Prevalence of Rabies in Various Species in Yemen and Risk Factors Contributing to the Spread of the Disease

Objectives: This study aimed to describe for the first time the prevalence of the passively-reported rabies virus among different domestic and wild animals submitted to the Central Veterinary Laboratory from various areas in Yemen, and to study prevalence proportion ratios (PPR) that contributed to the spread of rabies among animals, and its transmission to humans. Methods: A brain sample was obtained from each of the 180 animals and tested for rabies virus by a direct fluorescent antibody test. Results: Out of the total number of animals involved in attacks on humans, 63.3 % were positive for rabies. Of these, dogs were the main animal involved in attacks with a percentage of 92%, of which 62.7% were positive for rabies. Of animals involved in attacks, 70.6% were males of which 60.6% were positive, and 29.4% were females of which 69.8% were positive. Males comprised 68.9% of the total human individuals attacked, of whom 62.9% were attacked by rabies-positive animals. The significant risk factors that contributed to the spread of rabies in general included the presence of poultry carcasses and other waste in the vicinity of the attacks (PPR = 9.5) with a percentage of 84.8%, followed by the time of year, in particular school vacations (PPR = 3.8) with a percentage of 78%. Conclusion: Rabies is endemic in Yemen with a very high rabies-positive rate for animals involved in attacks, particularly for stray male dogs. Male children were most often involved in attacks by rabies-positive animals. The presence of food waste (particularly poultry carcasses) and school vacation periods were found to correlate significantly with increased risk for human exposure to rabies

Clinical and Laboratory Manifestations of Yemeni Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Objectives: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterised by multi-systemic involvement. This is the first study undertaken to determine the relationships between serological marker positivity and age, gender, signs and symptoms, risk factors and the treatment of SLE in Yemen. Methods: We investigated the cases of 149 patients with SLE admitted to Al-Thawra Hospital in Sana’a city between November 2009 and November 2010. Of the 149 patients, females represented 75.2% and males, 24.8%. Results: The most frequent presenting signs and symptoms were fatigue (84.6%), fever (81.9%), arthropathy (81.2%), anaemia (64.4%), photosensitivity (54.4%), renal involvement (53%), malar rash (52.3%), and alopecia (49%). Antinuclear antibodies (ANA) were detected in 95.3% of the patients and were associated significantly with most clinical presentations, except weight loss, hypertension and serositis. Anti-ds deoxyribonucleic acid (anti-dsDNA) was detected in 59.7% of the patients, and was associated significantly with fever and fatigue. Anti-Smith (anti-Sm) antibodies were detected in 27.5% of the patients, but were not significantly associated with all clinical presentations. Social stress was the most important risk factor for inducing SLE, with an odds ratio (OR) of 6.0, followed by common exposure to sunlight (OR = 2.2). Conclusion: In this study, SLE was more prevalent among females and young adults. The clinical presentation was characterised by a high incidence of fatigue and fever, and a low incidence of oral ulcers and serositis. ANA was associated with most clinical presentations except weight loss, hypertension, and serositis. AntidsDNA antibodies were most frequently associated with fever, fatigue and hypertension. There was no significant association of the anti-Sm antibodies with any clinical presentations

THE ASSOCIATION OF EPSTEIN-BARR VIRUS ANTIBODIES WITH RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS AMONG YEMENI PATIENTS IN SANA’A CITY

Objectives: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease that is associated with progressive disability, systemic complications and early death. Etiology of RA is unknown. It is assumed that environmental factors initiate RA development in genetically susceptible individuals. Epstein- Barr Virus (EBV) stimulates polyclonal B cell activation and has been suggested to play a role in RA pathogenesis. Current study aimed to study the association between EBV and RA. Methods:  One hundred and sixty subjects were enrolled in the study. Eighty individuals were clinically diagnosed to have RA and confirmed by anti-CCP3 test. The remaining 80 individuals were healthy controls matched for age and sex. Serum IgG and IgM antibodies against EBV viral capsid antigen (VCA) were tested by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results:  The crude prevalence rate of EBV-VCA IgM antibodies among patients was (21.2%) while in healthy individuals was (8.7%) with significant OR equals to 2.8 times for RA patient's. The female prevalence rate of EBV-VCA IgM antibodies was (21.8%) higher than of male (18.7%). The female prevalence rate of EBV-VCA IgG antibodies was (95.3%) higher than of male (75%). EBV-VCA IgG and IgM antibodies titers were elevated in RA patients than in healthy controls. However, the causative relationship between EBV and RA is complex and involves different mechanisms.  Conclusion: In conclusion, high titers of EBV antibodies are associated with RA. However, the causative relationship between EBV and autoimmune diseases is complex and involves different mechanisms.                Peer Review History: Received 16 August;   Revised 28 August; Accepted 5 September, Available online 15 September 2017 Academic Editor: Dr. Amany Mohamed Alboghdadly, Princess Nourah bint abdulrahman university, Riyadh, [email protected] UJPR follows the most transparent and toughest ‘Advanced OPEN peer review’ system. The identity of the authors and, reviewers will be known to each other. This transparent process will help to eradicate any possible malicious/purposeful interference by any person (publishing staff, reviewer, editor, author, etc) during peer review. As a result of this unique system, all reviewers will get their due recognition and respect, once their names are published in the papers. We expect that, by publishing peer review reports with published papers, will be helpful to many authors for drafting their article according to the specifications. Auhors will remove any error of their article and they will improve their article(s) according to the previous reports displayed with published article(s). The main of it is ‘to improve the quality of a candidate manuscript’. Our reviewers check the ‘strength and weakness of a manuscript honestly’. There will increase in the perfection, and transparency. Received file:        Reviewer's Comments: Average Peer review marks at initial stage: 5.5/10 Average Peer review marks at publication stage: 8.0/10 Reviewer(s) detail: Dr. Mujde Eryilmaz, Ankara University,Turkey, [email protected] Dr. Tamer Elhabibi, Suez Canal University, Egypt, [email protected] Similar Articles: SEROPREVALENCE OF ANTI-MANNOSE BINDING LECTIN AUTOANTIBODIES IN PATIENTS WITH RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS IN SANA'A CITY- YEME