Opening the Black Box of Host Range, Vectorial Diversity, and Genetic Variants of Genus Anaplasma: The Contributing Factors Toward Its Zoonosis.

Background: Genus Anaplasma of the family Anaplasmataceae possesses bacteria of hematopoietic origin, which are obligate intracellular Gram-negative bacteria transmitted mainly by tick vectors. The members of this group of infectious agents are not new as etiological agents of animal diseases worldwide. However, now, reports of their zoonotic potential have gained currency to study these pathogens. The emergence of new species of Anaplasma and the spread of existing species to new areas and hosts highlight the importance of monitoring and improving diagnostic and treatment options for zoonotic diseases caused by Anaplasma. Conclusion: This review focuses on the general and distinctive characteristics of Anaplasma spp., with particular emphasis on the novel species and their diverse spectrum of hosts as potential risk factors impacting its emerging zoonosis.

Insecticide resistance and underlying targets-site and metabolic mechanisms in Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus from Lahore, Pakistan.

Insecticide resistant Aedes populations have recently been reported in Pakistan, imposing a threat to their control. We aimed to evaluate the susceptibility of Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus populations from Lahore to WHO-recommended insecticides and to investigate metabolic and target-site resistance mechanisms. For this purpose, we first carried out bioassays with the larvicides temephos and pyriproxyfen, and the adulticides malathion, permethrin, deltamethrin, alpha-cypermethrin, and etofenprox. We looked for Knockdown resistance mutations (kdr) by qPCR, High-Resolution Melt (HRM), and sequencing. In order to explore the role of detoxifying enzymes in resistance, we carried out synergist bioassay with both species and then checked the expression of CYP9M6, CYP9J10, CYP9J28, CYP6BB2, CCAe3a, and SAP2 genes in Ae. aegypti. Both species were susceptible to organophosphates and the insect growth regulator, however resistant to all pyrethroids. We are reporting the kdr haplotypes 1520Ile + 1534Cys and T1520 + 1534Cys in high frequencies in Ae. aegypti while Ae. albopictus only exhibited the alteration L882M. PBO increased the sensitivity to permethrin in Ae. aegypti, suggesting the participation of P450 genes in conferring resistance, and indeed, CYP928 was highly expressed. We presume that dengue vectors in Lahore city are resistant to pyrethroids, probably due to multiple mechanisms, such as kdr mutations and P450 overexpression.

Translation, cross-cultural adaptation, and psychometric validation of the 5-item International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) into Urdu.

INTRODUCTION: Patients suffering from erectile dysfunction (ED) feel shy to discuss this issue with their physician. Self-report questionnaires are a key instrument to break this barrier. Most of these questionnaires are in English, and their validated translations in Urdu, the official language of Pakistan, are not available. AIM: The aim of our study is to translate, cross-culturally adapt, and perform psychometric validation of an Urdu translation of the 5-item international index of erectile function (IIEF-5). METHODS: The translation of IIEF-5 was done in Urdu and was refined through reverse translation and expert committee reviews. It was then pretested on 20 bilingual men and reviewed again to develop a final Urdu version of the questionnaire. We selected 47 patients who had been in a stable sexual relationship over the past 6 months and asked them to fill out the IIEF-5 questionnaire in both languages (Urdu and English), followed by evaluation of ED by a clinician, who was blinded to the responses of the patient to the questionnaire. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The self-report to questionnaire and independent clinical assessment were compared. Patients refilled out the questionnaire again at the end of the interview to assess test-retest consistency. These data were now analyzed statistically using descriptive statistics, Cohen's kappa, and Cronbach's alpha analysis. RESULTS: The Cohen's kappa showed a very high degree of agreement between the two versions (P < 0.0001), and a high degree of internal consistency was demonstrated on Cronbach's alpha analysis ([0.882] with 95% confidence interval [0.839-0.916]). The clinical assessment of the presence and severity of ED also matched with the self-report questionnaire. CONCLUSION: We can safely conclude that this Urdu version of IIEF-5 is a valid instrument for use in the literate population of Pakistan.