Toxoplasmosis in Patients with Cardiac Disorders: a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Toxoplasmosis is a common and serious infection caused by an obligatory intracellular protozoan, Toxoplasma gondii. This study investigated the possible association between heart failure and toxoplasmosis. We searched for toxoplasmosis and heart failure patients in English databases including PubMed, Scopus, ISI Web of Sciences, Science Direct, EMBASE, and Google Scholar up to June 2018. A total of 6 studies and 1,795 participants, comprising 934 cases and 861 controls, had acceptable criteria for entering the study. Im­munoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies against T. gondii were found in 53% (22 to 83) of patients with heart diseases and 26% (11 to 42) of healthy controls. In comparison, immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibodies were found in 0.5% (0.1 to 1) in patients with heart diseases and 0.3% (0 to 0.7) of healthy controls. The patients suffering from cardiac disorders were more significantly correlated to anti-T. gondii IgG (OR: 3.53; 95% CI, 2.27 to 5.47; P = 0.014) and IgM (OR: 1.80; 95% CI, 0.31 to 10.4; P = 0.028) seropositivity than healthy controls. Despite limitations such as the low number of studies, our research showed a high association between toxoplasmosis and cardiac disorders. Therefore, toxoplasmosis may be a risk factor in cardiac patients, and more studies are being done

Schistasoma mansoninin laboratuvarda sürdürülmesi ve evrim şekillerinden antijen hazırlanması

Bu tezin, veri tabanı üzerinden yayınlanma izni bulunmamaktadır. Yayınlanma izni olmayan tezlerin basılı kopyalarına Üniversite kütüphaneniz aracılığıyla (TÜBESS üzerinden) erişebilirsiniz.Çalışmalarımızda Amerika ve İran'dan temin edilen S. manşon i suşunun laboratuvar şartlarında hayat döngüsünün tamamlanması ve bunun kesintisiz olarak sürdürülmesi sağlanmıştır. Laboratuvarda sürdürülen bu susun evrim dönemlerinden ELISA için erişkin, miracidum ve cercaria eriyik antijenleri IFA Testi için ise erişkin, yumurta, miracidium ve cercaria antijenleri hazırlanmış ve duyarlılıkları araştırılmıştır. ELISA testinde en yüksek duyarlılık erişkin ve miracidium antijenleriyle IFA Testinde ise erişkin ve yumurta antijenleriyle elde edilmiştir. Cercaria antijenleri ise her iki yöntemde de en düşük duyarlılıkta bulunmuştur. 55SUMMARY In this study, complete life cycle of a S. manşon i strain provided from USA and IRAN was performed in laboratory conditions. Adult, miracidium and cercaria soluble antigens for ELISA, adult, miracidium, egg and cercariae particul antigens for IFA was prepared and their sensitivity was investigated. Highest sensitivity was obtained in adult and miracidium antigen in ELISA, adult and egg antigen in IFA. Cercariae antigens was found to be low sensitive in both tests. 5

Genetic Characterization of Fasciola Isolates from West Azerbaijan Province Iran Based on ITS1 and ITS2 Sequence of Ribosomal DNA

Background: Fascioliasis, caused by Fasciola hepatica and F. gigantica, has medical and economic importance in the world. Molecular approaches comparing tradi­tional methods using for identification and characterization of Fasciola spp. are precise and reliable. The aims of current study were molecular characterization of Fasciola spp. in West Azerbaijan Province, Iran and then comparative analysis of them using GenBank sequences. Methods: A total number of 580 isolates were collected from different hosts in five cities of West Azerbaijan Province, in 2014 from 90 slaughtered cattle (n=50) and sheep (n=40). After morphological identification and DNA extraction, de­signing specific primer were used to amplification of ITS1, 5.8s and ITS2 regions, 50 samples were conducted to sequence, randomly. Result: Using morphometric characters 99.14% and 0.86% of isolates identified as F. hepatica and F. gigantica, respectively. PCR amplification of 1081 bp fragment and sequencing result showed 100% similarity with F. hepatica in ITS1 (428 bp), 5.8s (158 bp), and ITS2 (366 bp) regions. Sequence comparison among current study sequences and GenBank data showed 98% identity with 11 nucleotide mismatches. However, in phylogenetic tree F. hepatica sequences of West Azerbai­jan Province, Iran, were in a close relationship with Iranian, Asian, and African isolates. Conclusions: Only F. hepatica species is distributed among sheep and cattle in West Azerbaijan Province Iran. However, 5 and 6 bp variation in ITS1 and ITS2 regions, respectively, is not enough to separate of Fasciola spp. Therefore, more studies are essential for designing new molecular markers to correct species iden­tification

The Anti-leishmanial Efficacy of Artemisia dracunculus Ethanolic Extract in Vitro and Its Effects on IFN- γ and IL-4 Response

Background: Leishmaniasis is a parasitic disease that appears with a range of symptoms including cutaneous, mucocutaneous, and visceral leishmaniasis. The present study sought to determine the antileishmanial effect of the extract of Artemisia dracunculus (Tarragon) compared to control treatment with pentavalent antimony (meglumine). Methods: This experimental study was performed in 2014-2015. A. dracunculus were collected from West Azerbaijan Province, Iran and dried; then the ethanolic extract of the plant was prepared. The effect of different concentrations of Artemisia's extract was compared with Glucantime ® in the stationary phase by MTT colorimetric assay and Trypan blue staining. Human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (HPBMCs) treated with L. major and production of IFN- γ and IL-4 cytokines measured at concentrations of 25, 20, 10 and 5µg/ml A. dracunculus. Results: Treatment with the extract did not affect the survival of the parasites during the first 48 h; however, on the third day (72 h), all concentrations significantly reduced the number of parasites with an efficacy of more than 50% at 10 µg/ml (P<0.01), 20µg/ml (P<0.001), and 25 µg/ml (P<0.0001). Moreover, IFN-γ and IL-4 secretion from the HPBMCs was significantly affected in a dose-dependent manner, compared to the control (no extract). The IFN-γ/IL-4 ratio further confirmed this notion. Conclusion: A. dracunculus extract cannot only exert potent antileishmanial activity but may also enhance cellular immunity to this parasite. Further studies are required to determine the main compound(s) responsible for these effects of the plant

Frequency and genetic diversity of Acanthamoeba spp. free living Amoeba in water sources of Urmia, North west Iran

Background & Aims:  Free living amoeba that they can cause important diseases such as keratitis and meningoencephalitis, being studied more precisely in the world. In Iran, many studies have been carried out in most parts of the country or are under investigation. Becaus previously no study performed about this parasite in West Azerbaijan (North West Iran), the aim of this study was determination of frequency and genotype of Acanthamoeba spp. in water sources. Materials and Methods:  A total of 60 water samples were collected from surface and plumbing waters from five regions of Urmia. Samples after filtration cultured in non-nutrient medium in 30ₒ C. and amoeba harvested and DNA extracted. PCR in 18SrDNA fragment performed using primers JDP2 and JDP1, and 11 pruducts sent to sequencing. Results analyzed by bioinformatics software’s and submmited in Genbank. Results: Of the 60 superficial and plumbed water samples, 21 samples were positive, of which four were plumbed water and 17 of them were surface water. Out of the twenty-one positive cases, 10 cases were confirmed in validated centers in terms of gene sequencing. Of the ten cases, one was a T2 genotype and nine were T4. Discussion: Studies in other parts of the country show that the dominant genotype in Iran is T4, and the frequency and of genotypes of Acanthamoeba. Spp in Urmia also partially relates to the parts of country

Antileishmanial and Immunomodulatory Activity of (Garlic)

Leishmaniasis is caused by an obligate intracellular protozoa belonging to Leishmania genus. The current drugs for treatment of leishmaniasis possess many disadvantages; therefore, researchers are continuously looking for the more effective and safer drugs. The aim of this study is to review the effectiveness, toxicities, and possible mechanisms of pharmaceutical actions of different garlic extracts and organosulfur compounds isolated from garlic against Leishmania spp. in a variety of in vitro, in vivo and clinical trials reports. All relevant databases were searched using the terms “ Allium sativum ,” “Garlic,” “Allicin,” “Ajoene,” “ Leishmania ,” “in vitro,” “in vivo,” and “clinical trial,” alone or in combination from 5 English databases (Web of Science, PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus, Google Scholar) and 3 Persian databases (Scientific Information Database, Iran Medex, and Magiran) from 1990 to 2014. In summary, garlic with immunomodulatory effects and apoptosis induction contributes to the treatment of leishmaniasis

Identification of Echinococcus Granulosus Strains in Isolated Hydatid Cyst Specimens from Animals by PCR-RFLP Method in West Azerbaijan – Iran

Background: The aim of this study was DNA extraction from protosco­lecses of Echinococcus granulosus and identification of these strains in West-Azerbai­jan Province, north western Iran.Methods: Thirty one livestock isolates from sheep and cattle were collected from abattoirs of the province. To investigate the genetic variation of the isolates, after DNA extraction by Glass beads-phenol chloroform method; PCR-RLFP analysis of rDNA-ITS1 was performed using three different restric­tion enzymes of Taq 1, Rsa 1 and Alu 1.Result: Amplified PCR products for all isolates were 1000bp band which is expected band in sheep strains (G1-G3 complex). The results of RFLP analy­sis also were the same for all isolates. PCR-RFLP patterns restriction en­zymes were identical as follows, Rsa1 bands under UV showed two bands approximately 655bp and 345bp. Alu1 bands were as follows: two approx­imately 800bp and 200bp and Taq1 did not cut any region and bands were approximately 1000 bp in all samples.Conclusions: Based on PCR-RFLP patterns of ITS1 fragment produced with endonucleases enzyme digestion in animal isolates, it can be concluded that a single strain of E. granulosus (sheep strain or G1-G3 complex) is domi­nant genotype in this provinc

Evaluation of Alum-Naltrexone Adjuvant Activity, on Efficacy of Anti-Leishmania Immunization with Autoclaved Leishmania major (MRHO/IR/75/ER) Antigens in BALB/C Mice

Background: Naltrexone, an opioid receptor antagonist shifts the immune response toward a Th1 profile. In the current study, we evaluated the efficacy of the mixture of NTX and alum, as a new adjuvant, to enhance immune response and induce protection against Leishmania major in a mouse model. Methods: BALB/c mice were immunized three times either autoclaved L.major promastigotes’ antigens alone or in combination with the adjuvant alum, naltrexone or the alum–naltrexone mixture. Both humoral and cellular immune responses were assessed two weeks after the last immunization and compared with control mice. Results: The administration of alum- NTX in combination with the parasite antigen, significantly increased production of IFN-γ, IFN-γ /IL-5 ratio,lymphocyte proliferation and improved DTH response against L. major.There was no significant difference in survival following challenge among groups. Conclusion: Immunization with the alum– naltrexone mixture as an adjuvant,in combination with the autoclaved L. major promastigotes antigens,can enhance cellular immunity and shift the immune responses to a Th1 pattern

Toxoplasmosis in rodents: A systematic review and meta-analysis in Iran

During recent years, implication of rodents in the epidemiology of Toxoplasma gondii is overlooked in Iran; thus, we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the prevalence of toxoplasmosis in rodents of Iran. For this purpose, following the general methodology recommended for systematic reviews and meta-analysis, 5 English and 3 Persian databases were explored from 1 January 2000 till 10 September 2016 using related keywords. Finally, 9 out of 291 citations were met to be included in this study. Due to significant heterogeneity, the random-effects model was conducted (I2 = 93.55%). During the years, 661 rodents were trapped, and 121 of them were identified positive for T. gondii 15% (95% CI = 5–27). Moreover, overall prevalence using direct microscopic examination (1/230), PCR-based techniques (41/246) and serological tests (83/437) was obtained 0.1% (95% CI = 0.0–1.5), 18% (95% CI = 4–39) and 15% (95% CI = 3–33), respectively. Our study revealed the prevalence of toxoplasmosis in rodents is remarkable. Considering this fact, they play a key role in the life cycle of T. gondii and should not be neglected. Further surveys is needed to better recognize the role of various rodent species in distribution of toxoplasmosis. Keywords: Toxoplasma gondii, Rodents, Systematic review, Meta-analysis, Ira