Toxocara Nematodes in Stray Cats from Shiraz,Southern Iran: Intensity of Infection and Molecular Identification of the Isolates

Background

Toxocara is a common nematode of cats in different parts of Iran. Despite the close association of cats with human, no attempt has been done so far for molecular identification of this nematode in the country. Therefore, current study was performed on identification of some isolates of Toxocara from stray cats in Shiraz, Fars Province, Southern Iran, based on morphological and molecular approaches, and also determination of intensity of infection.

Methods

This cross-sectional study was carried out on 30 stray cats trapped from different geographical areas of Shiraz in 2011. Adult male and female worms were recovered from digestive tract after dissection of cats. Morphological features using existing keys and PCR-sequencing of ITS-rDNA region and pcox1 mitochondrial l gene were applied for the delineating the species of the parasites.

Results

Eight out of 30 cats (26.7%) were found infected with Toxocara nematodes. All the isolates were confirmed as Toxocara cati based on morphological features and the sequence of ribosomal and mitochondrial targets. Intensity of infection ranged from one to a maximum of 39 worms per cat, with a mean of 10.25±12.36, and higher abundance of female nematodes.

Conclusion

The most prevalent ascaridoid nematode of stray cats in the study area was T. cati and female nematodes were more abundant than that of males. This issue has important role in spreading of eggs in the environment and impact on human toxocariasis.     

Increased Fetal Activity and Heart Rate During and Immediately After Pulsed Doppler Echocardiography

Introduction: Previous reports have suggested that the use of continuous-wave Doppler for nonimaging heart rate monitoring or in utero Doppler imaging increased fetal activity. In this study, 11 fetuses (EGA 20–28 weeks) underwent a cardiac 2-D ultrasound and pulsed Doppler examination (since pulsed Doppler is more often used for fetal cardiac diagnosis) with 2-D and Doppler performed in a randomized order and with 10-minute ultrasound observation periods with as little transducer movement as possible before, during, and after 2-D only, and Doppler evaluation. Methods: All studies were performed with informed consent at the lowest available Doppler power < 90 mW/cm² spatial peak temporal average. Fetal heart rate, the number of fetal gross movements / min, and the percent time occupied by fetal movements were evaluated by two blinded observers from video taped records. Patients had been referred to rule out fetal heart disorders but all echoes showed normal cardiac anatomy. Results: Fetal heart rate after pulsed Doppler study was statistically higher by analysis of variance (mean 127 beats/min) than in the pre-Doppler evaluation period (mean 120) and was highest during the Doppler exam period (mean 136; P < 0.05) in 10 of 11 fetuses. The percent time of fetal movements was highest during the Doppler exam period and in 9 of 11 fetuses movement increased. The raw number of gross movements / min, however, was highest after the Doppler. No such changes occurred during or after 2-D alone. Conclusion: Whether associated with slightly higher energy output, minimal thermal changes, or audible switching or electronic output sounds transmitted from the instrumentation through the uterus, fetal heart rate and activity increased in our study both during and after pulsed Doppler examination.     

Seroprevalence of Human Fascioliasis in Meshkin-Shahr District,Ardabil Province,Northwestern Iran in 2012

Background

The aim of this study was to conduct a seroprevalence survey in Meshkin-Shahr, Ardabil Province, north western Iran to detect the rate of human fascioliasis in the city and nearby villages. Literature shows that no such study has been conducted so far.

Methods

Overall, 458 serum samples were collected by randomized cluster sampling method from 153 males and 305 females referred to different health centers of the region after recalling by staff in those centers in 2012. All cases filled out a questionnaire and an informed consent. Sera were analyzed using indirect-ELISA test. Ten μg /ml antigens (Liver Fluke Homogenate), 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. 18.

Results

Nine cases (1.96%) were positive for fascioliasis by ELISA test. The seroprevalence of fascioliasis among females was 1.63% and 2.6% in males. There was no significant difference as regards age groups, sex, job, residency, literacy and consuming row vegetable. According to job, unemployment subjects had the highest rate of infection as 5.9%. The seroprevalence of infection was 1.52% in illiterate people. As for residency, urban life showed no significant difference with rural life (2.4% vs 1.42). Age group of 40-49 yr old, with 3.3% seropositivity had the highest rate.

Conclusion

Obtained seroprevalence of fascioliasis shows immediate attention of health authorities to the diseases in the area. The adjacent of Ardabil Province to endemic areas of fasciolosis accentuates this attention.     

Endoparasites of Stray Dogs in Mashhad,Khorasan Razavi Province,Northeast Iran with Special Reference to Zoonotic Parasites

Background

To find out different species of helminthes and blood/tissue protozoan parasites of stray dogs and their potential role for transmission of zoonotic species to human in Mashhad, Khorasan Razavi Province, northeast Iran, during 2008-2009.

Methods

Totally, 100 stray dogs were selected among Mashhad municipal collection from different sites of the city. Internal organs were examined for any parasites. Helminthes were identified based on morphological characteristics. Smears prepared from peripheral blood as well as liver, spleen and any skin lesion were stained by Giemsa and examined microscopically. Samples obtained from spleen were aseptically cultured in three culture media including NNN, Schneider''s Drosophila (HIMEDIA) and RPMI1640 (GIBCO) for isolation of Leishmania spp. The titer of anti-Leishmania and anti-Toxoplasma antibodies were measured by direct agglutination test (DAT) and indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT), respectively.

Results

84% of dogs were infected at least with one species of intestinal helminthes. The species of parasites and rate of infection were as follows: Taenia hydatigena (61%), Dipylidium caninum (46%), Mesocestoides lineatus (19%), Echinococcus granulosus (10%), Toxascaris leonina (53%) and Toxocara canis (7%). Anti-Leishmania antibodies were detected by DAT in 8 dogs (8%) at 1:320 titers and higher. Forty seven dogs (47%) showed anti-Toxoplasma titer at 1:10 and 17 (17%) showed titer of ≥1:100. No blood parasites were found in prepared blood smears.

Conclusion

The high rate of parasitic infection and presence of zoonotic species especially E. granulosus and T. canis emphasizes the risk of diseases spread in urban areas by stray dogs     

Genotyping of Echinococcus granulosus Isolates from Human Clinical Samples Based on Sequencing of Mitochondrial Genes in Iran,Tehran

Background

The present study was aimed to investigate molecular diversity of Echinococcus granulosus isolates collected from human clinical samples using two mitochondrial genes cox1 and nad1 in Iran.

Methods

Forty seven human hydatid cysts were collected through surgery from two hospitals in Tehran during 2010-2012. To determine the fertility of protoscoleces, the cyst fluids were subjected to morphological microscopic examinations. Protoscoleces were removed from each cyst and their total genomic DNAs were extracted. PCR was performed to amplify fragments of 450 and 400 base pair (bp) for cox1 and nad1 genes, respectively. Genotype diversity and sequence variation of the strains were studied by bioinformatics software and in comparison with those mtDNA sequences already deposited in GenBank.

Results

Sixteen, (53.3%), 13 (43.3%), and 1 (3.3%) samples were related to lung, liver, and spleen, respectively. The remained 17 unfertile samples were excluded from the study. From the 29 isolates, 86.7% (n=26) and 10% (n=3) were related to G1, and G3 genotypes, respectively. The sole isolate with G6 genotype was obtained from lung sample. Analysis of concatenated sequences of cox1+nad1 indicated the presence of 11 haplotypes among our strains that were related to genotypes G1 (n=9), G3 (n=1) and G6 (n=1).

Conclusion

In consistent to other reports from Iran, genotypes G1, G3, and G6 were observed in our human isolates. The rate of G3 genotype was however higher than other studies implying that human can be considered as a new appropriate host for G3 genotype. Further studies with more sample size from different geographic areas of Iran are needed for E. granulosus mapping.     

Serological study of Human Fasciolosis in Patients Referring to the School of Public Health,Tehran University of Medical Sciences,Tehran, Iran during 2008–2014

Background:

Fascioliasis is a zoonotic disease of livestock and human caused by Fasciola species. Here in, the results of serological evaluation of fascioliasis in people referring to the School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences during 2008–2014 are presented.

Methods:

Demographic characterizations, symptoms and eosinophil rate were registered for every patient. Using somatic antigen of Fasciola, ELISA was performed and the results were analyzed. Data of questioners were analyzed as well.

Results:

Among 206 applicants, 24.8% were seropositive for fascioliasis, included 21% female and 28.3% male. Mean range of age of patients was between 13 to 67 yr. The highest rate of seropositivity was found among 20–30 yr old patients. Most of the patients had hypereosinophilia. All patients had history of eating raw vegetables, or drinking unsafe water. Patients were referring from different provinces of Iran, including Gilan, Mazandaran, Tehran, Ardabil, Khuzestan, Lorestan, North Khorasan, Kermanshah, Azerbaijan, Fars, Kordestan, Hamedan and Markazi.

Conclusion:

During recent years, variety of provinces in Iran, where patients with fascioliasis are referred, has been increased. Patients coming from Gilan and Mazandaran provinces were referred early after the onset of their symptoms. Most probably, physicians in Gilan and Mazandaran are more alert on fascioliasis than other provinces. Previous wrong diagnosis was more common among patients referring from other provinces than Gilan and Mazandaran provinces.     

PREVALENCE OF INTESTINAL PARASITES AMONG FOOD HANDLERS OF SARI,NORTHERN IRAN

Parasitic infection is highly prevalent throughout the developing countries of the world. Food handlers are a potential source of infection for many intestinal parasites and other enteropathogenic infections as well. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of intestinal parasite carriers among food handlers attending the public health center laboratory in Sari, Northern Iran for annual check-up. The study was performed from August 2011 through February 2012. Stool samples were collected from 1041 male and female food handlers of different jobs aged between 18 to 63 years and were examined following standard procedures. Sociodemographic, environmental and behavioral data analysis of the food handlers were recorded in a separate questionnaire. Intestinal parasites were found in 161 (15.5%) of the studied samples. Seven species of protozoan or helminth infections were detected. Most of the participants were infected with Giardia lamblia (53.9%) followed by Blastocystis hominis (18%), Entamoeba coli (15.5%), Entamoeba histolytica/dispar (5.5%), Cryptosporidium sp. (3.1%), Iodamoeba butschlii (3.1%) and Hymenolepis nana (1.9%) as the only helminth infection. The findings emphasized that food handlers with different pathogenic organisms may predispose consumers to significant health risks. Routine screening and treatment of food handlers is a proper tool in preventing food-borne infections.     

An Analysis of Clinical Characteristics of Strongyloides stercoralis in 70 indigenous patients in Iran

Background

Clinical manifestations of Strongyloides stercoralis are variable from asymptomatic to hyperinfection and devastating disseminated infections. Hereby, clinical characteristics of a large series of Iranian strongyloidiasis indigenous cases are described.

Methods

The records of people referred to the Helminthological Diagnostic Laboratory of School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences and School of Medicine, Gilan University of Medical Sciences, during 2009-2013 were reviewed. For those patients that were infected with S. stercoralis and their clinical manifestations and demographic data were available (70 cases) a checklist was prepared and data analyzed.

Results

Forty-three patients (61.4%) were male and 27 (38.6%) female. Gastrointestinal, cutaneous and pulmonary symptoms were present in 71.4%, 25.7%, and 15.7% of patients, respectively. None of them had larva currens eruption. Eosinophilia was the most prevalent reason for suspicious on S. stercoralis, but the mean was lower in elderly patients. Hyperinfection were recorded in 8 patients (11.4%), and 2 cases had disseminated infection.

Conclusion

Eosinophilia is common both in asymptomatic and symptomatic cases of strongyloidiasis, but the mean tend to lower with increase in age.     

Imported Lymphatic Filariasis in an Indian Immigrant to Iran

Lymphatic filariasis (LF), a nematode disease transmitted by arthropod vectors, is repeatedly reported in immigrant population. This disease is not endemic in Iran; however, different species of mosquitoes, capable of transmission of parasite microfilaria, are distributed in the country. Hereby, incidental detection of an imported case of LF due to Wuchereria bancrofti in an Indian worker in Iran is reported. Identification of the case was performed based on morphological and morphometrical characteristics of microfilaria and PCR sequencing.     

Factors affecting health-related quality of life among patients with lower urinary tract symptoms

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to evaluate the association of factors such as pain, lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), anxiety, depression and psychiatric morbidity on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of patients with LUTS. METHODS: A total of 227 patients with LUTS were recruited into the study. The patients were assessed on pain, LUTS, anxiety, depression, psychiatric morbidity and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) using standardized questionnaires. RESULTS: The study showed that after adjustment, age, pain, anxiety, depression, psychiatric morbidity and LUTS contributed 31%, 13%, 45%, 16% and 48% respectively to the variability of the physical, mental, social, global and overall HRQoL. CONCLUSION: Age, pain, psychiatric morbidity, anxiety and depression are associated with HRQoL among patients with LUTS.