Seroepidemiological Study of Human Hydatidosis in Meshkinshahr District,Ardabil Province,Iran

Background

The aim of this study was to conduct a sero-epidemiological survey in Meshkinshahr, Ardabil Province, northwestern Iran to detect the rate of hydatidosis in the city and nearby villages. Literature shows that no such study has been conducted so far.

Methods

Overall, 670 serum samples were collected from 194 males and 476 females from patients referred to different health centers of the region. All patients filled out a questionnaire and an informed consent. Sera were analyzed using indirect-ELISA test. Ten µg /ml antigens (Antigen B derived from hydatid cyst fluid), serum dilutions of 1:500 and conjugate anti-human coombs with 1:10000 dilutions were utilized to perform the test. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS software ver. 11.5.

Results

The seroprevalence of human hydatidosis was 1.79% by ELISA test in the region. This rate for females was 1.68% and males 2.6%, respectively. There was no significant difference as regards all factors studied and the seropositivity. According to job, farmers and ranchmen had the highest rate of infection as 3.17%. The sero-prevalence of infection was 2.6%% in illiterate people which showed the highest rate. As regards residency, urban life showed no significant difference with rural life (1.1% vs. 2.58%). Age group of 69–90 yr old, with 4.62% as prevalence had the highest rate of positivity.

Conclusion

Obtained sero-prevalence of hydatidosis shows more or less a resemblance to other cities of Iran, although due to the specific condition of the city we expected more rate of sero-positivity.     

Psychosocial impact of Von Hippel–Lindau disease: levels and sources of distress

Lammens CRM, Bleiker EMA, Verhoef S, Hes FJ, Ausems MGEM, Majoor‐Krakauer D, Sijmons RH, Luijt van der RB, Ouweland van den AMW, Van Os Tam, Hoogerbrugge N, Gomez‐Garcia EB, Dommering CJ, Gundy CM, Aaronson NK. Psychosocial impact of von Hippel–Lindau disease: levels and sources of distress. Von Hippel–Lindau disease (VHL) is a hereditary tumor susceptibility syndrome, characterized by an increased risk of developing multiple benign and malignant tumors at various sites and ages with limited preventive options. This study evaluates the prevalence of distress among VHL family members and factors associated significantly with such distress. Forty‐eight families with a VHL mutation were identified via the nine family cancer clinics in the Netherlands. In total, 171 family members (carriers, 50% at‐risk, non‐carriers) were approached, of whom 123 (72%) completed a self‐report questionnaire. Approximately 40% of the VHL family members reported clinically relevant levels of distress, approaching 50% among the carriers and, possibly even more striking, 36% among the non‐carriers. Having lost a first degree relative due to VHL during adolescence (OR 11.2; 95% CI 1.4–86.9) was related significantly to heightened levels of distress. Approximately, only one‐third of those who reported heightened levels of distress had received professional psychosocial support. A substantial percentage of family members experience clinically relevant levels of distress. We would recommend the introduction of a procedure for screening for distress in this vulnerable population. Special attention should be paid to those individuals who have lost a close relative due to VHL during adolescence.