Review of trichomonas vaginalis in Iran, based on epidemiological situation

Trichomoniasis, which is caused by Trichomonas vaginalis, is the most common non-viral sexually transmitted infection [STI] in the world including Iran. There were roughly 250 million new cases all over the world in a year. T. vaginalis as an important disease has been associated with HIV [in terms of exposure to sexually transmitted infection, STI] which increases the number of high-risk members, and thus it is an important public health problem. Additionally, this pathogen has been associated with serious health consequences. For instance, it may cause a woman to deliver a low-birth-weight or premature infant, and increase chances of cervical can-cer. Because little information is available about the prevalence of T. vaginalis infec-tion in Iranian population, this review was carried out to determine the prevalence of T. vaginalis among Iranian population. For this systematic review, data about epi-demiology of T. vaginalis in different parts of Iran with different populations were systematically collected from 1992 to 2017 through the international databases such as PubMed, Scirus, ISI Web of Science, Scopus, EMBASE, Science Direct and Google Scholar and Islamic World Science Citation Center [ISC]. National database searching included Iran Medex, Iran Doc, Magiran and Scientific Information Data-base [SID]. A total of 39 clinical and laboratory investigations about the prevalence of Trichomoniasis from different regions of Iran were analyzed. The overall preva-lence rate of T. vaginalis infection in Iranian population was estimated to be mini-mally 0.4% and maximally 42%. The present review showed that T. vaginalis infec-tion rate is relatively high among the Iranian population. The control strategies, in-cluding personal hygienic education, simultaneous couple treatment, the sensitivity of diagnostic methods, appropriate preventive tool [condom] in sexual contacts could lead to the disruption of transmission

Therapeutic effects of Iranian herbal extracts against Trichomonas vaginalis

Trichomonas vaginalis is a flagellated parasite affecting about 276 million people annually worldwide. Tricomoniasis is associated with different complications in pregnant women and infants. S'-nitroimidazole derivatives [metronidazole, ornidazole, and tinidazole] are FDA approved drugs recommended for trichomoniasis treatment. Treatment with metronidazole S'-nitroimidazole derivatives is associated with many side effects, and drug resistance to metronidazole has been reported in some cases. Recently, many attempts have been made to evaluate the effects of plants on causative agents of vaginal infections. In our research, the national and international databases were searched and the effects of various herbal extracts on T. vaginalis in Iran were reviewed from 2006 to 2016. In articles investigated, some plants had favorable antitrichomonal effects and needed to be further investigated. All the plant extracts have only been evaluated in vitro. Surveys of different articles in this review show that the active ingredients present in different parts of plants, including aerial parts, leaves, flowers, stems, and root can be suitable sources for introducing and developing new antitrichomonal compounds

Ginger [Zingiber officinale] induces apoptosis in Trichomonas vaginalis in vitro

Background: Trichomoniasis is the most common sexually transmitted protozoan diseases in the worldwide. Metronidazole is the choice drug for trichomomasis treatment, however, metronidazole resistant Trichomonas vaginalis [T. vaginalis] has been reported. Natural products are the source of most new drugs, and Zingiber officinale [Ginger] is widely used ingredient in the traditional medicine

Objective: The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of different concentrations of the ginger ethanol extract on the growth of T.vaginalis trophozoites in vitro

Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 970 women who were attend in Kashan health centers were examined for T. vaginalis. Of them, 23 samples were infected with T.vaginalis, Three T. vaginalis isolates were cultured in a TYI-S-33 medium. The effect of ginger ethanol extracts and its toxicity in different concentrations [25, 50, 100, 200, 400, 800 microg/ml] on mouse macrophages were measured in triplicate exam by MTT [3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5 diphenyltetrazolium bromide] assay. The effect of ginger on apoptosis induction was determined by Flow cytometry

Results: The IC50 of ginger and metronidazole were 93.8 and 0.0326 yg/ml, respectively. 12, 24 and 48 hr after adding different concentrations of extract on mouse macrophages, fatality rates in maximum dose [800 fig/ml] were 0.19, 0.26 and 0.31 respectively. Flow cytometry results showed the apoptosis rate following treatment with different concentrations of the extract after 48 hr were 17, 28.5, 42.1, 58.8, 76.3 and 100% respectively, while in the control group was 2.9%

Conclusion: Ginger ethanol extract induces programmed death itv T. vagincrfis. It is recommended that due to the known teratogenic effect of metronidazole, ginger can be considered as an alternative drug for metronidazole

Tamoxifen Induces Apoptosis of Leishmania major Promastigotes in Vitro

Tamoxifen is an antagonist of the estrogen receptor and currently used for the treatment of breast cancer. The current treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis with pentavalent antimony compounds is not satisfactory. Therefore, in this study, due to its antileishmanial activity, effects of tamoxifen on the growth of promastigotes and amastigotes of Leishmania major Iranian strain were evaluated in vitro. Promastigotes and amastigotes were treated with different concentrations (1, 5, 10, 20, and 50 µg/ml) and time periods (24, 48, and 72 hr) of tamoxifen. After tamoxifen treatment, MTT assay (3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5 biphenyl tetrazolium bromide assay) was used to determine the percentage of live parasites and Graph Pad Prism software to calculate IC50. Flow cytometry was applied to investigate the induction of tamoxifen-induced apoptosis in promastigotes. The half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of tamoxifen on promastigotes was 2.6 µg/ml after 24 hr treatment. Flow cytometry analysis showed that tamoxifen induced early and late apoptosis in Leishmania promastigotes. While after 48 hr in control group the apoptosis was 2.0%, the 50 µg/L concentration of tamoxifen increased it to 59.7%. Based on the in vitro antileishmanial effect, tamoxifen might be used for leishmaniasis treatment; however, further researches on in vivo effects of tamoxifen in animal models are needed.

[Evaluation of the effect of achillea biebersteinii afan essential oil on leishmania major promastigote and amastigote growth under in vitro conditions]

Objective: Cutaneous leishmaniasis is an endemic disease in certain areas of Iran. The use of pentavalent antimony compounds as first line treatment has been reported, however they are associated with limitations and adverse events. Hence, an attempt to find a new, effective compound has been under consideration. This study examines the effect of Achillea biebersteinii afan as, a native plant in Iran, against Leishmania major promastigote and amastigote growth under in vitro conditions

Methods: This experimental study was performed at Tarbiat Modares University in 1392.We extracted the essential oil of the Achillea biebersteinii afan plant by steam distillation and analyzed it by gas chromatography mass spectrograph. Then, we evaluated the effect of different concentrations [10%, 15%, 25% and 50%] of the oil on the growth of the promastigotes stage of Leishmania and infected macrophages that contained amastigotes under in vitro conditions. Effectiveness of the oil on promastigotes and amastigotes was assessed by direct count and the MTT assay. In all tests, each of the wells that contained culture media and parasites without drug were considered the control group. Data analyses were conducted with ANOVA

Result: The MTT results indicated significant differences among the number of parasites in the control and case groups treated with 10%, 15%, 25%, and 50% of the oil within 24, 48 and 72 hours after culture. The concentration of 50% of the oil killed 66% of the macrophages that contained amastigotes after 72 hours

Conclusion: Achillea biebersteinii afan oil was effective in killing Leishmania major promastigotes and infected macrophages that contained amastigotes. We have proposed to study the extract in vivo for treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis lesions

Developing a climate-based risk map of fascioliasis outbreaks in Iran

The strong relationship between climate and fascioliasis outbreaks enables the development of climate-based models to estimate the potential risk of fascioliasis outbreaks. This work aims to develop a climate-based risk map of fascioliasis outbreaks in Iran using Ollerenshaw's fascioliasis risk index incorporating geographical information system [GIS]. Using this index, a risk map of fascioliasis outbreaks for the entire country was developed. We determined that the country can be divided into 4 fascioliasis outbreak risk categories. Class 1, in which the Mt value is less than 100, includes more than 0.91 of the country's area. The climate in this class is not conducive to fascioliasis outbreaks in any month. Dryness and low temperature in the wet season [December to April] are the key barriers against fascioliasis outbreaks in this class. The risk map developed based on climatic factors indicated that only 0.03 of the country's area, including Gilan province in the northern region of Iran, is highly suitable to fascioliasis outbreaks during September to January. The Mt value is greater than 500 in this class. Heavy rainfall in the summer and fall, especially in Rasht, Astara and Bandar Anzaly [>/=1000 mm/year], creates more suitable breeding places for snail intermediate hosts

vitro study on cytotoxic effects of zno nanoparticles on promastigote and amastigote forms of leishmanta major

Although pentavalent antimony compounds are used as antileish-manial drugs but they are associated with limitations and several adverse complications. Therefore, always effort to find a new and effective treatment is desired. In this study, the effect of ZnO nanoparticles with mean particle size of 20 nanometers [nm] on Leishmania major promastigotes and amastigotes was evaluated. Viability percentage of promastigotes after adding different concentrations of ZnO nanoparticles [30, 60, 90 and 120 microg/ml] to the parasite culture was evaluated by MTT assay. In the flow cytometry study, Annexin V-FITC Apoptosis detection Kit was used to study the induced apoptosis and necrotic effects. IC50 after 24 hours of incubation was 37.8 microg/ml. ZnO nanoparticles exert cytotoxic effects on promastigotes of L major through the induction of apoptosis. A concentration of 120 microg/ml of ZnO nanoparticles induced 93.76% apoptosis in L major after 72 hours. ZnO NPs can induce apoptosis in L major by dose and time-depended manner in vitro condition

Prevalence of Trichomonas vaginalis infection in Kashan city, Iran [2012-2013]

Trichomonas vaginalis infection is one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases in humans. T.vaginalis is a parasitic protozoan with a predilection for human urogenital tract and causative agent for vaginitis, cervicitis and urethritis in females. T.vaginalis infection is associated with risk of Human Immunodeficiency Virus infectivity and pregnancy complication. In this study, the prevalence of T.vaginalis in individuals who referred to public health units in Kashan city, Iran was investigated. This study was conducted on 970 women and 235 men who referred to 5 government health centers in Kashan, Iran during October 2012 to August 2013. Demographic information was collected as per the study protocol. Vaginal discharges and urine samples were obtained and examined by Trypticase-Yeast Extract Maltose [TYM] culture medium and wet-mount methods. The prevalence of T. vaginalis was determined using culture based method and wet-mount examinations. The overall prevalence of trichomonal infection was 2% [95% CI, 2 +/- 0.08]. The age of infected individual was 33.7 +/- 9.4 years. All of those infected, were married housewives and 58.3% of them had primary school education. No statistical correlation was observed between clinical manifestations and parasitological results [p=0.8]. This study showed a relatively low prevalence of T.vaginalis infection in the study population. Since the clinical signs of trichomoniasis are the same of other Sexually Transmitted Diseases [STDs], confirmatory laboratory tests are necessary. Due to adverse outcomes of disease, there is a great need for public education regarding implementation of personal hygienic measures and prevention of inappropriate sexual contacts

Prevalence of ruminants fascioliasis and their economic effects in Kashan, center of Iran

Objective: To determine the prevalence and economic losses of Fasciola spp. isolates and costs incurred due to liver condemnation from ruminants in Kashan region, center of Iran from 2012 to 2013. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, a total number of 251 325 slaughtered sheep, goats and cattle (88 939 sheep, 151 924 goats and 10 462 cattle) were examined via necropsy for fasciolasis in industrial Kashan abattoirs located in center of Iran. The average weight was calculated as 1 000 g for sheep, 900 g for goat and 5 000 g for cattle in this study region. Based on market value, the average price of a kilo gram of normal liver at Kashan city during the study period was 8 USD.The amount of main nutrients and vitamins elimination in liver contaminated to fascioliasis was determined. Results: Overall 3.28% of the livers were found to be infected. For total number of sheep, goats and cattle slaughtered annually in region study, it was estimated that 7 505 livers were infected and total annual economic losses of fascioliasis of studied animals was 41 784 USD (based on market prices in study period). Of this, 23 360 USD, 30 240 USD and 15 400 USD were associated with the fascioliasis of sheep, goats and cattle, respectively. Conclusions: This study indicated that the Fasciola sp. clearly remains prevalent and causes considerable economic losses in study region in sheep, goats and cattle and presumably, other areas and hosts of Iran, providing baseline data for the future monitoring of this potentially important parasitic infection in the country.