[Investigation of Giardia and Cryptosporidium prevalence with different methods in Adana food workers]. / Adana Ili Gida Çalisanlarinda Giardia ve Cryptosporidium Prevalanslarinin Farkli Yöntemler ile Arastirilmasi

OBJECTIVE: Carriage detection in food workers is very important in protecting public health from Giardia and Cryptosporidium infections which are two of the major causes of food borne outbreaks. However, false negative results can be reported with routine methods such as native-lugol and acid-fast staining in the carriers. In this study, we aimed to determine the appropriate method for carrier screening by comparison of the different analyses used in the diagnosis of Giardia and Cryptosporidium in food workers. METHODS: Stool specimens of 500 food worker who applied to our laboratory for carrier screening were investigate by routine microscopic examination with native-lugol and Kinyoun acid-fast stain method and searched for Giardia and Cryptosporidium antigens with Direct Fluorescent Antibody (DFA) and immunochromatographic assay. RESULTS: As a result of the study, Giardia spp. was detected with native-lugol staining method, immunochromatographic assay and DFA assay as 13 (2.6%), 8 (1.6%), 24 (4.8%) respectively of specimens whereas Cryptosporidium spp. was not determined. When DFA assay was considered the reference method, sensitivity and specificity of the native lugol method and immunochromatographic assay were found to be 54.1%, 100% and 33.3%, 100% respectively. CONCLUSION: In our study, we were found low sensitivity of immunochromatographic method and it is inappropriate as a test for detecting carriers in food workers. We concluded that, to be able to detect other parasites, the native-lugol method must be performed for screening sekilcarriers, and patients who were found Giardia and Cryptosporidium negative by this assay should be confirmed with more sensitive immunodiagnostic method.

Seroprevalence of parvovirus B19 in fibromyalgia syndrome.

This study was aimed to evaluate the seroprevalence of parvovirus B19 in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome (FS). Seventy-five patients with FS (44.3 +/- 8.3) and 75 healthy controls (44.2 +/- 8.1) were evaluated. Serum anti-B19 IgM and IgG antibodies were measured by ELISA technique. Patients were questioned about duration of symptoms, characteristic features of FS, and symptoms related with viral infection preceding the onset of FS. No significant difference was found regarding the prevalence of anti-B19 IgM antibodies between the groups (p = 0.494). Seropositivity of anti-B19 IgG of the patients was significantly higher than control group (81.3% vs. 64% respectively, p = 0.027). No statistically significant differences were found regarding to the clinical features between fibromyalgia patients with IgG antibody compared to those without IgG antibody. Parvovirus B19 IgG seropositivity was found to be significantly higher in patients with FS. Parvovirus B19 infection might have a role in the etiopathogenesis of FS or might act as a triggering factor.

Prediction of spontaneous onset of labor at term: the role of cervical length measurement and funneling of internal cervical os detected by transvaginal ultrasonography.

The objective of this study was to examine the values of the cervical length measurement and detection of internal cervical os funneling by transvaginal ultrasonography in the prediction of spontaneous labor within a 7-day period at term. Ninety-three pregnant women were enrolled into this study. All patients were evaluated by transvaginal ultrasonography first at the 37th completed week of gestation and weekly thereafter. Endocervical canal length was measured and the presence of funneling was recorded. The end points were the percentage of patients with a spontaneous onset of labor in the week after these data were recorded. The optimal cutoff values for predicting the onset of spontaneous labor within 7 days were 29.5 mm for cervical length at 37 weeks, 27.5 mm at 38 weeks, 25.5 mm at 39 weeks, and 24.5 mm at 40 weeks of gestation. There was also statistically significant agreement between the presence of the funneling and spontaneous labor within 7 days. Measurement of cervical length and detection of funneling at the internal cervical os by transvaginal ultrasonography might help us to predict the spontaneous onset of labor in a 7-day period, and help clinicians to decide about the time of labor induction in certain complicated pregnancies.

Possibility of blood and hepatitis B contamination through aerosols generated during debonding procedures.

The primary purpose of this study was to investigate the presence of blood or blood elements in aerosols generated during the debonding procedures. The presence of three hepatitis B carriers in the study group led us to investigate the possibility of hepatitis B virus (HBV) contamination through aerosols, which was the secondary purpose of the study. The study group consisted of 26 patients who had a mean age of 16 +/- 2 years. Collection of aerosol samples was done using a saliva ejector that fit on the handle of the high-speed dental instrument and was attached to a mobile evacuator. A second evacuator was used to remove and collect excess fluid accumulated in the patient's mouth. The guaiac method was used to investigate the presence of occult blood in aerosol and in excess fluid samples. Serum, excess fluid, and aerosol samples of three hepatitis B carriers were tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for detecting hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and by polymerase chain reaction for detecting HBV-deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). Blood was found in all the aerosols and in excess fluid samples. HBsAg was detected in excess fluid samples of the two hepatitis B carriers, whereas HBV-DNA was detected in only one of the excess fluid samples. HBsAg and HBV-DNA were detected in aerosol sample of only one hepatitis B carrier. The results of this study showed that aerosols generated during the debonding procedure should always be considered as potential hazards to health.