Genetic diversity of Schistosoma haematobium parasite IS NOT associated with severity of disease in an endemic area in Sudan

BACKGROUND: Over 650 million people globally are at risk of schistosomiasis infection, while more than 200 million people are infected of which the higher disease rates occur in children. Eighty three students between 6-20 years (mean 12.45 ± 3.2) from Quran School for boys in Radwan village, Gezira state were recruited to investigate for the relationship between the genetic diversity of Schistosoma haematobium strains and the severity of the disease. METHOD: Schistosoma haematobium infection was detected by filtration of urine. Ultrasonography was done on each study subject, while PCR technique was used for genotyping via random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) with A01, A02, A12, Y20 and A13 primers. A01 primer gave three different genotypes (A01-1, A01-2 and A01-3). RESULTS: About 54.2% (45/83) were S. haematobium egg positive by urine filtration. On assessment of the upper and lower urinary tract by ultrasound technique, 61.4% (51/83) were positiveand73.3% (60/83) samples were PCR positive. No significant difference was found when comparing the three different genotypes with severity of the disease. CONCLUSION: This study concludes that no association was found between the different genotypes of S.haemtobium and the severity of the disease. Examination of more samples from different areas to identify any possible differences between the parasites genes and disease severity was recommended. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/1471-2334-14-469) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users

Polyorchidism: case report and literature review

Polyorchidism is a rare congenital anomaly frequently associated with maldescent testis, hernia, and torsion. Reports in the literature show an increased risk of testicular malignancy in the presence of polyorchidism. This entity has characteristic sonographic features and the diagnosis is often made on the basis of sonography. A conservative approach is the treatment of choice in uncomplicated cases. We report a male of 26-years old with 2 testicles in right side diagnosed by ultrasound. A brief history and review of the literature is also presente

Variants of CTGF are associated with hepatic fibrosis in Chinese, Sudanese, and Brazilians infected with Schistosomes

Abnormal fibrosis occurs during chronic hepatic inflammations and is the principal cause of death in hepatitis C virus and schistosome infections. Hepatic fibrosis (HF) may develop either slowly or rapidly in schistosome-infected subjects. This depends, in part, on a major genetic control exerted by genes of chromosome 6q23. A gene (connective tissue growth factor [CTGF]) is located in that region that encodes a strongly fibrogenic molecule. We show that the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs9402373 that lies close to CTGF is associated with severe HF (P = 2 × 10−6; odds ratio [OR] = 2.01; confidence interval of OR [CI] = 1.51–2.7) in two Chinese samples, in Sudanese, and in Brazilians infected with either Schistosoma japonicum or S. mansoni. Furthermore, SNP rs12526196, also located close to CTGF, is independently associated with severe fibrosis (P = 6 × 10−4; OR = 1.94; CI = 1.32–2.82) in the Chinese and Sudanese subjects. Both variants affect nuclear factor binding and may alter gene transcription or transcript stability. The identified variants may be valuable markers for the prediction of disease progression, and identify a critical step in the development of HF that could be a target for chemotherapy

Ultrasound findings in urinary shistosomaisis infection in school children in the Gezira state central Sudan

To evaluate the ultrasound findings of urinary schistosomiasis in Quran school (Khalwas) children in Gezira State Sudan, we studied all the students from two schools. A total of 103 boys were tested for urinary schistosomiasis using the urine filtration method. Schistosoma haematobium (S. haematobium) eggs were counted. Ultrasound was performed for all the positive subjects. Seventy-three (71%) subjects were positive for S. haematobium. The mean age was 11.3 ± 2.9 years. Sixty-six (90.4%) subjects showed urinary tract abnormalities. The findings revealed the following degrees of wall thickening: 53.0% mild, 18.2% moderate and 21.2% severe. Urinary bladder polyp(s) were noted in 43.3% (single) and 40.9% (multiple) of the subjects, and calcification of the bladder wall was observed in 7.6% subjects. Ureteric dilatation was noted in 38/73 (52.0%), while hydronephrosis was detected in 19/73 (26.3%). The vast majority of urinary tract schistomiasis lesions were in the urinary bladder. Ultrasound is a useful tool for identifying the morbidity of S. haematobium in endemic areas

Persistent Mullerian duct syndrome with polycystic ovary in a young adult: A rare case report

Persistent Mullerian Duct Syndrome (PMDS) is a type of pseudohermaphroditism that occurs in males. It is an autosomal recessive type of familial disease that is commonly associated with a history of consanguinity. We have documented this case of a 22-year-old adult male who came with acute right iliac pain; after an ultrasound scan and hormone investigations, he was diagnosed with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)

IL-22 and IL-22 binding protein (IL-22BP) regulate fibrosis and cirrhosis in hepatitis C virus and schistosome infections

Submitted by Ana Maria Fiscina Sampaio ([email protected]) on 2016-08-05T12:44:04Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Sertorio_M Il-22 and IL-22 binding....pdf: 739258 bytes, checksum: f1a2d1d9b56d5834a1a008d07af30232 (MD5)Approved for entry into archive by Ana Maria Fiscina Sampaio ([email protected]) on 2016-08-05T13:27:26Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Sertorio_M Il-22 and IL-22 binding....pdf: 739258 bytes, checksum: f1a2d1d9b56d5834a1a008d07af30232 (MD5)Made available in DSpace on 2016-08-05T13:27:26Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Sertorio_M Il-22 and IL-22 binding....pdf: 739258 bytes, checksum: f1a2d1d9b56d5834a1a008d07af30232 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-04Aix-Marseille Universit e. Marseille, France / Inserm. Marseille, FranceHunan Institute of Parasitic Diseases. Hua-Ban Qiao Road Yueyang. ChinaUniversidade Federal do Vale do São Francisco. Petrolina, BrasilAix-Marseille Universit e. Marseille, France / Inserm. Marseille, FranceAix-Marseille Universit e. Marseille, France / Inserm. Marseille, FranceInstitute of Nuclear Medicine. Wad Medani, SudanAix-Marseille Universit e. Marseille, France / Inserm. Marseille, FranceFundação Oswaldo Cruz. Centro de Pesquisas Gonçalo Moniz. Salvador, BA, BrasilInstituto do Figado. Recife, PE, BrasilFundação Oswaldo Cruz. Centro de Pesquisas Gonçalo Moniz. Salvador, BA, BrasilHunan Institute of Parasitic Diseases. Hua-Ban Qiao Road Yueyang. ChinaAPHM. CHU Timone, Radiology. Marseille, FranceAix-Marseille Universit e. Marseille, France / Inserm. Marseille, FranceAix-Marseille Universit e. Marseille, France / Inserm. Marseille, France / Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Centro de Pesquisas Gonçalo Moniz. Salvador, BA, BrasilInstitute of Nuclear Medicine. Wad Medani, SudanHunan Institute of Parasitic Diseases. Hua-Ban Qiao Road Yueyang. ChinaInstitute of Nuclear Medicine. Wad Medani, SudanTaif University. College of Applied Medical Sciences. Turabah, Saudi ArabiaInstitute of Nuclear Medicine. Wad Medani, SudanInstitute of Nuclear Medicine. Wad Medani, SudanInstituto do Figado. Recife, PE, BrasilHôpital Europeen. Virology Department. Marseille, FranceHôpital Saint-Joseph. Hepatology Department. Marseille, FranceFederal University of Bahia. Faculty of Medicine. Department of Medicine.Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Centro de Pesquisas Gonçalo Moniz. Salvador, BA, BrasilAPHM. La Conception, Chirurgie plastique et reconstructrice. Marseille, FranceUniversidade Pernambuco. Instituto de Ciencias Biologicas. Recife, PE, BrasilInstitute of Nuclear Medicine. Wad Medani, SudanAix-Marseille Universite. Marseille, France / Inserm. Marseille, FranceHunan Institute of Parasitic Diseases. Hua-Ban Qiao Road Yueyang. ChinaAix-Marseille Universite. Marseille, France / Inserm. Marseille, France / APHM. CHU Timone. Marseille, FranceInterleukin (IL)-22 acts on epithelia, hepatocytes, and pancreatic cells and stimulates innate immunity, tissue protection, and repair. IL-22 may also cause inflammation and abnormal cell proliferation. The binding of IL-22 to its receptor is competed by IL-22 binding protein (IL-22BP), which may limit the deleterious effects of IL-22. The role of IL-22 and IL-22BP in chronic liver diseases is unknown. We addressed this question in individuals chronically infected with schistosomes or hepatitis C virus (HCV). We first demonstrate that schistosome eggs stimulate production of IL-22 transcripts and inhibit accumulation of IL22-BP transcripts in schistosome-infected mice, and that schistosome eggs selectively stimulate production of IL-22 in cultures of blood leukocytes from individuals chronically infected with Schistosoma japonicum. High IL-22 levels in cultures correlated with protection against hepatic fibrosis and portal hypertension. To test further the implication of IL-22/IL-22BP in hepatic disease, we analyzed common genetic variants of IL22RA2, which encodes IL-22BP, and found that the genotypes, AA, GG of rs6570136 (P = 0.003; odds ratio [OR] = 2), and CC, TT of rs2064501 (P = 0.01; OR = 2), were associated with severe fibrosis in Chinese infected with S. japonicum. We confirmed this result in Sudanese (rs6570136 GG [P = 0.0007; OR = 8.2], rs2064501 TT [P = 0.02; OR = 3.1]), and Brazilians (rs6570136 GG [P = 0.003; OR = 26], rs2064501 TC, TT (P = 0.03; OR = 11]) infected with S. mansoni. The aggravating genotypes were associated with high IL22RA2 transcripts levels. Furthermore, these same variants were also associated with HCV-induced fibrosis and cirrhosis (rs6570136 GG, GA [P = 0.007; OR = 1.7], rs2064501 TT, TC (P = 0.004; OR = 2.4]). Conclusions: These results provide strong evidence that IL-22 protects against and IL-22BP aggravates liver fibrosis and cirrhosis in humans with chronic liver infections. Thus, pharmacological modulation of IL-22 BP may be an effective strategy to limit cirrhosis