trial of immunisation against cutaneous leishmaniasis

Cutaneous leishmaniasis is an endemic protozoal disease in Iraq. Recovery from the disease confers a solid and permanent immunity. Vaccination with a living inoculum of promastigotes isolated from culture reduce the incidence of disease. To show the efficacy of different types of antigens for protection of Balb/c mice against cutaneous leishmaniasis. Thirty Balb Ic mice were divided in to six groups, groups 1-4 were immunized with different types of antigens [heat killed, freezing-thawing, formalin fixed and ultrasonicated]. Received June 2005 Group 5 was treated with freshly harvested viable promastigotes from liquid medium as positive Accepted Nov. 2005 control and group 6 was kept as negative control. Leishmanin test was used for estimation of hyper sensitivity of skin. Immunization with antigens preparation revealed that, the immunized mice became resistant to infection. Immunization of mice against cutaneous leishmaniasis is possible by using different types of antigens. Keywords: Immunisation, cutaneous leishmaniasis, mice

Sensitivity of HSV stains from patients with genital herpes treated with acyclovir

The sensitivity of 190 clinical HSV isolates following acyclovir therapy in patients with first and recurrent episodes were determined. The findings indicated that acyclovir therapy did not resulted in the emergence of resistant strains. The clinical importance of acyclovir resistance was also discussed

Meningitis in Iraq among pediatric age group: II clinical presetation laboratory investigations and outcome

The frequency of presenting symptoms was studies in 183 cases with provisional diagnosis of meningitis. Fever was the frequent presenting symptom. However, it was more in purulent meningitis [91.1%] than in non - purulent meningitis [82%] and negative group [71.9%]. The difference was statistically significant. The sensitivity and specificity of the various laboratory tests used in diagnosis of meningitis was also studied. Latex agglutination test found to be a very useful diagnostic tool in the diagnosis of acute bacterial meningitis. Estimation of CRP in CSF was assessed and evaluated and recommended to be used in differentiating types of meningitis. The mortality rate for purulent meningitis was 9.1% while that for non - purulent meningitis was 4%. Chloramphenicol was the predominantly used antibiotic either alone or in combination. The predominant combination therapy of antibiotics was chloramphenicol plus ampicillin for both influenzal and pneumococcal meningitis. The resistance rate for all isolated bacteriae was low

Incidence of hepatitis-B surface antigen HBsAG] and hepatitis-C [HCV] in salahdeen province

Viral hepatitis is a major health problem in developing countries. Recent advances in the field of molecular biology have aided, identification and understanding of the pathogenesis of liver viruses that are known to cause hepatitis as their primary diseases manifestation. Using Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay [ELISA], 1186 sera were tested for the presence of total antibodies to Hepatitis B [HBV] and Hepatitis C [HCV] in Salahdeen province for the period from January to August, 1996. The peak incidence for both sexes occurred at ages 20-40 years. Only 85 [7.2%] were found positive; all of which were later confirmed. Among the various occupation, the free jobs, students, farmers, employers and laborer showed the highest HBV and HCV incidence [about 25.9%, 15.3%, 15.3%, 11.8% and 7.1%], respectively, while the frequent of other group ranged between 3.9%-5.9%. The area among Salahdeen Province with highest incidence was Tikrit with 38.8% followed by Samarra [36.5%]. HBV and HCV frequency was the highest among those who were of blood group O. Most the carriers were asymptomatic and only 19 [22.4%] gave a history of jaundice in the past. The aim of this study is to assess the incidence of hepatitis B and hepatitis C in Salahdeen province

Single dose cefotaxime in treating uncomplicated gonococcal urethritis in men

Resistance and side effects to antibiotics or chemotherapeutic agents are the main limiting factors in the treatment of gonorrhoea. As no such side effects have been reported with a new cephalosporin, cefotaxime, the therapeutic efficacy of this substance was evaluated in 73 male with uncomplicated genital gonorrhoea, who each received a single dose of 1 gm cefotaxime by intramuscular injection. Efficacy of treatment was assessed by smear microscopy and culture which gave negative results in 50 patients, who were suitable for evaluation. No serious side effects were reported. Postgonococcal urethritis identified in [32%] of the 50 patients assessed. These results indicate that cefotaxime is an extraordinary safe and efficient agent for treating uncomplicated gonorrhoea in our society

Herpes simplex specific IgA antibody in patients with primary or recurrent genital herpes

By using the ELISA test, IgA antibody HSV was detected in 69% of acute phase sera while a corresponding value for convalescent phase sera was 87.5% in patients with first episode genital HSV infection. The equivalent of a four-fold rise in HSV IgA antibody titer was detected in 40% of patients. The serum level of IgA peaked at 11-21 days after illness. In recurrent genital HSV infection, 15% of the patients had no detectable IgA antibody peaked earlier than for first episode HSV infection. A significant inverse correlation [P < 0.0005] was found between the titre of HSV antibody and the frequency of recurrences