47 research outputs found
Intestinal Parasitic Infections among Long-Term-Residents and Settled Immigrants in Qatar in the Period 2005 to 2011
Abstract. The expanding economy of Qatar in the last two decades has attracted immigrants, often from countries
with poor socio-economic levels. Many arrive with patent intestinal parasitic infections, and recent analyses have
indicated consistently rising trends in the prevalence of some infections. Here, we examined 18,563 hospital records of
subjects in Qatar seeking medical assistance for a variety of ailments, combining data from 2009 to 2011 with the earlier
dataset from 2005 to 2008 to enable trends to be identified across a 7-year period. We found that 8.6% were infected with
one or more species of parasites, however in contrast to the earlier period (2005–2008), in the latter 3 years there were
falling trends of prevalence providing some optimism that parasitic infections among the resident immigrants have begun
to decline. We identified also geographic regions from which resident workers still maintain a relatively high prevalence
of helminth infections despite their long-term residence in Qatar.This publication was made possible by a grant from Qatar National Research Fund (QRNF) at Qatar Foundation through National Priorities Research Program (NPRP) (Project No. NPRP 4-1283-3-327
Helminth infections among long-term residents and settled immigrants in Qatar in the decade from 2005 to 2014: temporal trends and varying prevalence among subjects from different regional origins
Background: Travel and migration from developing regions, where tropical diseases are common, to more developed
industrialised nations can contribute to the introduction and subsequent spread of infections. With its rapidly expanding
economy, Qatar has attracted vast numbers of immigrant workers in the last two decades, often from countries with
poor socio-economic levels. Many used to arrive with patent intestinal parasitic infections.
Methods: We analysed the prevalence of helminth infections in a dataset of 29,286 records of subjects referred for stool
examination at the Hamad Medical Corporation over the course of a decade (2005 to 2014, inclusive).
Results: Overall prevalence of combined helminth infections was low (1.86 %) but there were significant temporal
trends, age and sex effects and those arising from the region of origin of the subjects. The most common
helminths were hookworms (overall prevalence 1.22 %), which accounted for 70.1 % of cases, and therefore
patterns for combined helminth infections were largely driven by hookworms. In both cases, and also in Trichuris
trichiura and Ascaris lumbricoides, prevalence peaked in 2008, since when prevalence has been steadily falling.
Helminth infections were largely concentrated among subjects from five Asian countries (Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri
Lanka, India and Pakistan), and there was a highly biased prevalence in favour of male subjects in all cases.
Prevalence of all three nematodes peaked in age class 7 (mean age 25.5 years, range = 20–29) and there were
significant interactions between region of origin, sex of subjects and prevalence of hookworms.
Conclusion: These results offer optimism that prevalence will continue to decline in the years ahead, especially if
control is targeted at those most at risk of carrying infections.Qatar National Research Fund (QRNF) at Qatar Foundation for supporting this study through the National Priorities Research Program (NPRP) (Project No. NPRP 4-1283-3-327)
Analysis of Resistance to Antimicrobials and Presence of Virulence/Stress Response Genes in Campylobacter Isolates from Patients with Severe Diarrhoea
Campylobacter infections are a major cause of diarrhoea world-wide and two of the antimicrobials
used for their control (erythromycin and ciprofloxacin) have been losing efficacy in
recent years. In a sample of 174 genotyped isolates from the stools of patients with severe
diarrhoea in Qatar, collected between 2005 and 2012, 63.2%showed resistance to ciprofloxacin,
8.6% to erythromycin, 0.57%to chloramphenicol and all were sensitive to gentamycin.
While 33.9%of isolates were sensitive to all four antimicrobials, 59.8% were
resistant to at least one, 6.3% were resistant to two and none showed resistance to three
antimicrobials. There was no host sex- or age-dependence among isolates resistant to ciprofloxacin
and erythromycin and no significant variation was found with the region of origin
of the patients. All isolates were screened for the presence of 3 virulence factors (ciaB,
cadF and cdtB) and two stress-response factors (htrB and clpP), all of which were present
in more than 50% of the isolates. Host sex-, age- and region of origin-dependent variations
in prevalence were found for some of these factors. Data analysis for the combination of virulence
factors and their effect on antimicrobial resistance indicated that the prevalence of
resistance to both erythromycin and ciprofloxacin was higher in isolates harbouring ciaB but
not clpP. Prevalence of resistance to ciprofloxacin was similar in clpP positive and negative
isolates also possessing htrB, while for htrB-negative isolates prevalence was higher in the
absence of clpP. These results are discussed and their implications are highlighted.National Priority Research Program grant number NPRP4-1283-3-327 from the Qatar National Research Fund, Hamad Medical Corporation grant #13334/1
Genetic relatedness and host specificity of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates from cystic fibrosis and non-cystic fibrosis patients
Background: Pseudomonas aeruginosa is one of the primary pathogens isolated more frequently in cystic fibrosis (CF) and it exhibits innate resistance to a wide range of antibiotics.
Purpose: We sought to determine whether the highly prevalent genotypes of P. aeruginosa are specifically linked to CF patients and have any related multidrug antibiotic resistance. Isolates from hospitalized non-CF patients and from environmental sources were also genotypically analyzed.
Methods: Collections of P. aeruginosa from lower respiratory secretions (n=45) were genotyped using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). Phenotypic screening for antibiotic susceptibility was performed for the common antimicrobial agents by E-test and automated Phoenix method.
Results: P. aeruginosa isolates from CF (n=32), hospitalized non-CF patients (n=13), and environment sources (n=5) were analyzed. The population structure of P. aeruginosa is highly diverse and population-specific. All PFGE results of P. aeruginosa isolates fall among four major clusters. Cluster 1 contained 16 P. aeruginosa isolates from CF patients and two from environmental sources; cluster 2 contained 11 P. aeruginosa isolates from CF and one each from non-CF and environmental sources; cluster 3 contained 12 P. aeruginosa isolates from hospitalized non-CF patients and two P. aeruginosa isolates from one CF patient and one environmental source; and cluster 4 consisted of three isolates from CF patients and one from the environment. The majority of multidrug-resistant P. aeruginosa isolates were in clusters 3 and 4. P. aeruginosa isolates from CF patients were resistant to ciprofloxacin (34.4%) followed by resistance to amikacin and gentamicin (each 28%), whereas the majority of isolates from non-CF patients were resistant to meropenem (69%) and were grouped in cluster 3.
Conclusion: PFGE of P. aeruginosa isolates from CF patients shows a high degree of similarity, suggesting specific adaptation of these clones to CF-affected lungs. The hospitalized non-CF cluster has a different clonal origin, indicating specific clustering in a specific location, suggesting hospital-acquired P. aeruginosa infections.The Qatar National Research Fund (UREP 14-026-3-010)
Chemical Profile of Cyperus laevigatus and Its Protective Effects against Thioacetamide-Induced Hepatorenal Toxicity in Rats
Cyperus species represent a group of cosmopolitan plants used in folk medicine to treat several diseases. In the current study, the phytochemical profile of Cyperus laevigatus ethanolic extract (CLEE) was assessed using UPLC-QTOF–MS/MS. The protective effect of CLEE at 50 and 100 mg /kg body weight (b.w.) was evaluated on hepatorenal injuries induced by thioacetamide (100 mg/kg) via investigation of the extract’s effects on oxidative stress, inflammatory markers and histopathological changes in the liver and kidney. UPLC-QTOF–MS/MS analysis of CLEE resulted in the identification of 94 compounds, including organic and phenolic acids, flavones, aurones, and fatty acids. CLEE improved the antioxidant status in the liver and kidney, as manifested by enhancement of reduced glutathione (GSH) and coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), in addition to the reduction in malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO), and 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8OHdG). Moreover, CLEE positively affected oxidative stress parameters in plasma and thwarted the depletion of hepatorenal ATP content by thioacetamide (TAA). Furthermore, treatment of rats with CLEE alleviated the significant increase in plasma liver enzymes, kidney function parameters, and inflammatory markers. The protective effect of CLEE was confirmed by a histopathological study of the liver and kidney. Our results proposed that CLEE may reduce TAA-hepatorenal toxicity via its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties suppressing oxidative stress
Seroprevalence and Potential Risk Factors of <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> in Dromedary Camels
(1) Background: Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is one of the most prevalent parasites to affect humans and animals; (2) Methods: From January to December 2020, using a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit, a cross-sectional study was conducted to establish the seroprevalence of T. gondii in 390 dromedary camels raised in three governorates in Egypt and to identify the potential risk factors associated with infection; (3) Results: Overall, T. gondii seroprevalence in camels was 46.9%. Moreover, locality, sex, age, contact with small ruminants, history of abortion, and number of parities were found as risk factors for T. gondii infection in univariable analysis. The seropositivity to T. gondii increased significantly in camels living in Marsa Matrouh (OR = 2.02), among camels of more than 8 years old (OR = 5.28). Additionally, the likelihood of acquiring T. gondii infection was increased in camels that had contact with small ruminants (OR = 3.85) and a history of abortion (OR = 3.84) with these having parity more than four times (OR = 17.72); (4) Conclusions: The evaluation of seroprevalence and related risk factors for T. gondii infection is crucial for implementing an effective control programme to minimise and control T. gondii infection in camels and, as a result, transmission to humans
Prevalence and molecular characterization of canine parvovirus-2 in dogs in Giza Governorate, Egypt
Canine parvovirus type-2 (CPV-2) is one of the most common diseases affecting dogs. The disease has been reported worldwide including Egypt causing both acute hemorrhagic enteritis and myocarditis in the infected dogs. Two distinct parvoviruses are incriminated in the disease occurrence CPV-1 and CPV-2. However, the CPV-2 is the most pathogenic and includes three antigenic variants namely, CPV2a, CPV2b and CPV2c. Since the molecular characterization of CPV is critical for future disease prevention and control, the current study aimed to determine the prevalence of CPV-2 in dogs in Giza governorate, Egypt, and molecular characterization of circulating CPV-2. A total of 300 stool samples were collected from dogs with clinical signs suggestive of canine parvovirus from different veterinary hospitals and clinics in Giza governorate, during the period from January 2022 to December 2022. The overall prevalence of CPV-2 in dogs was 72.67% and it was significantly associated with breed, sex and age of examine dogs. In addition, the sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of circulating CPV-2 based on VP2 gene revealed that the circulating strain is CPV-2c. The present findings suggest that the failure of vaccination may be attributed to the use of CPV-2b commercial vaccines in areas where CPV-2c is prevalent
Prevalence and molecular characterization of canine parvovirus-2 in dogs in Giza Governorate, Egypt
Canine parvovirus type-2 (CPV-2) is one of the most common diseases affecting dogs. The disease has been reported worldwide including Egypt causing both acute hemorrhagic enteritis and myocarditis in the infected dogs. Two distinct parvoviruses are incriminated in the disease occurrence CPV-1 and CPV-2. However, the CPV-2 is the most pathogenic and includes three antigenic variants namely, CPV2a, CPV2b and CPV2c. Since the molecular characterization of CPV is critical for future disease prevention and control, the current study aimed to determine the prevalence of CPV-2 in dogs in Giza governorate, Egypt, and molecular characterization of circulating CPV-2. A total of 300 stool samples were collected from dogs with clinical signs suggestive of canine parvovirus from different veterinary hospitals and clinics in Giza governorate, during the period from January 2022 to December 2022. The overall prevalence of CPV-2 in dogs was 72.67% and it was significantly associated with breed, sex and age of examine dogs. In addition, the sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of circulating CPV-2 based on VP2 gene revealed that the circulating strain is CPV-2c. The present findings suggest that the failure of vaccination may be attributed to the use of CPV-2b commercial vaccines in areas where CPV-2c is prevalent
A decade of intestinal protozoan epidemiology among settled immigrants in Qatar
Background: The World Health Organization estimates that about 3.5 billion people worldwide are affected by
intestinal parasitic infections. Reports have already emphasized the role of immigrants in outbreaks of parasitic
diseases in industrialized countries. With the mass influx of immigrants to Qatar, patent intestinal parasitic infections
have been observed. Herein, the prevalence of intestinal protozoan infections was analysed in 29,286 records of
subjects referred for stool examination at the Hamad Medical Corporation over the course of a decade (2005 to
2014, inclusive).
Results: Overall prevalence of combined protozoan infections was 5.93 % but there were significant temporal
trends, age and sex effects and those arising from the region of origin of the subjects. The most common
protozoan was Blastocystis hominis (overall prevalence 3.45 %). Giardia duodenalis, Chilomastix mesnili, Entamoeba
coli, Entamoeba hartmanni, Endolimax nana, Iodamoeba butschlii, Entamoeba histolytica/dispar, Cryptosporidium sp.
and a single case of Isospora were also detected. The prevalence of combined protozoan infections, G. duodenalis
and the non-pathogenic amoebae all declined significantly across the decade. That of B. hominis varied between
years but showed no directional trend across years and there was no evidence that prevalence of E. histolyitica/
dispar changed significantly. Protozoan infections were observed among all regional groups, but prevalence was
higher among subjects from the Arabian Peninsula, Africa and Asia compared to those from the Eastern
Mediterranean and Qatar. Prevalence was higher among male subjects in all cases, but age-prevalence profiles
differed between the taxa.
Conclusion: These results offer optimism that prevalence will continue to decline in the years ahead.Qatar National Research Fund (QRNF) at Qatar Foundation through the National Priorities Research Program (NPRP) (Project No. NPRP 4-1283-3-327)