Identification of the classical enterotoxin genes of Staphylococcus aureus in various foods by multiplex PCR assay.

BACKGROUND: An annual update of information about the prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus and staphylococcal enterotoxins (SEs) genes is required in every geographic area. AIMS: This study was conducted to investigate the prevalence of the bacterium and type of associated enterotoxin genes in different food samples, using multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay. METHODS: In order to achieve these goals, 310 samples, divided into three groups (dairy products, meat, and traditional sweets groups), were collected. After determination of the prevalence of S. aureus, the existence of 16s rRNA, sea, seb, sec, sed, and see genes were evaluated using multiplex PCR assay. RESULTS: Staphylococcus aureus was isolated from 103 (33%) samples. Furthermore, the meat category had the most contamination rate of S. aureus. Additionally, the kebab samples (61.5%) were the most contaminated products, followed by hamburger (47.3%), and ice cream (33.8%). Of these 103 S. aureus isolates, 72 isolates (69.9%) harbored at least one type of the classical SEs genes. The prevalence of the type A enterotoxin gene was detected higher than the other SEs genes. CONCLUSION: The results indicated that inappropriate handling of the samples in the preparation and processing steps, especially for the meat products, can lead to the spread of more bacteria. The relatively high prevalence of some classical enterotoxin genes in the isolates revealed the potential power of this bacterium to produce enterotoxins, which can lead to food-poisoning.

The investigation of antibacterial activity of selected native plants from North of Iran.

Plant derived products have been used for medicinal purposes during centuries. Bacterial resistance to currently used antibiotics has become a concern to public health. The development of bacterial super resistant strains has resulted in the currently used antibiotic agents failing to end many bacterial infections. For this reason, the search is ongoing for new antimicrobial agents, both by the design and by the synthesis of new agents, or through the search of natural sources for yet undiscovered antimicrobial agents. Herbal medications in particular have seen a revival of interest due to a perception that there is a lower incidence of adverse reactions to plant preparations compared to synthetic pharmaceuticals. Coupled with the reduced costs of plant preparations, this makes the search for natural therapeutics an attractive option. This research was carried out to assess the antibacterial activity aqueous and ethanolic extracts of six Azadshahr township Native plants in north of Iran against six species of pathogen bacteria by using three methods of Disk diffusion, Well method and MBC. The results of this research indicated that the effect of ethanol extracts were more than aqueous extract and among six plants, Lippia citriodora and Plantago major ethanol extract had the most antibacterial activity in any of the three methods. Gram-positive bacteria were more sensitive than gram-negative bacteria. Staphylococcus epidermidis and Staphylococcus aureus were the most susceptible Gram-positive bacteria.

Possible role of TORCH agents in congenital malformations in Gorgan, northern Islamic Republic of Iran.

This descriptive, cross-sectional study was carried out to explore the frequency of contamination with TORCH agents in neonates with congenital malformations in a referral centre in Gorgan city, Islamic Republic of Iran. Blood samples were taken from 64 neonates and their mothers over a 20-month period in 2003-04. Serologic tests showed that 4/64 infants born with congenital malformations (6%) had positive 1 gM antibody titres for Texoplasma gondil (2 cases), rubella virus (1 case) and cytomegalovirus (1 case). 1 gM was positive in 9/63 mothers (14%), also for T. gondil (3 cases), rubella virus (3 cases) and cytomegalovirus (3 cases). No cases of herpes simplex virus type II or Treponema pallidum were found.

Possible role of TORCH agents in congenital malformations in Gorgan, northern Islamic Republic of Iran

This descriptive, cross-sectional study was carried out to explore the frequency of contamination with TORCH agents in neonates with congenital malformations in a referral centre in Gorgan city, Islamic Republic of Iran. Blood samples were taken from 64 neonates and their mothers over a 20-month period in 2003-04. Serologic tests showed that 4/64 infants born with congenital malformations [6%] had positive IgM antibody titres for Toxoplasma gondii [2 cases], rubella virus [1 case] and cytomegalovirus [1 case]. IgM was positive in 9/63 mothers [14%], also for T. gondii [3 cases], rubella virus [3 cases] and cytomegalovirus [3 cases]. No cases of herpes simplex virus type II or Treponema pallidum were found

Age related prostate-specific antigen reference range among men in south-East Caspian Sea.

The purpose of this study was to describe the distribution of serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) and to determine age-specific reference range in a population of Persian men. Venous blood samples were taken from 287 men, from Gorgan located in the North of Iran, South-East of Caspian Sea, aged 15 > or = 80 year. The serum PSA levels was measured using Enzyme-linked Immunosorbant-Assay (ELISA) technique and age-specific range for PSA level was determined. The serum prostate-specific antigen level for six age group of 15-40 years, 41-50 years, 51-60 years, 61-70 years, 71-80 years and >80 years were mainly in the range of 0-2.5 ng mL(-1), for 76.6%, 2.6-4 ng mL(-1) for 9.1% and as whole 85.7% of all men in this study had < or = 4 ng mL(-1), 8.7 and 5.6% all men of six age group had PSA level of 4.1-10 ng mL(-1) and >10 ng mL(-1), respectively. The findings of present study indicated that a large proportion (76.6%) men in this region have a lower PSA level of 0-2.5 ng mL(-1) and only 9.1% of men have PSA level of 2.6-4 ng mL(-1). It is therefore concluded that acceptable reference range of 0-4 ng mL(-1) for PSA level require further reassessment.

Environmental mycobacteria in areas of high and low tuberculosis prevalence in the Islamic Republic of Iran.

This research compared the numbers and types of different Mycobacterium species in soil samples taken from 2 areas of Golestan province, Islamic Republic of Iran, 1 with a high prevalence of tuberculosis and 1 with a low prevalence. From 220 samples, 91 grew positive cultures (41.4%) and 161 different strains were diagnosed. The most common species isolated were Mycobacterium fortuitum, M. flavescens and M. chelonae. The frequencies of environmental Mycobacterium in the low-prevalence area were much higher than in the high-prevalence area, perhaps due to different environmental fac-

Environmental mycobacteria in areas of high and low tuberculosis prevalence in the Islamic Republic of Iran

This research compared the numbers and types of different Mycobacterium species in soil samples taken from 2 areas of Golestan province, Islamic Republic of Iran, 1 with a high prevalence of tuberculosis and 1 with a low prevalence. From 220 samples, 91 grew positive cultures [41.4%] and 161 different strains were diagnosed. The most common species isolated were Mycobacterium fortuitum, M. flavescens and M. chelonae. The frequencies of environmental Mycobacterium in the low-prevalence area were much higher than in the high-prevalence area, perhaps due to different environmental factors

Group a streptococcal serotypes isolated from healthy schoolchildren in iran.

Serotypes of group A streptococci are still a major cause of pharyngitis and some post-infectious sequelae such as rheumatic fever. As part of the worldwide effort to clarify the epidemiological pattern of group A streptococci in different countries, the present study was conducted to assess the prevalence of Streptococcus pyogenes serotypes in Iran. A total of 1588 throat swabs were taken from healthy school children in the city of Gorgan during February and March 1999. Of those isolates, 175 resulted positive for group A streptococci. The distribution pattern was similar for girls and boys, with 10.8% and 11.2%, respectively. Urban school children showed a higher rate of colonization compared to those in rural areas. Serotyping was performed on 65 of the positive isolates using standard techniques, and only 21 (32%) were M-type isolates. Their profiles fell into four types with M1 predominating, which could reflect the presence of rheumatic fever in the region. However, when isolates were challenged for T-antigen types, nearly all were positive (94%). The pattern of T types was diverse (18 types), with the most common T types being T1 (26%), TB3264 (15%), TB\1-19 & B\25\1-19 (9.2%) and T2 & 2\28 (7.7%). When isolates were tested for opacity factor, only 23 (35%) were positive while 34 (52%) responded to the serum opacity reaction test. Although the number of isolates in this study was not sufficient to make any epidemiological conclusions, the scarcity of serotyping studies in Iran could render these data useful for future attempts to develop a streptococcal vaccine.