25 research outputs found
Prevalence of selected intestinal protozoan infections in marginalized rural communities in Palestine
Background: Intestinal parasitic infections are common in rural areas with poor infrastructure and low
socioeconomic status. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of selected parasitic infections in
marginalized rural areas in the northern part of the Palestinian West Bank Region, using conventional and PCRbased
methods, and also to assess risk predictors of infection.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 104 individuals from three rural villages in the Jordan Valley.
Stool samples were collected and examined by a battery of tests that included microscopy of wet fecal samples in
normal saline with iodine, concentration by ethyl acetate sedimentation and also by zinc sulfate floatation, a
conventional PCR and a real-time PCR (qPCR). Risk factors were assessed that included demographic,
socioeconomic, and behavioral characteristics. Data on method performance was analyzed by kappa-statistic,
Cochraneâs Q, and McNemar post hoc test. Mid-P exact test and odds ratio were used to discern association
between outcome and risk predictors.
Results: The overall prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections was 48% (49/102). The predominant parasites were
Giardia lamblia at 37% (37/102) and Hymenolepis nana at 9% (9/102). To concentrate cysts and eggs, sedimentation
can be used as an alternative to floatation with a loss of 1% of positive cases. The methods employing PCRs proved
crucial as it increased the detected infection rate of G. lamblia approximately three-fold from 13% by the
conventional methods to 37% by the qPCR. Multiple infections were present in 13% (13/102) of the study group,
which included double (10%) and triple (3%) infections. Regarding the genus Entamoeba, E. dispar and E. coli were
detected at rates of 2 and 8%, respectively. While none of the individuals were infected with the pathogenic E.
histolytica, E. nana (4%) was detected for the first time in the area. Age was a risk predictor for infection (OR = 2.61,
CI 95% 1.05â6.45, P = 0.038).
Conclusions: The increased prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections in children in marginalized rural areas in
Palestine is worrying. The addition of PCR-based methods is important for the diagnosis of such infections as, with
cautious interpretation, it increases proficiency and overcomes underestimation and misdiagnosis of cases. Control
measures including education on personal hygiene and environmental sanitation, should be introduced to reduce
the prevalence of the intestinal parasites and, thus, the infections they cause in this and other areas.Acknowledgments
We thank L. F. Schnur for reviewing the manuscript.
Authorsâ contributions
AA, conception of the research, study design, data analysis and drafting of
the manuscript. SE and AN, molecular biological testing and analysis. KD and
HA collection of samples and conventional examination. ZA, data analysis
and interpretation. All the authors have read and approved the final
manuscript.
Funding
This research is a self-funded work by the researchers
Prevalence of Trypanosoma evansi in livestock in Palestine
Background: Trypanosoma evansi is the causative agent of surra, a disease that occurs in many animal species. The
disease is responsible for substantial losses in global production and can be fatal if not diagnosed early. This study
aims to determine the prevalence of T. evansi in livestock, equids and dromedary camels in Palestine.
Methods: Blood samples were collected during 2015â2017 from domesticated animals (n = 259 animals; 77%
females and 23% males) including camels (n = 87), horses (n = 46), donkeys (n = 28), mules (n = 2), sheep (n = 49)
and goats (n = 48) from eight districts: Ariha (Jericho), Nablus, Bethlehem, Deir Al Balah, Jenin, Rafah, Tubas, and Khan
Yunis. Parasite prevalence was determined using PCR and blood smear microscopy. PCR-positive samples were further
phylogenetically analyzed using DNA sequences of the 18S ribosomal RNA gene.
Results: The overall infection prevalence was 18% (46/259). The positivity rates according to PCR and microscopy
examination were 17% (45/259) and 2.7% (7/259), respectively. The infection rates were as follows: camels, 26/61
(30%); horses, 8/46 (17%); donkeys, 3/28 (11%); mules, 1/2 (50%); sheep, 2/42 (4%); and goats, 6/42 (13%). Phylogenetic
analyses of the 18S rRNA gene showed that 24 positive T. evansi samples from Palestine formed a monophyletic
cluster with seven T. evansi sequences from Africa, Asia and South America, and three T. brucei sequences from Africa
retrieved from GenBank. The spatial analysis showed three statistically significant foci of T. evansi infection in Jenin,
Tubas (P = 0.02) and Ariha (Jericho) (P = 0.04). No statistically significant foci were detected in the Gaza Strip.
Conclusions: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first confirmation of high levels of infection with T. evansi as
a causative agent of surra in Palestine. Our study emphasizes the need for a stringent surveillance system and risk
assessment studies as prerequisites for control measures. Further investigations focusing on vectors and evaluation of
risk factors are needed.Acknowledgments
Not applicable.
Authorsâ contributions
AN, SE, AA-J and ZA conceived and designed the experiments. AN, SE, HA-J,
NA-L and AA-J performed the experiments. SE, AN and AA-J analyzed the data.
AN, AA-J and SE wrote the first draft of the manuscript. AN, SE, NA-L, HA, AA-J
and ZA competed the final revision of the manuscript to be published. All
authors read and approved the final manuscript.
Funding
This research received no financial support
Case Report: Autochthonous Case of Human Visceral Leishmaniasis in the West Bank, Palestine
Human visceral leishmaniasis (HVL) is a parasitic disease infecting children in the Mediterranean region.
Here,weportray a case of a 2-year-old child with an epidemiological description of the situation surrounding the case. The
patient was suffering from recurrent fever, weakness and abdominal discomfort associated with loss of appetite. Routine
blood investigations showed pancytopenia, whereas examination revealed hepatomegaly. A diagnosis of HVL was made
by demonstrating amastigotes in a Giemsa-stained smear from a bone marrow aspirate followed by genotyping by PCR
and sequencing. In conclusion, early detection of VL infection followed by appropriate treatment protocols is essential to
saving the patient
Antiprotozoal activity of dehydroabietic acid derivatives against Leishmania donovani and Trypanosoma cruzi - SPECIAL ISSUE "NEW TALENT: EUROPE"
Derivatives of dehydroabietic acid bearing different amino acids scaffolds have potent antiprotozoal activity against Leishmania donovani and Trypanosoma cruzi, with good to high selectivity, and can therefore be regarded as good models for further development into new drugs to fight leishmaniasis and Chagas disease. Several of the tested compounds were able to kill parasites residing inside cells, with IC50 values ranging from 2.3 to 9 mu M (L. donovani) and 1.4 to 5.8 mu M (T. cruzi), reflecting their ability to fight these infections at the relevant stage responsible for disease. One of the compounds, bearing a 3-pyridyl-Dalanine side chain, was 1.5-fold more potent against T. cruzi amastigotes residing in L6 cells than the reference compound benznidazole.Peer reviewe
The clinical burden of human cystic echinococcosis in Palestine, 2010-2015
Background
Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is classified by the WHO as a neglected disease inflicting economic
losses on the health systems of many countries worldwide. The aim of this caseseries
study was to investigate the burden of human CE in Palestine during the period
between 2010 and 2015.
Methodology/Principal findings
Records of surgically confirmed CE patients from 13 public and private hospitals in the
West Bank and Gaza Strip were reviewed. Patients' cysts were collected from surgical
wards and formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) blocks were collected from histopathology
departments. Molecular identification of CE species /genotypes was conducted
by targeting a repeat DNA sequence (EgG1 Hae III) within Echinococcus nuclear genome
and a fragment within the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1, (CO1). Confirmation
of CE species/genotypes was carried out using sequencing followed by BLAST
analysis and the construction of maximum likelihood consensus dendrogram. CE cases
were map-spotted and statistically significant foci identified by spatial analysis. A total of
353 CE patients were identified in 108 localities from the West Bank and Gaza Strip. The
average surgical incidence in the West Bank was 2.1 per 100,000. Spot-mapping and
purely spatial analysis showed 13 out of 16 Palestinian districts had cases of CE, of which
9 were in the West Bank and 4 in Gaza Strip. Al-Khalil and Bethlehem were statistically
significant foci of CE in Palestine with a six-year average incidence of 4.2 and 3.7 per
100,000, respectively.
Conclusions/Significance
To the best of our knowledge, this is the first confirmation of human CE causative agent
in Palestine. This study revealed that E. granulosus sensu stricto (s.s.) was the predominating
species responsible for CE in humans with 11 samples identified as G1 genotype and 2
as G3 genotype. This study emphasizes the need for a stringent surveillance system and
risk assessment studies in the rural areas of high incidence as a prerequisite for control
measures.The research that has led to these results has been technically supported by the European Community's
Seventh Framework Programme under the grant agreement 602051 (Project HERACLES:
Human cystic Echinococcosis ReseArch in CentraL and Eastern Societies; http://www.
Heracles-fp7.eu/)
Canine leishmaniosis and its relationship to human visceral leishmaniasis in Eastern Uzbekistan
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The Namangan Region in the Pap District, located in Eastern Uzbekistan is the main focus of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in Uzbekistan. In total, 28 cases of human VL were registered during 2006-2008 in this region. A study on the epidemiology of VL in this area was carried out in 2007-2008 in the villages of Chodak, Oltinkan, Gulistan and Chorkesar located at elevations of 900-1200 above sea level.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A total of 162 dogs were tested for <it>Leishmania </it>infection. Blood was drawn for serology and PCR. When clinical signs of the disease were present, aspirates from lymph nodes and the spleen were taken. Forty-two dogs (25.9%) had clinical signs suggestive of VL and 51 (31.5%) were sero-positive. ITS-1 PCR was performed for 135 dogs using blood and tissue samples and 40 (29.6%) of them were PCR-positive. Leishmanial parasites were cultured from lymph node or spleen aspirates from 10 dogs.</p> <p>Eight <it>Leishmania </it>strains isolated from dogs were typed by multi-locus microsatellite typing (MLMT) and by multilocus enzyme electrophoretic analysis (MLEE), using a 15 enzyme system. These analyses revealed that the strains belong to the most common zymodeme of <it>L. infantum</it>, i.e., MON-1, and form a unique group when compared to MON-1 strains from other geographical regions.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The data obtained through this study confirm the existence of an active focus of VL in the Namangan region of Uzbekistan. The fact that <it>L. infantum </it>was the causative agent of canine infection with typical clinical signs, and also of human infection affecting only infants, suggests that a zoonotic form of VL similar in epidemiology to Mediterranean VL is present in Uzbekistan.</p
Common FTO rs9939609 variant and risk of type 2 diabetes in Palestine
Abstract Background Genetic and environmental factors play a crucial role in the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and obesity. This study aimed to investigate the association of the fat-mass and obesity-associated gene (FTO) rs9939609 variant with T2DM and body mass index (BMI) among Palestinian population. Methods A total of 399 subjects were recruited, of whom 281 were type 2 diabetic patients and 118 normoglycemic subjects. All of them were unrelated, aged >â40Â years and recruited within the period 2016â2017. The A allele of FTO rs9939609 was identified by PCRâRFLP. Results Significant association of the minor allele A of FTO rs9939609 and T2DM risk was observed with an allelic odd ratio of 1.92 (95% CI [1.09â3.29], pâ=â0.02) adjusted for age and gender, this association partly attenuated when adjusted for BMI with OR of 1.84, (95%CI [1.04â3.05], pâ=â0.03). Stratified data by glycemic status across FTO genotypes showed that A allele was marginally associated with increased BMI among diabetic group (pâ=â0.057) but not in control group (pâ=â0.7). Moreover, no significant association was observed between FTO genotypes and covariates of age, gender, T2DM complications or any tested metabolic trait in both diabetic and nondiabetic individuals (pâ>â0.05). Conclusions The variant rs9939609 of the FTO gene was associated with T2DM in Palestine. This is the first study conducted on this gene in the Palestinian population and provides valuable information for comparison with other ethnic groups. Further analysis with larger sample size is required to elucidate the role of this variant on the predisposition to increased BMI in Palestinians
Seroprevalence and risk factor analysis for exposure to equine encephalosis virus in Israel, Palestine and Jordan
Equine encephalosis virus (EEV) is an orbivirus transmitted by Culicoides species. Most infected horses show mild clinical signs and mortality is usually very low. EEV is closely related and similarly transmitted to other, more pathogenic and economically important, orbiviruses such as African horse sickness virus (AHSV), bluetongue virus (BTV) and epizootic haemorrhagic disease viruses (EHDV), and may serve as an indicator for possible transmission of the latter. Israel has been reported to be endemic for EEV since 2001. This study was initiated to re-evaluate the current seroprevalence and risk factors for EEV exposure in Israel, and to assess, for the first time, the seroprevalence of EEV in Palestine and Jordan. Three hundred and sixteen serum samples were collected from apparently healthy horses at 21 farms in Israel, 66 horses at nine farms in Palestine and 100 horses at three farms in Jordan. The presence of EEV antibodies was detected by a serum neutralization assay. Seroprevalence of EEV was 58.2% (184/316 horses) in Israel, 48.5% (32/66 horses) in Palestine and 2% (2/100 horses) in Jordan. Seroprevalence in Jordan was significantly lower than in Israel and Palestine (P < 0.001). The farm (P < 0.001) and horse age (P = 0.003) were found as significant risk factors for EEV exposure in Israel in multivariable statistical analysis. The results of this study further demonstrate that EEV is no longer limited to South Africa and is endemic in both Israel and Palestine and horses in Jordan were also exposed to this virus emphasizing the potential of pathogens to invade new ecological niches
Aldose reductase (â106) C/T gene polymorphism and associated risk factors with proliferative diabetic retinopathy in Palestine: A cross sectional study
Abstract Background and Aims Genetic variants play a crucial role in the development of diabetic retinopathy (DR). Therefore, our study aimed to investigate the relationship between aldose reductase (ALR2) (C106T) polymorphism with proliferative DR and associated risk factors in Palestinian type 2 diabetic patients. Methods A cross sectional study was conducted at St John Eye HospitalâEast Jerusalem in 2020â2021 on patients with DR. All subjects had fundus examination by ophthalmologists and classified according to the severity of retinopathy. Genomic DNA was extracted from whole blood samples and genotyped by amplicon based next generation sequencing. Results A total of 155 patients were included, of them, 103 (66.5%) were diagnosed with nonâproliferative DR (NPDR) and 52 (33.5%) with proliferative DR (PDR). The PDR group had a significantly lower median age (59.5 [IQR: 13.3]) compared to the NPDR group (62 [IQR: 11.5]) (pâ=â0.04). Additionally, the duration of diabetes was higher in the PDR group (20 [IQR: 9]) compared to the NPDR group (15 [IQR: 10]) (pââ0.05). Conclusions The present study showed that duration of diabetes and dyslipidemia were strong indicators for PDR progression, while ALR2 (C106T) polymorphism was not associated with severity of DR
The clinical burden of human cystic echinococcosis in Palestine, 2010-2015.
Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is classified by the WHO as a neglected disease inflicting economic losses on the health systems of many countries worldwide. The aim of this case-series study was to investigate the burden of human CE in Palestine during the period between 2010 and 2015.Records of surgically confirmed CE patients from 13 public and private hospitals in the West Bank and Gaza Strip were reviewed. Patients' cysts were collected from surgical wards and formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) blocks were collected from histopathology departments. Molecular identification of CE species /genotypes was conducted by targeting a repeat DNA sequence (EgG1 Hae III) within Echinococcus nuclear genome and a fragment within the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1, (CO1). Confirmation of CE species/genotypes was carried out using sequencing followed by BLAST analysis and the construction of maximum likelihood consensus dendrogram. CE cases were map-spotted and statistically significant foci identified by spatial analysis. A total of 353 CE patients were identified in 108 localities from the West Bank and Gaza Strip. The average surgical incidence in the West Bank was 2.1 per 100,000. Spot-mapping and purely spatial analysis showed 13 out of 16 Palestinian districts had cases of CE, of which 9 were in the West Bank and 4 in Gaza Strip. Al-Khalil and Bethlehem were statistically significant foci of CE in Palestine with a six-year average incidence of 4.2 and 3.7 per 100,000, respectively.To the best of our knowledge, this is the first confirmation of human CE causative agent in Palestine. This study revealed that E. granulosus sensu stricto (s.s.) was the predominating species responsible for CE in humans with 11 samples identified as G1 genotype and 2 as G3 genotype. This study emphasizes the need for a stringent surveillance system and risk assessment studies in the rural areas of high incidence as a prerequisite for control measures