Spatio-temproal prediction of the malaria transmission risk in Minab district (Hormozgan Province, Southern Iran

Introduction: Malaria is the most important parasitic disease in tropical and subtropical regions, with more than 240 million cases reported annually. In Iran, indigenous cases occur in its south-eastern region. The aim of this study is to assess the environmental risk of malaria transmission in an endemic area of southern Iran. Methods: The study was carried out in Minab district (Hormozgan province, southern Iran), with the aim to assess the environmental risk of malaria, based on a spatio-temporal study, using Growing Degree Days (GDD)-based predictions, larval habitat ecology, MaxEnt spatial predictions and malaria transmission data. Results: The Gradient Model Risk index showed the highest malaria transmission risk period to be during January-April and October-December. The ecological conditions of water bodies of larval habitats of the four vector species (Anopheles culicifacies, A. dthali, A. fluviatilis and A. stephensi) were assessed, with A. stephensi being the most prevalent and the most widely distributed species. Conclusion: These findings, together with the MaxEnt Anopheles predictive distribution models, allowed identifying villages in danger of malaria transmission in Minab district. This spatio-temporal prediction of malaria transmission risk should be incorporated in the design of malaria control initiatives towards a local malaria early warning system. Moreover, the proposed transmission risk model can be extrapolated, at local scale, to other malaria endemic areas of tropical and subtropical regions

Molecular Method Is Essential to Identify Asymptomatic Malaria Reservoirs: A Successful Experience in the Malaria Elimination Program in Iran

Background: The accurate diagnosis of malaria cases, especially asymptotic and low-parasitemia patients, using robust molecular methods (nested-PCR) have been emphasized. The goal of this study was to detect active cases of malaria in areas with a history of local malaria transmission focusing on the use of molecular tools to ensure that the malaria elimination program has been implemented successfully. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 816 blood samples were taken from immigrants and local residents of malaria-endemic areas in Hormozgan province, Iran. In order to identify asymptomatic malaria parasite reservoirs, the samples were examined using microscopic, RDT, and nested-PCR techniques. Results: About twelve positive asymptomatic malaria cases were identified when the molecular method (nested-PCR) was used. The positivity rates among immigrants and local residents were 2.07% and 0.93%, respectively. No positive cases were detected using microscopic and RDT methods. Conclusions: The finding of the research emphasize that in addition to microscopy and RDTs methods, sensitive molecular tools as a standard and essential strategy are needed in the diagnosis and detection of asymptomatic parasite reservoir

High Seroprevalence of Toxocara Infection among Mentally Retarded Patients in Hormozgan Province, Southern Iran

Mentally retarded individuals are more likely to become infected with soil-transmitted infections including toxocariasis. The current study aimed to determine the serostatus of toxocariasis among institutionalized mentally retarded individuals in Hormozgan Province, in the south of Iran. Subjects of the study were 117 mentally disabled individuals, including children and adults, maintained in a charity-based institution. Three millilitres of venous blood was taken from each subject. While sampling, demographic features of the subject were documented in a questionnaire. An ELISA system based on Toxocara larvae excretory-secretory antigens (TES) was utilized to detect anti-Toxocara IgG antibodies in the sera of the patients. The mean age of the subject was 27.6 (±12.31) years and consisted of 55 (47%) males and 62 (53%) females. Out of 117 cases, 33 (28.2%) were seropositive for toxocariasis. The seroprevalence was higher in females (37.1%) than males (18.2%), and the difference was statistically significant (p  0.05). The current study represents the high prevalence of toxocariasis in mentally retarded patients in Hormozgan Province, southern Iran. The elevated seroprevalence rate of toxocariasis in the current study indicates that these subjects constitute a high-risk group for Toxocara infection, which may be attributed to their behavioral patterns

Cloning and Sequence Analysis of Recombinant Plasmodium vivax Merozoite Surface Protein 1 (PvMSP-142 kDa) In pTZ57R/T Vector

Background:Haemonchosis has a negative effect on the farming industry throughout the world, especially in the tropic and sub-tropic countries. The present study was carried out to differentiate Haemonchus species from its main hosts in Iran, including sheep, goat and camel.  Methods:The identification took place based on the morphometrics of the spic-ules and molecular characters. Two hundred seventy adult male nematodes were collected from the abomasums of different ruminants (90 samples from each ani-mal) at the slaughterhouses from different localities in Iran. Samples were morpho-logically identified according to the spicules’ morphometric measurements. In the section on molecular study, 10 samples of each Haemonchus isolates were genetically examined. A simple PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) assay of the second internal transcribed spacer of ribosomal DNA (ITS2-rDNA) were described to confirm the PCR results. Results:PCR-RFLP profile obtained from the restriction enzyme HPa1 in H. con-tortus and H. longistipes indicated 1 (278 bp) and 2 (113 and 135 bp) different frag-ments, respectively. The morphological parameters clearly distinguish H. contortus from H. longistipes. Moreover, regarding the ITS2-rDNA, sequences of 295 bp and 314 bp were obtained from H. contortus and H. longistipes, respectively. Conclusion:High similarity of cloned PvMSP-142 kDa gene in comparison to reference sequence and other sequences could be beneficial as a remarkable mo-lecular marker for serological diagnostic

The Impact of IL-18 and IFN-γ on Severity of Malaria and Quality of Treatment

Background & Objective: In human malaria, genotype of cytokines affect immune system. The impact of genotype -137G/C in IL-18 and +874A/T in IFN-γ on the severity of malaria and the quality of treatment – as factors to form asymptomatic persons in endemic regions- has been investigated.Materials & Methods: 100 patients and 102 healthy persons were evaluated by Nested-PCR and thick blood film. IL-18(G-137C) and IFN- γ (A+874T) were determined by Single Specific Primer-Polymerase Chain Reaction and ARMS-PCR methods, respectively. The results were analyzed statistically.Results: In this research, it has been observed that allele-T in IFN- γ gene and allele-C in IL-8 gene have &nbsp;protective effects against severity of Malaria. In addition, it has clearly been found that development and growth rate of plasmodium in µl of blood as well as anemia induced malaria significantly reduced in carriers of these alleles (p<0.0001).&nbsp;This effect has also been observed in the quality of the treatment in such a way that no parasite remained at the end of second day of treatment in carriers of alleles IFN- γTT and IL-18CC.&nbsp;Conclusion: These findings issue the impact of immunogenetypes of patients on treatment quality and asymptomatic patients and parasite reservoir as effective factors in endemic malaria. Immunogenetypes of people may play as a remarkable factor to control malaria in endemic areas

Efficiency of Nested-PCR in Detecting Asymptomatic Cases toward Malaria Elimination Program in an Endemic Area of Iran

Background: The aim of this study was to detect low parasite and asymptomatic malaria infections by means of three malaria diagnostic tests, in a low transmission region of Minab district, Hormozgan Province, southern Iran. Methods:Blood samples of 200 healthy volunteers from Bagh-e-Malek area were evaluated using microscopic, rapid diagnostic tests (RDT) and nested-PCR to in-spect malaria parasite. Results:The results showed no Plasmodium parasite in subjects by means of mi-croscopy and RDT. However, 3 P. vivax positive samples (1.5%) were discovered by Nested-PCR while microscopy and RDT missed the cases. Conclusion:Microscopy as the gold standard method and RDT correctly identi-fied 98.5% of cases, and molecular analysis is sensitive and reliable, especially in the detection of "asymptomatic" infections for active case surveillance. Regarding the existence of asymptomatic malaria in endemic area of Hormozgan, Iran, nest-ed-PCR could be considered as a sensitive tool to interrupt malaria transmission in the country, beside the microscopic and RDT methods

Association of methylation status of ABCA1/G1 genes with the risk of coronary artery disease

Abstract Background ATP-binding cassette transporters A1/G1 (ABCA1/G1) is a main regulator of HDL (high-density lipoprotein) formation and reverse cholesterol transport. Impaired ABCA1/G1 genes function may seriously affect cholesterol homeostasis, leading to increased risk of cardiovascular disease. In the present study, the association of ABCA1/G1 genes methylation status with the risk of coronary artery disease (CAD), risk factors of CAD, and serum level of lipid parameters was investigated. This study was conducted on 70 CAD patients and 40 control subjects. All CAD subjects with diabetes mellitus were excluded. The promoter methylation status of ABCA1/G1 genes was determined by the methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (MS-PCR) method and serum lipid parameters were assessed using commercial kits. Results ABCA1 promoter methylation was higher in CAD group compared to the control participants (80% vs. 60%). Hypermethylation of the ABCA1 gene significantly increases the risk of CAD in the total population (OR 3.886, 95% CI (1.181–12.791), p = 0.026). ABCG1 methylation status showed no difference between CAD and control subjects. In addition, no significant association was noted between methylation status of ABCA1/G1 and serum level of lipid profile. Conclusions Altogether, our study shows that ABCA1 gene promoter hypermethylation may increase the risk of CAD, which may help identify people at risk of developing CAD