Seroepidemiology of Toxoplasma infection of women in child-bearing ages in Chaharmahal va Bakhtiyari province, Iran

Introduction: Infection of pregnant women with Toxoplasma gondii during pregnancy may cause congenital toxoplasmosis in embryo and a number of serious and even persistent complications in newborns. One of the most effective factors determining the rate of congenital toxoplasmosis is the rate of Toxoplasma infection or immune status of women in child-bearing ages against the parasite. This study was carried out to investigate the immune status of women in child-bearing ages (15-45 year-old) against Toxoplasm

The immunity status of the rural pregnant women in Chaharmahal and Bakhtyari province against Toxoplasma infection, 2001-2002

زمینه و هدف: امـروزه اهمیت اجتماعی، اقتصـادی پیامـدهای خطیـر ناشـی از وقـوع توکسـوپلاسموزیس مـادرزادی در انسان موجب گردیده تا بخش وسیعی از پژوهش ها به پیشگیری از عفونت های اولیـــه توکسوپلاسمایی در زنان بــــاردار و کاستن از خطر عـــوارض بیمـاری در جنین اختصاص یابــــد. این مطالعه با هـــدف آگاهی از وضعیت ایمنـــی زنان باردار 45-15 سالـــه ی روستایی در مقابـــل توکسوپلاسما گوندی ای (Toxoplasma gondii) انجام گرفت. روش مطالعه: در این مطالعه 394 نمونه سرمی با استفاده از آزمون ایمیونوفلورسانس غیرمستقیم Test IFAT (Indirect Immunofluorescence Antibody) مورد آزمایش قرار گرفت. نتایج: در کمتر از یک سوم از جمعیت مورد مطالعه (4/27) سطوحی از آنتی بادی های ضد توکسوپلاسمایی تام (Total Anti Toxoplasma Antibodies) یافت گردید که عیار آن بین 1600/1-50/1 متغیر بود. در این مطالعه تنها آنتی بادی یافت شده در سرم افراد مورد مطالعه از رده IgG بود. اگر چه در این مطالعه بین شیوع عفونت توکسوپلاسمایی و مصرف سبزیجات خام همبستگی آماری آشکاری اثبات گردید (05/0 P). نتیجه گیری: بنابراین تصور می گردد در این استان بخش عمده ای از زنان باردار و یا زنانی که در سنین باروری قرار دارند به علت عدم مواجهه قبلی با ارگانیسم در مقابل ابتلاء به بیماری در آبستنی های بعد حساس باشند

Detection and Molecular Characterization of Cryptosporidium species in Recreational Waters of Chaharmahal va Bakhtiyari Province of Iran using nested-PCR-RFLP

Background: The aim of this study was to detect and characterize Cryptosporidium spp. in water sam­ples collected from recreational ponds of Chaharmahal va Bakhtiyari Province of Iran .Meth­ods: Thirty water samples were collected from November 2009 to May 2010. Each sample con­tained 10 liters of water. We used the SSU rRNA-based PCR-RFLP technique.Results: Out of thirty samples examined, 6 (20%) were positive for different Cryptosporidium spp. Restriction pattern analysis showed that C. parvum has been the most prevalent genotype, fol­lowed by C. hominis and C. canis , respectively. In this area, the higher prevalence of C. par­vum compared with other genotypes is consistent with the distribution of cattle.Conclusion: Farm animals, particularly cattle are the main source of cryptosporidial contamina­tion for recreational waters in this area

Trichomoniasis prevalence among women admitted to public health centers of Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province for annual Pap smear test, 1995-96

در این مطالعه 19530 زن که از مهر ماه 1374 تا پایان شهریور ماه 1375 به منظور اجرای برنامه مراقبت برای معاینات دوره ای به مراکز بهداشتی درمانی در استان چهارمحال و بختیاری مراجعه کرده با بهره گیری از روش پاپ اسمیر مورد آزمایش قرار گرفتند. در مطالعه حاضر علاوه بر بررسی اسمیرهای تهیه شده از مخاط واژن و گردن رحم برای ارزیابی فرآیندهای التهابی دستگاه تناسلی و تغییرات احتمالی سلول های ناحیه، ابتلاء به عفونت هایی نظیر تریکومونیازیس و کاندیدیازیس نیز مورد بررسی قرار گرفت. بخشی از نتایج بدست آمده از این مطالعه بیانگر آن است که میزان شیوع تریکومونیازیس در کل زنان مراجعه کننده به مراکز بهداشتی درمانی در استان چهارمحال و بختیاری 1.37 می باشد و این درحالی است که بیشترین میزان ابتلاء زنان به تریکومونیازیس در شهرستان لردگان با 3.4 و کمترین میزان در شهرستان شهرکرد با 0.46 مشاهده می گردد. همچنین پژوهش حاضر نشانگر آن است که در جمعیت مورد مطالعه شیوع تریکومونیازیس در نقاط مختلف استان متفاوت بوده و این تفاوت بین برخی از نواحی از نظر آماری شاخص است، به گونه ای که میزان شیوع تریکومونیازیس در زنان مورد مطالعه شهرستان لردگان با زنان سایر شهرستان ها بطور محسوسی متفاوت است (

Epidemiological study of gastrointestinal helminthes of canids in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province of Iran

Background: The present study was carried out to describe the epidemiological aspects of gastrointestinal helminthic infections of canids in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province, the central western part of Iran. Methods: Forty nine canid species including, dogs, jackals, foxes and wolves were included in this study. The contents of their alimentary canal were inspected in order to isolate and identify the parasitic helminthes of this system. To identify the worms, the Soulsbey and Anderson identification key and light microscopy were used. Results: Based on necropsy findings, 35 (71.4(of examined animals were infected with at least one helminth. The prevalence of identified worms was as follows: Mesocestoides lineatus (55.1), Joyeuxiella echinorinchoides (26.5), Taenia hydatigena (12.2), T. multiceps (8.2), T. ovis (2), Dipylidium caninum (2) and Spirura spp. (2). No significant difference was noticed between the sampling areas, age and helminth infection. Only a significant difference was observed for prevalence of T. multiceps in wolf (25), dog (21.4), jackal and fox (0) respectively (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The canids in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari harbor several parasites that some kind of them have zoonotic importance and may pose a threat to community health specially in rural areas

Microsporidium infecting Anopheles supepictus (Diptera: Culicidae) larvae

Background: Microsporidia are known to infect a wide variety of animals including mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae). In a recent study on the mosquito fauna of Chahar Mahal and Bakhtiari Province, at the central western part of Iran, a few larvae of Anopheles superpictus were infected with a microsporidium-resembled microorganism. Current investigation deals with the identification of the responsible microorganism at the genus level. Methods: Fresh infected larvae were collected from the field. After determining the species identity they were dissected to extract their infective contents. Wet preparations were checked for general appearance and the size of the pathogenic microorganism. Fixed preparations were stained with Geimsa and Ryan-Blue modified Trichrome techniques to visualize further morphological characters. The obtained light microscopy data were used in the identification process. Results: The infected larvae were bulged by a whitish material filling the involved segments corresponding to a microsporidium infection. Bottle-shaped semioval spores ranged 4.33±0.19×2.67±0.12 and 4.18±0.43×2.45±0.33 micron in wet and fixed preparations, respectively. They were mostly arranged in globular structures comprised of 8 spores. These data was in favor of a species from the genus Parathelohania in the family Ambliosporidae. Conclusion: This is the first report of a microsporidium infection in An. superpictus. The causative agent is diagnosed as a member of the genus Parathelohania. Further identification down to the species level needs to determine its ultrastructural characteristics and the comparative analysis of ss rRNA sequence data. It is also necessary to understand the detail of the components of the transmission cycle

Seroprevalence and some of risk factors affecting Toxoplasma infection in Chaharmahal va Bakhtiyari province, Iran

Background and aim: Toxoplasma gondii is one of the most common causes of latent infection in humans. However, the prevalence and incidence rates of the infection and factors affecting it vary from place to place. The aim of present study was to investigate seroprevalence and some of factors affecting Toxoplasma infection in Chaharmahal va Bakhtiyari province-Iran. Methods: In this descriptive analytical study based on the population age gender pyramid, 990 serum samples were collected by quota sampling from the individuals referred to clinical laboratories of the province. Then samples were examined for anti-Toxoplasma IgG antibodies using an enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay method. Demographic information was also collected using a questionnaire and data were analyzed using Chi-square and independent t-tests as well as the logistic regression. Results: The individuals aged between 1-85 years (Mean age 27.89±18.23 yr.). Anti-Toxoplasma IgG antibodies were found in 339 samples (34.2%). There was a significant correlation between the age, living style, residence, job, and education level of the participants and seroprevalence of Anti-Toxoplasma antibodies (IgG) (P<0.05). The logistic regression model also showed a significant relationship between age and residence of the participants and Toxoplasma seropositivity (P<0.05). Conclusion: The study indicated that one third of the population was exposed to Toxoplasma and yet the vast majority of them are susceptible to Toxoplasma infection in future. Therefore, the health staffs should be aware of Toxoplasma seroprevalence and potential risk factors of infection in different areas of the region. Health educational programs are needed to improve the knowledge of population about Toxoplasma transmission routes and the standard preventive measures

Serological survey of human Toxoplasma gondii infection in northern and central regions of Iran

Introduction: Toxoplasma gondii is an important zoonotic protozoan parasite that can infect man and animals. The pathogen can infect the fetus by congenital transmission during pregnancy. The aim of this study was to investigate T. gondii infection in people referred to health care centers in northern and central regions of Iran. Materials and methods: Serum samples from 712 individuals in Mazandaran, Isfahan and ChaharmahalvaBakhtiari provinces, Iran, were examined for the levels of anti-T. Gondii IgG by ELISA. Prevalence of T. gondii infection in respect of gender and age was analyzed. Results: The overall anti-T. gondii IgG prevalence in the study population was 72.05%. In Mazandaran, Isfahan and ChaharmahalvaBakhtiari provinces,in male population respectively 87.6, 41.46 and 61.81% and in female population respectively 89.31, 47.61 and 64.44% were sero-positive with anti-T. gondii IgG. Sero-prevalance of anti-T.gondii IgG in the females was higher than in the males in the northern and central regions of Iran. Discussion and conclusion:The present study demonstrates high prevalence of Toxoplasma infection in northern and central regions of Iran and a higher prevalence of T. gondii infection was observed in females. Significant difference in infection rate between individuals living in northern and central areas in Iran was found (p <0.05), which indicated that T. gondii infection is dependent on living places. Deeper investigations for the potential risk factors that threat the Iranian populations, especially female are recommended

Seroprevalence of human fascioliasis in chaharmahal and Bakhtiyari Province, Southwestern Iran

Background: Fascioliasis caused by Fasciola hepatica and F. gigantica is a foodborne and waterborne zoonotic disease with a worldwide distribution. The illness occurs in regions with intensive sheep or cattle production. In some parts of Iran the incidence of human infection has increased over the past decades. Since Chaharmahal and Bakhtiyari Province has been known as a main pole of traditional animal husbandry and there was no information about human fascioliasis in this region, the present study was carried out on human population to determine the seroprevalence of this infection. Methods: In this cross-sectional study 1475 serum samples collected from individuals attended to clinical laboratory of the province were subjected to ELISA to detect anti-F. hepatica IgG antibodies. The socio- demographic characteristics of the subjects were also collected through questionnaires. Results: In spite of expectation, the present study showed that out of the 1475 serum samples examined anti- F. hepatica IgG antibodies were found only in two of the subjects (0.135%). Therefore, because of the very few number of positive cases no statistical analysis was applicable. Conclusion: According to the finding of this investigation, human fascioliasis may not be an important health problem in this region of Iran. However, for a better understanding of situation of this parasitic infection in this area more comprehensive animal and human studies are needed

Genotyping of giardia duodenalis isolates in individuals with and without chronic diarrhea using polymerase chain reaction

Background and purpose: Giardia cyst and trophozoite have invariant morphologies, therefore, investigating aspects such as host specificity, transmission patterns and clinical behavior of the parasite in hosts requires molecular characterization of the parasites isolated from clinical samples. The aim of this study was to characterize giardiasis isolated from human fecal samples with symptomatic (with a history of chronic diarrhea) and asymptomatic giardiasis and investigating the correlation of parasite's assemblage with diarrhea. Materials and methods: Thirty one fecal samples containing Giardia cysts from individuals with symptomatic and asymptomatic giardiasis were used to characterize the parasites' genotype. Triose Phosphate Isomerase (TPI) gene was amplified by polymerase chain Reaction (PCR). Demographic information was recorded using a questionnaire and SPSS ver.16 and Fisher's exact test were applied to analyse the data. Results: PCR showed a higher frequency of Giardia duodenalis assemblage B compared with assemblage A (51.6 vs. 35.5). However, the frequency of Giardia duodenalis assemblage A in symptomatic giardiasis was significantly higher than that of the asymptomatic giardiasis (62.5 vs. 18.75). The Fisher's exact test revealed a significant correlation between Giardia doudenalis assemblage A and diarrhea (p<0.005). Conclusion: Usually, duodenalis assemblage A is accompanied by clinical symptoms such as diarrhea. However, duodenalis assemblage B is more prevalent among those with diarrhea