Detection and Identification of Old World Leishmania by High Resolution Melt Analysis

Protozoal parasites of the genus Leishmania are transmitted by sand fly bites to humans and animals. Three major forms of disease are caused by these parasites: cutaneous leishmaniasis, responsible for disfiguring skin wounds; mucocutaneous leishmaniasis, causing non-healing ulceration around the mouth and nose; and the potentially fatal visceral leishmaniasis, involving internal organs such as the spleen and liver. More than 2 million new human infections are caused annually by leishmaniasis globally, it is endemic in more than 88 countries and prevalent also as an imported disease in non-endemic regions due to travel and tourism. Most species of Leishmania that infect humans are zoonotic and transmitted from animal reservoir hosts. As various leishmanial parasites cause disease with similar symptoms, but require different therapeutic regimens and have dissimilar prognoses, reliable, sensitive and rapid diagnostic assays are needed. This study focuses on the five main species that cause leishmaniasis in the Old World. It presents a new assay for rapid detection, species identification and quantification of leishmanial parasites in clinical samples, reservoir hosts and sand flies. This technique could be especially valuable in regions where several leishmanial species exist, in non-endemic regions where infected patients require a rapid diagnosis, and for epidemiological host and vector studies leading to prevention programs

Rhinosporidium seeberi: Is It a Fungi or Parasite?

PubMed: 332695732-s2.0-85097120376Rhinosporidium seeberi (R. seeberi) causes rhinosporidiosis, which is manifested as tumor-like polyps developing primarily in the nostrils and conjunctiva in human and animals. This disease is characterized by the presence of large, round-shaped mature stage and small endospores with resistance to culturing. R. seeberi was first reported in 1900 as a sporozoan parasite, but later classified as a lower fungi, although its morphological similarity with aquatic parasites were also noticed. According to 18S small-subunit ribosomal DNA sequencing, R. seeberi belongs to a group of fish parasite DRIP clade located between the animal and fungal divergence. Histological examination is thus necessary for the definitive diagnosis of rhinosporidiosis, and the first line of treatment is usually total surgical excision and electro-cauterization of the polyp base. Among the drug therapies attempted, remission has been reported in some patients who received only Dapson treatment. This disease is endemic across India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka and occurs sporadically in other parts of The World with a common history of patients bathing in stagnant water. An outbreak in Serbia during 1992-1995 and 5 rhinosporidiosis cases from Turkey have been reported until date. Considering that rhinosporidiosis is associated with exposure to water and the agent belongs to a branch of aquatic parasites, it has been proposed that aquatic animals are the natural hosts and that the mammalian hosts acquire infection by contacting contaminated water. Therefore, there is a need for the investigation of the infection in fish besides mammalian animals as reservoirs as well as to conduct screening of antiparasitic drugs with infected fish or infected cell lines with the nearest phylogenetic relatives of R. seeberi

Frequency of recurrent urinary tract infection in patients with pelvic organ prolapse

Emrah Töz,1 Sefa Kurt,2 Çagdas Sahin,1 Mehmet Tunç Canda3 1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tepecik Training and Research Hospital, Izmir, Turkey; 2Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Izmir Dokuz Eylül University, Izmir, Turkey; 3Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kent Hospital, Izmir, Turkey Purpose: The aim of the study was to investigate the existence of a relationship between pelvic organ prolapse (POP) and recurrent urinary tract infection (UTI). Materials and methods: The hospital database was searched for women diagnosed with pelvic floor disorders and all medical records were reviewed for recurrent UTI, diagnosed by two or more positive urine cultures taken within 12 months of each other. The control group was created using one-to-one matching for age and menopausal status. The prevalence of recurrent UTI in these patients were compared. Results: The mean age of the 210 participants was 54.64±5.15 years. We found no association between POP and recurrent UTI. In the prolapse group, 22 women (21%) had recurrent UTI compared with 19 women (18%) in the control group (P=0.316). Post-void residual (PVR) volumes >50 mL were associated with increased prevalence of recurrent UTI. Conclusion: POP is not a risk factor for recurrent UTI, but women with POP are more likely to have high PVR volumes. High PVR volumes increase the risk of recurrent UTI. Clinical examination and ultrasound assessment of PVR should be performed in all women presenting with prolapse and UTI. Elevated PVR is the most significant risk factor, linking POP with recurrent UTI. Keywords: recurrent urinary tract infection, pelvic organ prolapse, post-void residua

Investigation of human herpesvirus 6 infections in kidney and bone marrow/stem cell transplant recipients [Böbrek ve kemi·k i·li·gi·/kök hücre alicilarinda i·nsan herpesvi·rus 6 enfeksi·yonunun araştirilmasi]

PubMed ID: 14593901In this study, active human herpesvirus (HHV)-6 infection were investigated in 39 renal and 9 bone marrow/stem cell transplant recipients. For this purpose, the presence of HHV-6 DNA in patients sera have been searched by nested polymerase chain reaction (nPCR). In addition, HHV-6 IgM and IgG antibodies were performed by micro-enzyme immunoassay (EIA) to detect seronegative patients before transplantation and IgM response in active or primary HHV-6 infection. Active infection with HHV-6 DNA positivity was detected in 5.3% of renal and 22.2% of bone marrow/stem cell transplant recipients. Active HHV-6 infection was found to be related with asemptomatic reactivation, graft disfunction and cytomegalovirus disease in renal transplant recipients, and, fever and graft versus host disease in bone marrow/stem cell transplant recipients. It has been concluded that, the investigation of HHV-6 DNA by nPCR in the transplant sera, was a practical and useful method for the laboratories, in order to diagnose active HHV-6 infection, while HHV-6 IgG antibody detection was also useful for the differentional diagnosis of primary infection or reactivation/reinfection, but HHV-6 IgM antibodies has low value to detect active HHV-6 infection

Prevalence of Leishmania infantum and Dirofilaria immitis infection in dogs in Aydin province and the town of Selçuk, İzmir, Turkey [Aydin'in bazi i·lçe ve köyleri ile İzmir'in Selçuk i·lçesindeki köpeklerde Leishmaniosis ve Dirofilariasis'in prevalansi]

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of Leishmania infantum and Dirofilaria immitis infection in dogs housed outdoors in Aydin province and Selçuk in western Turkey. Anti-Leishmania antibodies were evaluated in sera samples by IFA and ELISA techniques. The presence of D. immitis microfilariae was determined in blood samples by use of the modified Knott's test. Using the IFA and ELISA on 158 dogs surveyed, 5 (3.2%) were positive for anti-Leishmania antibodies while 22 (13.9%) were found infected with D. immitis. Only 2 out of 5 seropositive dogs exhibited major signs of canine visceral leishmaniosis, and amastigotes were detected in parasitological examinations of popliteal lymph node aspirates. It was noted that there were dogs infected with Leishmania in dog shelters in the towns of Kuşadasi and Selçuk, and the infection rate of dogs for D. immitis was high in 3 villages near the city of Aydin. © TÜBİTAK