PREVALENCE OF PARASITIC CONTAMINATION OF LEAFY GREEN VEGETABLES IN MISURATA, LIBYA

This study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of parasitic contamination in leafy green (lettuce and rocket) vegetables, samples of which were taken up from different regions of Misurata, Libya. A total of 112 raw vegetable samples randomly selected from farms and markets were subsequently examined by a concentration method and then assayed by light microscopy. It was found that 56.3% of the green vegetables were contaminated with different intestinal parasites, the parasites included cysts of Giardia spp., Enatmeaba histolytic a, Entameaba coli , Coccidia spp. oocysts, Balantidium coli and eggs of Hymenolepis nana., Ascaris lumbricoides., Toxocara spp., Strongyloides spp., Trichius trichura and Trichostronylus spp. The highest rate of contamination was detected in rocket (64.3%) while contamination was lower in green lettuce (48.2%). Toxocara spp. eggs were the highest prevalent parasite detected in green vegetables (27%) with the highest score density found in the rocket. Toxocara was followed by Entameaba coli cysts (24%), Coccidia spp. Oocysts (22%), Enatmeaba histolytica cysts (19%), Giardia spp. cysts (10%), and Hymenolepis nana eggs (8%). There were lesser rates of contamination from the parasites Strongyloides spp., Trichius trichura and Trichostronylus spp. There was no significant difference between single and mixed contamination of rocket and lettuce P>0.05. However, there was a statistical difference between protozoa and helminths contamination of rocket and lettuce (P≤0.01). We conclude these findings may have important implications for global food safety and confirm that green vegetables are a point of transmission of intestinal parasites to humans and so are a threat to public health in Misurata, Libya

Therapeutic Approaches Using Host Defence Peptides to Tackle Herpes Virus Infections

One of the most common viral infections in humans is caused by herpes simplex virus (HSV). It can easily be treated with nucleoside analogues (e.g., acyclovir), but resistant strains are on the rise. Naturally occurring antimicrobial peptides have been demonstrated to possess antiviral activity against HSV. New evidence has also indicated that these host defence peptides are able to selectively stimulate the innate immune system to fight of infections. This review will focus on the anti-HSV activity of such peptides (both natural and synthetic), describe their mode of action and their clinical potential

Standardization of measles, mumps and rubella assays to enable comparisons of seroprevalence data across 21 European countries and Australia

The aim of the European Sero-Epidemiology Network is to establish comparability of the serological surveillance of vaccine-preventable diseases in Europe. The designated reference laboratory (RL) for measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) prepared and tested a panel of 151 sera by the reference enzyme immunoassay (rEIA). Laboratories in 21 countries tested the panel for antibodies against MMR using their usual assay (a total of 16 different EIAs) and the results were plotted against the reference results in order to obtain equations for the standardization of national serum surveys. The RL also tested the panel by the plaque neutralization test (PNT). Large differences in qualitative results were found compared to the RL. Well-fitting standardization equations with R20·8 were obtained for almost all laboratories through regression of the quantitative results against those of the RL. When compared to PNT, the rEIA had a sensitivity of 95·3%, 92·8% and 100% and a specificity of 100%, 87·1% and 92·8% for measles, mumps and rubella, respectively. The need for standardization was highlighted by substantial inter-country differences. Standardization was successful and the selected standardization equations allowed the conversion of local serological results into common units and enabled direct comparison of seroprevalence data of the participating countrie

Global Distribution of Rubella Virus Genotypes

Phylogenetic analysis of a collection of 103 E1 gene sequences from rubella viruses isolated from 17 countries from 1961 to 2000 confirmed the existence of at least two genotypes. Rubella genotype I (RGI) isolates, predominant in Europe, Japan, and the Western Hemisphere, segregated into discrete subgenotypes; intercontinental subgenotypes present in the 1960s and 1970s were replaced by geographically restricted subgenotypes after ~1980. Recently, active subgenotypes include one in the United States and Latin America, one in China, and a third that apparently originated in Asia and spread to Europe and North America, starting in 1997, indicating the recent emergence of an intercontinental subgenotype. A virus that potentially arose as a recombinant between two RGI subgenotypes was discovered. Rubella genotype II (RGII) showed greater genetic diversity than did RGI and may actually consist of multiple genotypes. RGII viruses were limited to Asia and Europe; RGI viruses were also present in most of the countries where RGII viruses were isolated

iTRAQ-Coupled 2-D LC-MS/MS Analysis of Membrane Protein Profile in Escherichia coli Incubated with Apidaecin IB

Apidaecins are a series of proline-rich, 18- to 20-residue antimicrobial peptides produced by insects. They are predominantly active against the Gram-negative bacteria. Previous studies mainly focused on the identification of their internal macromolecular targets, few addressed on the action of apidaecins on the molecules, especially proteins, of bacterial cell membrane. In this study, iTRAQ-coupled 2-D LC-MS/MS technique was utilized to identify altered membrane proteins of Escherichia coli cells incubated with one isoform of apidaecins—apidaecin IB. Cell division protease ftsH, an essential regulator in maintenance of membrane lipid homeostasis, was found to be overproduced in cells incubated with apidaecin IB. Its over-expression intensified the degradation of cytoplasmic protein UDP-3-O-acyl-N- acetylglucosamine deacetylase, which catalyzes the first committed step in the biosynthesis of the lipid A moiety of LPS, and thus leaded to the further unbalanced biosynthesis of LPS and phospholipids. Our findings suggested a new antibacterial mechanism of apidaecins and perhaps, by extension, for other proline-rich antimicrobial peptides

High genetic diversity of measles virus, World Health Organization European region, 2005-2006

During 2005-2006, nine measles virus (MV) genotypes were identified throughout the World Health Organization European Region. All major epidemics were associated with genotypes D4, D6, and B3. Other genotypes (B2, D5, D8, D9, G2, and H1) were only found in limited numbers of cases after importation from other continents. The genetic diversity of endemic D6 strains was low; genotypes C2 and D7, circulating in Europe until recent years, were no longer identified. The transmission chains of several indigenous MV strains may thus have been interrupted by enhanced vaccination. However, multiple importations from Africa and Asia and virus introduction into highly mobile and unvaccinated communities caused a massive spread of D4 and B3 strains throughout much of the region. Thus, despite the reduction of endemic MV circulation, importation of MV from other continents caused prolonged circulation and large outbreaks after their introduction into unvaccinated and highly mobile communities

Sleep Disorder Among Patients With Chronic Liver Disease

Objectives: The aim of the study was to assess the sleep characteristics among patients with chronic liver diseases (CLDs) and find the relationship between variables of their demographic and sleep disorder. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was designed to achieve the stated goals of patients with CLD in the Al-Najaf Center for Gastroenterology and Hepatology in Al-Sadr Medical City from November 1, 2020, to June 1, 2021. The sample was selected from 120 adult patients ≥18 years using non-probability sampling (purposeful) with CLD (disease duration of six months or more) . The questionnaire consisted of two socio-demographic parts with clinical data (18 items) and a general health questionnaire (28 items) with 4 implicit subscales, including insomnia and anxiety level. Results: There was a strong significant relationship between sleep disorder and age (P=0.001), occupational status (P=0.001), daily activity (P=0.001), BMI (P=0.001), and duration of disease (P=0.001), gender (P=0.021), educational level (P=0.04), marital status (P=0.049), and type of disease (P=0.01). However, there was no significant relationship between sleep disorder and the remaining demographic and clinical data. Discussion: In conclusion, there is a relationship between the sleep disorder of CLD patients and their socio-demographic data. There is a strong significant relationship between patients’ physical status and their sleep disorder (P=0.001). This result means that the disease has a significant effect on sleep