[Identification of serological groups A, B, C, W135, Y, X Neisseria meningitidis carriers by multiplex PCR in the nasopharynx of students in Kashan during 2011-2012]

Neisseria meningitidis [N. meningitidis] is a pathogen which colonizes in the nasopharynx without any clinical manifestations. Among the 13 different serological groups, only the serogroups A, B, C, W135, Y, X play a major role in disease development. This study aimed to determine N. meningitidis cases carrying these serological groups using the multiplex PCR method in the nasopharynx of students in Kashan schools. This cross-sectional study was conducted on 1289 students in Kashan during 2011-2012. Samples were collected from the students' nasopharynx using a sterile swab and cultured on a selective medium. Strains were identified through biochemical tests. Then the serological groups were determined using the multiplex PCR method. One-hundred and fifteen [8.9%] out of 1289 students were N.meningitidis carriers; 75 [65.2%] male and 40 [34.8%] female. There was a significant difference between gender and the rate of carriers [P=0.032]. The highest rate of carriers [12.3%] was in the 15 to 19 year age group. There was a significant relationship between the rate of carriers and increase in the number of family members [P<0.001]. In this study, only the serological groups B [8 cases] and C [107 cases] were detected. Since the serological group C is involved in the outbreak and there is no vaccine currently available for the serological group B to prevent the infection, detection of these serological groups can be important

[Evaluation of patients with common variable immunodeficiency and detection of IL-2 as a cell-mediated immune index]

Common variable immunodeficiency [CVID] is the most prevalent primary immunodeficiencies characterized by impaired antibody responses, defect in T-cell proliferation and secretion of cytokines, especially IL-2. This study aimed to evaluate the function of cellular immune system in CVID patients based on Il-2 level, as a cell-mediated immune index, as well as the clinical and paraclinical evaluation of such patients. This case-control study was conducted on 20 CVID and 10 healthy participants referred to the Immunology and Allergy Department at Children Medical Center in Kashan. The clinical and paraclinical findings of the patients were collected using the questionnaire. The peripheral blood mononuclear cells were cultured with PHA in both groups and then the supernatants were collected for quantification of IL-2 secretion using the ELISA method. CVID was seen in 85% of the cases hospitalized with infection. The most common infection was respiratory tract infection; the opportunistic infections and autoimmunity were seen in 5-10% and 40% of the cases, respectively. Delayed-type hypersensitivity response was negative in 65% of the patients. Moreover, IL-2 level was zero in15 patients and lower than that of the control group in 5 patients [P<0.05]. All patients showed deficiency in T-cell function with decreased IL-2 production. The manifestations of this deficiency are a high incidence of autoimmunity, granulomatosis, bronchiectasis and recurrent infections in the patients in spite of monthly IVIG injections

[Prevalence and multi-drug resistance of enteropathogenic Escherichia coli [EPEC] isolated from children under 5 years of age with diarrhea in Kashan Shahid Beheshti hospital during 2009-10]

Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli [EPEC] is the most important diarrheagenic agent among children in developing countries. However, recent studies have shown its prevalence in developed countries. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence and multi-drug resistant [MDR] of EPEC isolated from children under 5 years of age with diarrhea hospitalized in Kashan Shahid Beheshti hospital during 2009-10. In this descriptive study 313 fecal specimens were collected using rectal swab method from all children under 5 years of age with diarrhea hospitalized in Kashan Shahid Beheshti Hospital during 2009-10. Specimens were examined by PCR test to determine the eae Gene for detection of EPEC pathotype. The isolated multi-drug resistance pattern of EPEC was evaluated by disk diffusion agar. The antimicrobial disks used were ampicillin, nalidixic acid, ceftriaxone, ciprofloxacin, cefalexin, ceftazidime, streptomycin and imipenem. Of all 178 E. coli cases 51 [28.6%] EPEC pathotypes were isolated. The prevalence of EPEC was higher in children under 1 year of age. MDR rate in EPEC was 70.6%. The exact application of antibiogram test is necessary before antibiotic prescription for complete treatment and prevention of diarrhea caused by multi-drug resistance agents