JOURNAL OF DRUG TARGETING

We aimed to assess the ability of I-131-Pentamidine scintigraphy to detect the lesions of Leishmania tropica infection. An experimental model of cutaneous leishmaniasis was developed. The presence of cutaneous leishmaniasis was confirmed. Pentamidine was radioiodinated with I-131. The radiolabeled pentamidine was validated by the requisite quality control tests to check its radiolabeling efficiency, in vitro stability. I-131-Pentamidine (activity: 18.5 MBq/100 mu l) was injected intracardiacally into infected hamsters. Static whole body images of the hamsters were acquired under the gamma camera at 5 and 30 min, 2, 6 and 24 h following the administration. On the scintigrams, anatomically adjusted regions of interest (ROIs) were drawn over the right feet (target) and left feet (not-target) and various organs. Accumulation of I-131-Pentamidine at sites of infection is expressed as the target to non-target (T/NT) ratio. The results T/NT ratio decreased with time. In concluding the I-131-Pentamidine has poor sensitivity in detection of L. tropica infection

JOURNAL OF CHEMOTHERAPY

A strain of Trichomonas vaginalis, isolated from a patient complaining of vaginal discharge, was incubated and cultivated to compare the in vitro effects of ornidazole, metronidazole and ciprofloxacin on T. vaginalis trophozoites in terms of minimal inhibition concentrations (MICs) and minimal lethal concentrations (MLCs). MIC levels at 24 hours for ornidazole, metronidazole and ciprofloxacin were 50 mg/mL, 50 mg/mL, and 750 mg/mL. Corresponding MLC levels were the same. In this in vitro study, ornidazole was found to be the most effective drug among 3 drugs tested against T. vaginalis trophozoites in terms of MIC and MLC levels. It is interesting to note that ciprofloxacin, although not as effective as the others, also had some cytotoxic effect on T. vaginalis trophozoites

Acute Toxoplasmosis During Pregnancy: A Hard Call

Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular parasite that infects all animals, including humans, and causes toxoplasmosis. If toxoplasmosis occurs during pregnancy, it may affect the foetus owing to transplacental transmission. Such transmission may lead to foetal complications, some of which can be very serious, e.g. hydrocephaly and chorioretinitis; however, not all cases of acute toxoplasmosis during pregnancy result in foetal complications. The decision whether to continue or terminate the pregnancy is a difficult problem for families as well as healthcare professionals, thus making it important. Here we present a case of acute toxoplasmosis at 6 weeks of pregnancy. The patient was directly advised to terminate the pregnancy. However, with detailed laboratory analyses, close follow-up and treatment to prevent transplacental transmission, she successfully completed the pregnancy and eventually delivered a healthy baby. By presenting this case, we aimed to review acute toxoplasmosis during pregnancy.Toxoplasma gondii, insanlar dahil tüm hayvanları enfekte edebilen bir zorunlu hücre içi parazittir. Toxoplasma gondii’nin yaptığı hastalığa toksoplazmoz denir. Eğer toksoplazmoz gebelikte söz konusu olursa fetus transplasental geçişle etkilenebilir. Her ne kadar bu geçiş, hidrosefali, koryoretinit gibi çok ciddi fetal problemlere yol açsa da, tüm gebelik akut toksoplazmozlarında bu durum mutlaka önemlidir. Çünkü gebeliğe devam etme veya sonlandırma kararı hem aileler için hem de sağlıkçılar için zordur. Burada, akut toksoplasmoz tanısı ile gebeliğin 6. haftasında doğrudan gebelik sonlandırması ile başvuran, gebeliği arzu edilen bir olgu sunuyoruz. Olgu, detaylı laboratuvar testleri, yakın takip ve transplasental geçişi engelleyen tedavi ile gebeliği başarılı bir şekilde sonlandırıp sağlıklı bir bebek sahibi olmuştur. Bu olgu ile, gebelikte akut toksoplazmoz konusunu yeniden gözden geçirmeyi hedefledik

Molecular identification and DNA sequencing of Trichomonas vaginalis strains from agean region of Turkey

The aim of this study is to compare the presence of Trichomonas vaginalis (T. vaginalis) in symptomatic and asymptomatic women through microscopic examination, culture in Trypticase-Yeast Maltose (TYM) medium and PCR methods. In addition, T. vaginalis strains were analysed for genotyping with 18S rRNA-DNA and phylogenetic analysis. Axenized strains of T. vaginalis isolated from urine culture samples taken from symptomatic and asymptomatic women with clinical signs. Molecular characterization of the isolated strains of T. vaginalis was performed by using PCR. To evaluate molecular diagnosis and genotypic identification of T. vaginalis strains, 14 samples were analysed. Of the 14 samples, T. vaginalis was positive in 14 samples by microscopy, 6 in culture(TYM medium) and 14 by PCR, respectively. Although the sample size is very small, PCR was shown to be high sensitivity and specificity, and seems to be a promising diagnostic tool. 18S rRNA-DNA PCR results also confirmed with real time PCR method. In conclusion, it is considered that two strains of T. vaginalis isolated from samples, 5-TV1G and 13-TV1G, are subtypes of T. vaginalis as a result of 18S rRNA-DNA sequencing analysis. To best of our knowledge this is the first analysis of phylogenetic positions on T. vaginalis from Turkey. © 2017, Malaysian Society for Parasitology. All rights reserved

A new technique to avoid losing the strains of Echinococcus multilocularis during passaging

WOS: 000234848300011PubMed ID: 16380771Objective: To examine the survival of Echinococcus multilocularis (E. multilocularis) and the formation of protoscoleces, under refrigerated conditions over a 43-day observation period. Methods: We conducted this study in Ege University, School of Medicine, from May-December, 2004. We included 4 healthy females and 2 males, 8-12 week old M. unguiculatus species (approximately 60-70 gr) for the study, as they are known to be susceptible to E. multilocularis. In this experimental study, we aimed to define a technique to keep the strains during these passages. Results: We found preserved viability and virulence of E. multilocularis stored in RPMI 1640 plus 10% fetal calf serum at +4 degrees C. We accomplished the infection of the Meriones unguiculatus after in-vivo passaging from that flask, which we kept at +4 degrees C, and this proves the viability of protoscoleces and membranous structures perfectly at the 43rd day. Conclusion: We also found that E. multilocularis metacestodes and the formation of protoscoleces keep their viability up to 60 days and virulence up to 43 days under this condition. We recommend storing an extra flask during each passage as a precaution against losing strains

Immune deficiency and cryptosporidiosis in rats

WOS: 000186808800021This study was intended to establish whether there is any relation between immune deficiency and cryptosporidiosis by using an animal model. Forty Rattus norvegicus rats obtained from the Experimental Animal Laboratories of the Ege University Faculty of Medicine were divided into two groups. The first group (n = 20) received corticosteroids (dexamethasone, 1.5 mg, subcutaneously, twice weekly) for eight weeks for immunosuppression, while the control group (n = 20) received no treatment. Drinking water was supplemented with tetracycline (500 mg/L) to avoid secondary infections. The animals were kept in groups of five in separate cages under the same environment and conditions. All the rats were sacrificed following the last injection, and preparations were made from the intestinal materials. All preparations were stained with Kinyoun acid-fast, modified Kinyoun acid-fast and Auramine, and were examined under light microscope. There was no detectable change in appearance and movement in the control group. However, a significant alteration was observed in the group that received corticosteroids d (Fisher's exact test, P < 0.05). The results indicate that cryptosporidiosis and other opportunistic infections may represent a threat in immune deficiency situations

Possible antileishmanial effect of recombinant human erythropoietin

WOS: 00026926400051