Molecular Epidemiology
َAli Fattahi Bafghi; Gilda Eslami; Oghol Niazjorjani; Farzaneh Mirzaei; Javad Namrodi
Abstract
Background and aims: Cutaneous leishmaniasis is a major health issue in many parts of Iran. Diagnosis of cutaneous leishmaniasis in a non-endemic area is not as simple as that in endemic foci. The management and treatment of this disease are global dilemmas. The purpose of this study was to identify ...
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Background and aims: Cutaneous leishmaniasis is a major health issue in many parts of Iran. Diagnosis of cutaneous leishmaniasis in a non-endemic area is not as simple as that in endemic foci. The management and treatment of this disease are global dilemmas. The purpose of this study was to identify Leishmania species isolated from human cutaneous leishmaniasis lesions in patients referred to health centers of Golestan province, Iran. Methods: Cutaneous leishmaniasis patients with suspected lesions were clinically examined. History of journey to the endemic areas of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis and/or anthroponotic cutaneous leishmaniasis and the characteristics of their lesion(s) were recorded. Diagnosis of the lesion was done by using direct smear microscopy and conventional polymerase chain reaction. Results: Out of 360 patients, 202 (57.4 %) were male and 158 (42.8 %) were female. A total of 360 samples were selected from different cities. The number of infected samples in the cities is as follows: Azad Shahr [3 (1.5%)], Aq Qala [11 (5.7%)], Ali Abad [4 (2.1%)], Bandar Turkmen [3 (1.5%)], Bandar Gaz [2 (1%)], Ramian [3 (1.5%)], Kalaleh [23 (12.1%)], Kord koy [1 (0.5%)], Galikesh [7 (3.7 %)], Gomishan [12 (3.6 %)], Gorgan [13 (6.8 %)], Gonbad Qabus [99 (52.1 %)], Marave Tappe [7 (3.6%)] and Minoodasht [2 (1%)]. In the molecular investigations, 186 (96.8%) samples were observed to acquire rural cutaneous leishmaniasis, 4 (2.1%) to acquire urban cutaneous leishmaniasis and 170 (47.2%) to be uninfected. Conclusion: Although history of visiting endemic areas is an important factor to be considered in diagnosis, parasitological confirmation is necessary for the initiation of treatment.
Infectious Disease
Somayyeh Namroodi; Ehsan Shariat Bahadory
Volume 2, Issue 4 , November 2015, , Pages 190-196
Abstract
Background and aims: Cats carry a lot of zoonotic parasites such as Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) which causes toxoplasmosis in warm-blooded animals. Toxoplasmosis includes wide range of symptoms in its intermediate and definitive hosts but the worst symptoms have been seen in pregnant women and also ...
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Background and aims: Cats carry a lot of zoonotic parasites such as Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) which causes toxoplasmosis in warm-blooded animals. Toxoplasmosis includes wide range of symptoms in its intermediate and definitive hosts but the worst symptoms have been seen in pregnant women and also on immunocompromised hosts. Considering the importance of the fact that cats are as the only definitive host that spread T. gondii oocytes in environment, it is necessary to obtain comprehensive information about the role of cats in life cycle of T. gondii.Methods: This comparative study was done during the January 2012 to February 2014, a total of 210 feral cats were captured by hand made traps. Age, sex, season and locality were documented. Blood samples from carotid vein were collected. Sera were separated by centrifugation at 3000 rpm for 10 min and stored at 20oC until laboratory examination. Serum sample of 210 feral cats from 20 villages of Golestan province were obtained and analyzed for presence of Ig G antibody against T. gondii by ELIZA Kit.Results: The frequency of T. gondii infection in serum samples was 85% (180/210). Percentage of T. gondii infection was similar in male and female and different seasons but significant difference was recorded between sampled villages. Also the seropositivity rate of T. gondii had positive relationship with age (P˂0.005).Conclusion: High seropositive results of the current study highlight the risk of endemic toxoplasmosis in the sampled rural ecosystem. Performing suitable screening test in rural population, keeping feral cats far from the villages, controlling of feral cats population by sterilization and making villagers aware of toxoplasmosis danger are recommended.