A retrospective study of hydatid cysts in patients undergoing liver and lung surgery in Tehran, Iran

Hydatid cyst, caused by larval stages of Echinococcus granulosus, is a zoonotic parasitic disease with public health importance. The disease is cosmopolitan and endemic in Iran. We conducted a retrospective study of the records of Milad Hospital, Tehran, Iran to establish the proportion of lung and liver surgical procedures that were performed for removal of hydatid cyst and to investigate the demography of the population undergoing lung and liver hydatid cyst surgery in this hospital. A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted of records of 682 patients who underwent liver (n = 404) or lung (n = 278) surgery from April 2009 to March 2013. In 404 liver surgeries, 111 (27.5) diagnoses of hydatid cyst were verified. Liver hydatid infection demonstrated a significant age-related difference (p < 0.05). Cysts were found in 64 of 217 females (29.5) and 47 of 187 males (25.1). While in both sexes, more cysts were found in liver, the liver/lung ratio in females was significantly higher than in males (p < 0.001). Hydatid cyst was verified in 59 (21.2) of 278 lung surgeries: 27 of 105 females (25.7) and 32 of 173 males (18.5). There was a significant relationship between sex and organ site (p < 0.001) with the proportion of hydatid cysts in males occurring in lung higher than seen in females. In the five investigated years, approximately 25 of liver and lung surgeries conducted at Milad Hospital were related to hydatidosis. Increasing public awareness of principles of avoiding infection could reduce the risk of nearly a quarter of liver and lung surgeries and costs associated with the treatment of hydatid cysts. © 201

Multiple zoonotic helminth infections in domestic dogs in a rural area of Khuzestan Province in Iran

Background: Echinococcosis and toxocarosis caused by the genus of Echinococcus and Toxocara spp. are among important helminthic diseases worldwide. Limited data on the prevalence of these parasites persuaded us to determine the prevalence of E. granulosus, E. multilocularis, and T. canis infections in domestic dogs in rural areas of Ahvaz, southwestern Iran. Fecal samples from 167 domestic dogs were examined using both microscopy and PCR techniques. Multiplex PCR was performed for the presence of Echinococcus, and Taenia spp. and single PCR for detection of T. canis and Toxascaris leonina. Results: The total occurrence of identified parasites was 65 (38.9). The microscopic examinations showed that 40 (24), 18 (10.8), and four (2.4) of dogs were infected with taeniid-like, ascarid, and both genera eggs, respectively. Echinococcus granulosus was identified in seven (4.2), Taenia spp. in 29 (17.4), and mixed infection with both in 11 (6.6) samples. Sequencing of PCR-positive samples identified E. granulosus s.s. (G1), 18 T. hydatigena (10.8), five T. multiceps (3), three T. serialis (1.8), one T. ovis (0.6), one Spirometra erinaceieuropaei voucher (0.6), and two Mesocestoides corti (1.2). This is the first report of S. erinaceieuropaei voucher and M. corti in dogs in Iran. Nine (5.4) and 16 (9.6) dogs showed infection with T. canis and T. leonina, respectively. Two samples showed coinfection with both ascarids. Conclusions: Several studies have reported echinococcosis and toxocarosis in intermediate hosts from the southwest of Iran; however, this study is the first molecular research on E. granulosus and T. canis in domestic dogs in a rural area of southwestern Iran. Furthermore, issues of soil contamination with dogs' feces and recent dust storms in Khuzestan may have a role in the spreading of these zoonotic infections to other provinces close to it, and neighboring countries such as Iraq. © 2018 The Author(s)

Mini-Exon Genotyping of Leishmania Species in Khuzestan Province, Southwest Iran

Background: Leishmaniasis is a protozoan disease cause by Leishmania genus. Anthroponotic and zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis are endemic in Iran. The aim of this study was to identify the causative agent of cutaneous leishmaniasis by mini-exon gene in five regions of Khuzestan Province, southwest of Iran. Methods: From 2007 to 2008 in this cross-sectional study, cutaneous samples were collected from patients referred to Health Centers and Hospitals of the Khuzestan Province for cutaneous leishmaniasis diagnosis and cultured in Novy-MacNeal-Nicolle (NNN) and RPMI 1640. The propagated promastigotes were harvested and Leishmania species of cutaneous leishmaniasis were identified by RFLP and DNA sequencing of the PCR generated fragments. Results: L. major and L. tropica were the causative agents of cutaneous leishmaniasis by predominantly of L. major species. The alignment of the mini-exon sequencing isolates with reported sequencing of L. major and L. tropica revealed 92-99 identity. Conclusion: Our study showed that mini-exon PCR-RFLP was useful method to identify the causative species of cutaneous leishmaniasis

Conjugated linoleic acid stimulates apoptosis in RH and tehran strains of Toxoplasma gondii, in vitro

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) on apoptosis of tachyzoites of T. gondii, RH strain (type I) and the cyst-forming Tehran strain (type II) in vitro. Methods: Toxoplasma strains were injected into the peritoneal cavity of BALB/c mice. The Tehran strain forms cysts in the brain of mice. Bradyzoites within the cysts are reactivated to proliferative tachyzoites, by dexamethasone. Tachyzoites were aspirated from the peritoneum of infected mice, and the percentage of viable parasites was estimated with trypan blue staining. Tachyzoites were inoculated into HeLa cells cultivated in DMEM medium. Different concentrations of CLA were evaluated on T. gondii in HeLa cells by the tetrazolium (MTT) colorimetric assay. Differentiation between apoptosis and cell death was determined by flow cytometry using Annexin V and propidium iodide (PI) double staining. The statistical analysis performed by GraphPad Prism version 6.00. Results: CLA induces apoptosis in virulent (RH) and avirulent (Tehran) strains of T. gondii. The results of MTT indicated that CLA could decrease the proliferation of tachyzoites of both strains in HeLa cells. Conclusion: Conjugated linoleic acid has anti-toxoplasmacidal activity on tachyzoites of T. gondii. Therefore, we recommended further studies on this component in order to achieve a new drug against the parasite. © 2015, Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS). All rights reserved

Effect of vermicompost on functional response of the parasitoid wasp Aphidius colemani (Hym., Braconidae) to the melon aphid, Aphis gossypii (Hem., Aphididae)

Changing of host plant quality via agricultural practices such as application of fertilizer may influence the behavioral traits of natural enemies. In this study, the effect of improving cucumber plants with different vermicompost: soil ratios (0:100 (control), 10:90, 20:80 and 30:70 % by volume) were studied on the functional response of the parasitoid wasp Aphidius colemani Viereck to the melon aphid, Aphis gossypii Glover. The logistic regression analyses revealed that the functional response of the parasitoid wasp to the melon aphid was type II in all treatments. The different vermicompost: soil ratios were differently affected the parameters of the functional response of the wasp. The results suggest that A. colemani can be efficiently used in integrated management programs against the melon aphid using vermicompost

Dientamoeba fragilis diagnosis by fecal screening: Relative effectiveness of traditional techniques and molecular methods

Introduction: Dientamoeba fragilis, an intestinal trichomonad, occurs in humans with and without gastrointestinal symptoms. Its presence was investigated in individuals referred to Milad Hospital, Tehran. Methodology: In a cross-sectional study, three time-separated fecal samples were collected from 200 participants from March through June 2011. Specimens were examined using traditional techniques for detecting D. fragilis and other gastrointestinal parasites: direct smear, culture, formalin-ether concentration, and iron-hematoxylin staining. The presence of D. fragilis was determined using PCR assays targeting 5.8S rRNA or small subunit ribosomal RNA. Results: Dientamoeba fragilis, Blastocystis sp., Giardia lamblia, Entamoeba coli, and Iodamoeba butschlii were detected by one or more traditional and molecular methods, with an overall prevalence of 56.5. Dientamoeba was not detected by direct smear or formalin-ether concentration but was identified in 1 and 5 of cases by culture and iron-hematoxylin staining, respectively. PCR amplification of SSU rRNA and 5.8S rRNA genes diagnosed D. fragilis in 6 and 13.5, respectively. Prevalence of D. fragilis was unrelated to participant gender, age, or gastrointestinal symptoms. Conclusions: This is the first report of molecular assays to screen for D. fragilis in Iran. The frequent finding of D. fragilis via fecal analysis indicated the need to include this parasite in routine stool examination in diagnostic laboratories. As the length of amplification target correlates to the sensitivity of PCR, this assay targeting the D. fragilis 5.8S rRNA gene seems optimal for parasite detection and is recommended in combination with conventional microscopy for diagnosing intestinal parasites. © 2018 Hamidi et al

Dientamoeba fragilis diagnosis by fecal screening: Relative effectiveness of traditional techniques and molecular methods

Introduction: Dientamoeba fragilis, an intestinal trichomonad, occurs in humans with and without gastrointestinal symptoms. Its presence was investigated in individuals referred to Milad Hospital, Tehran. Methodology: In a cross-sectional study, three time-separated fecal samples were collected from 200 participants from March through June 2011. Specimens were examined using traditional techniques for detecting D. fragilis and other gastrointestinal parasites: direct smear, culture, formalin-ether concentration, and iron-hematoxylin staining. The presence of D. fragilis was determined using PCR assays targeting 5.8S rRNA or small subunit ribosomal RNA. Results: Dientamoeba fragilis, Blastocystis sp., Giardia lamblia, Entamoeba coli, and Iodamoeba butschlii were detected by one or more traditional and molecular methods, with an overall prevalence of 56.5. Dientamoeba was not detected by direct smear or formalin-ether concentration but was identified in 1 and 5 of cases by culture and iron-hematoxylin staining, respectively. PCR amplification of SSU rRNA and 5.8S rRNA genes diagnosed D. fragilis in 6 and 13.5, respectively. Prevalence of D. fragilis was unrelated to participant gender, age, or gastrointestinal symptoms. Conclusions: This is the first report of molecular assays to screen for D. fragilis in Iran. The frequent finding of D. fragilis via fecal analysis indicated the need to include this parasite in routine stool examination in diagnostic laboratories. As the length of amplification target correlates to the sensitivity of PCR, this assay targeting the D. fragilis 5.8S rRNA gene seems optimal for parasite detection and is recommended in combination with conventional microscopy for diagnosing intestinal parasites. © 2018 Hamidi et al

Molecular Detection and Phylogenetic Analysis of Endosymbiont Wolbachia pipientis (Rickettsiales: Anaplasmataceae) Isolated from Dirofilaria immitis in Northwest of Iran

Background: The purpose of this study was molecular detection and phylogenetic analysis of Wolbachia species of Dirofilaria immitis. Methods: Adult filarial nematodes were collected from the cardiovascular and pulmonary arterial systems of naturally infected dogs, which caught in different geographical areas of Meshkin Shahr in Ardabil Province, Iran, during 2017. Dirofilaria immitis genomic DNA were extracted. Phylogenetic analysis for proofing of D. immitis was carried out using cytochrome oxidase I (COI) gene. Afterward, the purified DNA was used to determine the molecular pattern of the Wolbachia surface protein (WSP) gene sequence by PCR. Results: Phylogeny and homology studies showed high consistency of the COI gene with the previously-registered sequences for D. immitis. Comparison of DNA sequences revealed no nucleotide variation between them. PCR showed that all of the collected parasites were infected with W. pipientis. The sequence of the WSP gene in Wolbachia species from D. immitis was significantly different from other species of Dirofilaria as well as other filarial species. The maximum homology was observed with the Wolbachia isolated from D. immitis. The greatest distance between WSP nucleotides of Wolbachia species found between D. immitis and those isolated from Onchocerca lupi. Conclusion: PCR could be a simple but suitable method for detection of Wolbachia species. There is a pattern of host specificity between Wolbachia and Dirofilaria that can be related to ancestral evolutions. The results of this phylogenetic analysis and molecular characterization may help us for better identification of Wolbachia species and understanding of their coevolution. © 2019 Tehran University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved

Molecular investigation of etiologic agents causing vulvovaginal candidiasis

Background: Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) is an ordinary infection caused by Candida species. Meanwhile, a shift towards non-albicans Candida (NAC) species has been detected in VVC patients. Objectives: This study aimed at molecular identification of Candida isolates, causing VVC. Methods: Vaginal secretion samples of 320 non-pregnant vaginitis patients at Shahid Akbar-Abadi Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital in Tehran (Iran) were collected. Samples were evaluated using mycological and molecular approaches. Vaginitis isolates were analyzed with the PCR using NL1 and NL4 primers, and the D1/D2 region of the large-subunit rRNA gene was amplified and sequenced. Results: In total, 100 Candida isolates were identified from VVC and recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis (RVVC). Candida albicans was the most frequent (51), followed by C. glabrata (36), C. krusei (Pichia kudriavzevii) (8), and C. kefyr (Kluyveromyces marxianus) (5). 51 and 49 of isolates had C. albicans and NAC, respectively. Conclusions: Candida albicans and C. glabrata were the most common agents of vulvovaginal candidiasis. NAC spp. (49) was found as an important agent associated with VVC. © 2020, Author(s)

The first report of onychomycosis caused by Cryptococcus friedmannii (Naganishia friedmannii) a basidiomycetous yeast

Yeasts are common etiologic agents of onychomycosis. This study reported a case of onychomycosis due to Cryptococcus friedmannii (Naganishia friedmannii). This yeast was isolated of the right great toenail of 57-year-old man. Microscopic examination of nail scrapings showed budding cells with thin capsule. Sequence analyzes of the internal transcribed spacer regions was closely related to Cryptococcus friedmannii. The results of susceptibility testing showed the Cryptococcus friedmannii to be sensitive to fluconazole, itraconazole and amphotericin B. © 2017 The Author