; 95% CI: 0.86-16.05], eating meal outside home [2.38; 95% CI: 1.46-3.90], raw fruit eating [0.98; 95% CI: 0.42-2.18] and raw vegetables use [5.36; 95%CI: 2.4-12]. According to the results of this study raw vegetable use and having meal outside home were significantly associated to the cholera in mentioned provinc

Report on Clonal Dissemination of a New Vibrio cholerae Serotype O1 Biotype El Tor Strain in Kurdstan in Summer of 2007

Cholerae disease caused by toxigenic V. cholerae, is a major public health problem in developing countries including Iran. Epidemiological surveillance and comparative molecular analysis of isolates have demonstrated clonal diversity among epidemic strains and a continual emergence of new clones of toxigenic V. cholerae. A total of 20 V.cholerae strains were sent to Pasteur Institute of Iran in September of 2007 from Kordestan province which includes strains of different sub-serotypes. After biochemical identification, isolates subjected to molecular analysis including Pulsed-Field Gel Electrophoresis [PFGE] of NotI digested genomic DNA according to the standardized protocol by Centre of Disease Control [CDC]. PFGE results showed a single pattern for all isolates. The results were interpreted in comparison with patterns obtained by isolates of previous years and showed clonal dissemination of a new clone in Kordestan province in this year

[Role of sperm surface proteins with epididymal origin on fertilization]

During transit of spermatozoa through the epididymis, where develop its capacity to fertilize oocytes, several new antigenic determinants appear on surface of spermatozoa. Many of these are proteins and glycoproteins with epididymal origin. The aim of this study was evaluation the role of epididymal secretory proteins on fertilizing ability of spermatozoa. In This study, epithelial cells from proximal portion of rat epididymis were cultured in RPMI medium supplemented with growth factors and androgens. To identify epididymal secretory proteins, pulse labeling with [[35]S]-[Met, Cys] was used. Labeled conditioned medium recovered and subjected to SDS-PAGE and flurography. Antiserum against 8 secretory proteins were produced in Rabbits. The immunogens were lyophilized narrow strip of polyacrylamide gel from preparative electrophoresis with ultrapure proteins. Incubation of intact rat spermatozoa with these antisera was revealed secretory proteins on surface of spermatozoa. The effects of these antisera on in vitro fertilization were evaluated. The results showed that epithelial cells secreted about 20-30 proteins in culture medium. High titer antisera for 8 secretory proteins were produced. Three antisera were reacted with surface of rat spermatozoa [20, 24 and 72 kD proteins], and only 20 kD protein antiserum decreased fertilization rate. [28% in treatment group against 89% for control group]. In Conclusion, the epididymal maturation process of spermatozoa was associated with the secretion of a number proteins by epididymal epithelial cells, many of these proteins bound to plasma membrane of spermatozoa. Only secreted 20 kD protein has a critical role in fertilizing ability of spermatozoa