Detection of (FecB) Gene Polymorphism in Local Sheep Breed at Different Area of Iraq

The rate of ovulation has largely influenced by both genetic and environmental factors. Currently, "the Booroola FecB gene" considered as a guide to improve the twin productivity in sheep flocks meanwhile retain the important other features desired in the flock. This study intended to detect the mutation in FecB gene using PCR-RFLP screening method by using specific primers designed to introduce a point mutation in PCR product of FecB gene. A thirty, local sheep breed from the middle and south part of Iraq were used in this study. FecB gene was detected by forced digestion of PCR products using Eco471 (AvaII) digestion enzyme. The results of this study revealed the lack of (190bp band wild type) gene mutation in all samples of the study that is meant local Iraqi sheep breed are non-carrier for polymorphism genetic factor. However, future study is highly recommended with a large number of "local sheep" for better understanding of this feature

EVALUATION OF THE TOXOCELL LATEX AGGLUTINATION TEST AS SCREENING TEST AND DISTRIBUTION OF TOXOPLASMA ANTIBODIES AMONG SEXUALLY ACTIVE PEOPLE IN NAJAF CITY

The present study was intended to reveal the validity of Toxocell (Biokit, Spain) latex agglutination test as screening test. The rate of toxoplasma antibodies distribution in randomly selected subjects was estimated. The sensitivity and specificity of the test were conducted in comparison to the "gold standard" reference test Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA, BioCheck, Inc).Fifty two adult persons (31 females and 21 males) were enrolled in this study. Twenty (38.4%) serum samples out of 52 subjects were positive for toxoplasma antibodies by direct latex agglutination test (DLA). The prevalence of toxoplasma antibodies in females and males were 54.8% and 14.28%, respectively. Among twenty DLA sera positive, only 5(25%) serum samples were positive with toxoplasma IgG ELISA test, three females and two males. However, the results of IgM ELISA assay were positive for only two (10%) female serum samples. None of negative DLA serum samples gave positive results with neither IgG nor IgM ELISA assay.The sensitivity and specificity and positive predictive value (PPV) of DLA test ( in comparison to IgM ELISA assay) were 100%, 64% and 10%, respectively. We concluded that in spite of low specificity of latex agglutination test, it was probably more suitable for laboratories in remote area as screening test where ELISA facility was unavailable

Diagnosis of Cryptococcus neoformans from the milk of goat using Multiplex PCR as diagnostic tool

Cryptococcus neoformans (C. neoformans) is distributing globally. It is an opportunistic saprophytic fungal pathogen that appears as a dimorphic yeast-like fungus. It causes a wide variety of cryptococcal reports have been recorded the isolation of Cryptococcus neoformans from the milk of the mastitic goat in Iraq. Consequently, this study intends to isolate C. neoformans from the milk of goats that suffered from clinical and subclinical mastitis in Iraq. Three hundred milk specimens were collected from 163 mastitic and apparently healthy goats. All milk samples were subjected to conventional isolation and characterization tests, moreover, multiplex polymerase chain reaction (mPCR) was used to confirm the diagnosis. The total positive ratio of mycotic mastitis was 41.33% for all tested samples. The total number of yeast isolates was 69 (55.64 %), meanwhile, C. neoformans rate was 7.24% (5 out of 69). Multiplex polymerase chain reaction confirmed 5 C. neoformans isolates. The results of this study revealed an agreement between the mPCR technique and conventional methods in the diagnosis of Cryptococcus neoformans. In conclusion, the results of this study approved the isolation of Cryptococcus neoformans from the milk of clinical and subclinical mastitis of goats in Iraq. The authors recommend doing a further future study that includes a large number of goats and from different locations, to investigate the actual situation of Cryptococcus neoformans infection in caprine in Iraq using mPCR technique

Effects of pre-operative isolation on postoperative pulmonary complications after elective surgery: an international prospective cohort study an international prospective cohort study

We aimed to determine the impact of pre-operative isolation on postoperative pulmonary complications after elective surgery during the global SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. We performed an international prospective cohort study including patients undergoing elective surgery in October 2020. Isolation was defined as the period before surgery during which patients did not leave their house or receive visitors from outside their household. The primary outcome was postoperative pulmonary complications, adjusted in multivariable models for measured confounders. Pre-defined sub-group analyses were performed for the primary outcome. A total of 96,454 patients from 114 countries were included and overall, 26,948 (27.9%) patients isolated before surgery. Postoperative pulmonary complications were recorded in 1947 (2.0%) patients of which 227 (11.7%) were associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Patients who isolated pre-operatively were older, had more respiratory comorbidities and were more commonly from areas of high SARS-CoV-2 incidence and high-income countries. Although the overall rates of postoperative pulmonary complications were similar in those that isolated and those that did not (2.1% vs 2.0%, respectively), isolation was associated with higher rates of postoperative pulmonary complications after adjustment (adjusted OR 1.20, 95%CI 1.05–1.36, p = 0.005). Sensitivity analyses revealed no further differences when patients were categorised by: pre-operative testing; use of COVID-19-free pathways; or community SARS-CoV-2 prevalence. The rate of postoperative pulmonary complications increased with periods of isolation longer than 3 days, with an OR (95%CI) at 4–7 days or ≥ 8 days of 1.25 (1.04–1.48), p = 0.015 and 1.31 (1.11–1.55), p = 0.001, respectively. Isolation before elective surgery might be associated with a small but clinically important increased risk of postoperative pulmonary complications. Longer periods of isolation showed no reduction in the risk of postoperative pulmonary complications. These findings have significant implications for global provision of elective surgical care. We aimed to determine the impact of pre-operative isolation on postoperative pulmonary complications after elective surgery during the global SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. We performed an international prospective cohort study including patients undergoing elective surgery in October 2020. Isolation was defined as the period before surgery during which patients did not leave their house or receive visitors from outside their household. The primary outcome was postoperative pulmonary complications, adjusted in multivariable models for measured confounders. Pre-defined sub-group analyses were performed for the primary outcome. A total of 96,454 patients from 114 countries were included and overall, 26,948 (27.9%) patients isolated before surgery. Postoperative pulmonary complications were recorded in 1947 (2.0%) patients of which 227 (11.7%) were associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Patients who isolated pre-operatively were older, had more respiratory comorbidities and were more commonly from areas of high SARS-CoV-2 incidence and high-income countries. Although the overall rates of postoperative pulmonary complications were similar in those that isolated and those that did not (2.1% vs 2.0%, respectively), isolation was associated with higher rates of postoperative pulmonary complications after adjustment (adjusted OR 1.20, 95%CI 1.05–1.36, p = 0.005). Sensitivity analyses revealed no further differences when patients were categorised by: pre-operative testing; use of COVID-19-free pathways; or community SARS-CoV-2 prevalence. The rate of postoperative pulmonary complications increased with periods of isolation longer than 3 days, with an OR (95%CI) at 4–7 days or ≥ 8 days of 1.25 (1.04–1.48), p = 0.015 and 1.31 (1.11–1.55), p = 0.001, respectively. Isolation before elective surgery might be associated with a small but clinically important increased risk of postoperative pulmonary complications. Longer periods of isolation showed no reduction in the risk of postoperative pulmonary complications. These findings have significant implications for global provision of elective surgical care