Characteristics of Seropositive Hepatitis B and C Thalassemia Major Patients in South-East of Iran

Background: Hepatitis is a serious blood born infection in patients with β-thalassemia major (β-TM). There was no previous report on hepatitis prevalence in patients with β-TM in Zabol, Iran. Objectives: The current study aimed to evaluate characteristics of hepatitis in patients with ᵝ-TM visiting Imam Khomeini Hospital of Zabol, in Sistan and Baluchistan province of Iran. Patients and Methods: There were 90 patients with ᵝ-TM. General demographic and laboratory results were obtained by interviews and reviewing clinical and laboratory histories. Data for anti-HCV, HBs antigen and anti-HBs were extracted from latest archived records, and analyzed using SPSS ver. 19. Results: Males and females comprised 51% and 49% of the patients, respectively. Mean age of the patients was 14.8±7.4 years old. Anti-HCV and HBs antigen were detected in 10% and 3.3% of the patients, respectively. Significant difference was found between the mean age of anti-HCV positive (20.1 ± 3.6, 95% CI: 17.3 - 22.9) and negative (14.2 ± 7.5, 95% CI: 12.5 - 15.9) patients (P = 0.02). Mean ferritin value was measured 4702 ± 2743 ng/mL. A significant correlation was observed between serum ferritin level and age (r = 0.3, P = 0.01). Hepatic enzymes, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) had mean levels of 51.8 ± 32.8 IU/L and 58.8 ± 59 IU/L, respectively. No significant association was identified between hepatitis status and either ferritin or hepatic enzymes levels. Conclusions: Results demonstrated the relatively high prevalence of HCV infection in the patients. Applying sensitive methods to screen blood units is recommended to minimize the risk of transfusion associated hepatitis. Keywords: β-Thalassemia Major, Anti-HCV, HBs Antigen, Anti-HBs, Ferriti

Leishmania major: Genetic Profiles of the Parasites Isolated from Chabahar, Southeastern Iran by PPIP-PCR

Background: Leishmaniasis is important vector-borne parasitic disease worldwide, caused by the genus Leishmania. The objective of the current study was to identify genetic polymorphism in L. major, one of the species causing cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL), isolated from southeastern Iran, using Permissively Primed Intergenic Polymorphic- Polymerase Chain Reaction (PPIP-PCR) method. Methods: Overall, 340 patients with suspected CL were examined. They referred to the Central Laboratory in Chabahar, Iran during Apr 2013 to Feb 2014. Microscopic examination of Giemsa-stained slides from lesions as well as aspirates cultured in Novy- Mac Neal-Nicolle (NNN) Media was employed in order to diagnose CL in these patients. Our analyses detected 86 suspected subjects as having CL from which 35 isolates were cultured successfully. PPIP-PCR method was performed on extracted genomic DNA from selected isolates in order to determine the genetic polymorphism among L. major isolates. Results: The electrophoresis patterns demonstrated two genetic profiles including A or A1 patterns between all samples tested. Frequency of A and A1 sub-types were 33 (94.3%) and two (5.7%), respectively. Conclusion: Both host and parasite factors may contribute to the clinical profile of human leishmaniasis in the endemic foci of the disease. Here we showed that genetic variations pertaining to the Leishmania parasites might determine, in part, the clinical outcomes of human leishmaniasis

Seroepidemiology of Toxocara canis in Children under 14 Years Referring to Laboratories of Sistan and Baluchestan Province in Southeast of Iran

Background: The aim of the present survey was to assess thr seroepidemiologic and parasitological aspects of Toxocara canis infection in children under 14 yr old. Methods: Overall, 963 sera were collected from children in the Sistan and Baluchistan Province, Southeast of Iran during the period from Sep 2015 to Jun 2016. IgG antibody against T. canis in the subjects’ sera was evaluated using the commercial ELISA kit. Results: Anti-Toxocara IgG were detected in the serum of 17 (1.7%) of the participants. In the examined children, the highest presence of anti-Toxocara antibodies was 2.1% (9/418) in 6-10-yr olds, which was higher than other age groups (P<0.05). Anti-Toxocara antibodies were significantly higher in males (2.4% or 12/492) than in females (1.1% or 5/471) (P<0.03). Highest serological prevalence of T. canis occurred in tribes (5.5% or 4/69), followed by rural areas (0.9% or 7/757), while in the urban area it was 0.1% (6/163) (P<0.01). A significant association was seen between the serological prevalence of T. canis and laboratory findings such as eosinophilia (P=0.001) and red blood cell count (P=0.02). Conclusion: Seroprevalence of Toxocara infection is high among children living in the poor regions of southeast Iran

Species Diversity and Distribution of Ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) in Zabol County, Eastern Iran.

Background: Ticks are important vectors of human and animal pathogens. They are considered as main vectors fortransmission of many viral, bacterial, rickettsial and parasitical pathogens. The aim of the present study was to find out species diversity of ticks, which infested the domestic ruminants in Zabol County, Eastern Iran in 2012. Methods: Ticks were selected randomly from sheep, goats, cattle and camels. The ticks were collected from the body of infested animals and stored in 70% ethanol, then transported to the laboratory of Zabol University of Medi- cal Sciences. Following examinations under stereomicroscope, ticks were identified using available taxonomic keys. Results: In this study, a total number of 469 adult ticks (381 males and 88 females) were collected. Ticks were clas- sified into 2 genera and 9 species including: Hyalomma dromedarii (17.3%), Hy. schulzei (1.8%), Hy. marginatum (0.5%), Hy. anatolicum excavatum (12.60%), Hy. anatolicum anatolicum (11.2%), Hy. asiaticum asiaticum (11.0%), Rhipicephalus sanguineus (21.2%), Rh. bursa (10.2%) and  Rh. turacunis (13.911%). The frequency of  genus Hyalomma (54.6%) was higher than Rhipicephalus. Rh. sanguineus was the predominant tick species and accounted for 21.26% of the ticks. The ratio of males was more than the female ticks. Conclusion: Hyalomma and Rhipicephalus spcies are commonly distributed in the study area. Further investiga- tions are needed to identify the role of above tick species as vectors of pathogenic organisms

Prevalence and histopathology of Sarcocystosis in slaughtered carcasses in southeast Iran

Objective: Sarcocystis spp. are common parasites and in terms of economics and pathogenicity in domestic animals is important. The purpose of this work was to define the rate of contamination of slaughtered carcasses of cattle to Sarcocystis using digestive and histopathological methods in southeast Iran. Material and Methods: In this descriptive laboratory study for 1 year, 500 carcasses were examined and isolated bradyzoites of Sarcocystis with the digest method. Also, tissue samples from the esophagus and diaphragm were considered for pathologic studies and stained with hematoxylin and eosin of sections of histopathological. Results: The results showed that the highest contaminations were in imported male animals aged 23 years old in the spring. There was a significant difference (p &lt; 0.05) in the prevalence rate with the sex and race of cattle but no significant difference (p &gt; 0.05) in the prevalence rate with age and season. Conclusion: Infection with Sarcocystis is common in oxen in this region. The imported cattle are more infected. It seems that racing and the environmental condition affect the prevalence of Sarcocystosis. [J Adv Vet Anim Res 2018; 5(4.000): 381-387

Epidemiological Study of Toxocar canis in Children under 14-Years-Old and Dogs in Zabol and Chabahar Districts, Southeast of Iran

Background: The purpose of this study was seroepidemiological and parasitological assessment of Toxocara canis infection in children and dogs in Zabol and Chabahar, Iran. Methods: This study was a descriptive-analytic study with a simple random sampling of children under 14 yr old, referring to urban, rural, and tribal laboratories of Zabol and Chabahar, Sistan and Baluchestan Province, Iran in 2016. Demographic data, clinical, and laboratory conditions of patients were collected through interviews, questionnaires, and blood count measuring. The prevalence of IgG antibodies against T. canis was assessed by ELISA. T. canis eggs in dogs (as the original host) were also assessed by examining animal feces. Then the data were analyzed using SPSS 19 software and descriptive statistics, chi-square and ANOVA statistical tests. Results: Totally, 364 patients were enrolled, of which 51.6% were female and mean±SD age of participants was 7.2 (±3.7) yr. IgG antibodies against T. canis was observed in 3.8% of cases. A significant association was found between the seroprevalence of T. canis and eosinophil (P=0.003) and red blood cell count (P=0.04). We also found a significant association between serological prevalence of T. canis and demographic parameters, such as city of residence (P=0.003), gender (P=0.04), consumption of vegetables (P=0.01), and the living place (P=0.04). Mean antibody titration was 2.2 ±1.1, with statistically significant difference among age groups (P=0.001). In addition, T. canis infection was positive in 27.5% of dogs living in the study areas. Conclusion: High risk of infection represented in patients referring to laboratories of Zabol and Chabahar. In addition, given the fact that dogs are the final hosts to transfer Toxocara infection to humans, this study emphasizes the need to control the population of stray dogs in the region to prevent the development of disease in the human society

Prevalence of Cryptosporidium Species in Children Referred to Central and Hospital Laboratories of Zabol City, South East of Iran

Background Cryptosporidiosis has a worldwide distribution, and is the commonest cause of diarrhea in children and immune compromised individuals. Since there is no data available on the prevalence of Cryptosporidium species (sp.) in Zabol city, thus this study was carried out to assess the disease prevalence and related factors influencing the disease. Materials and Methods In this cross-sectional study, 200 fecal specimens were collected from children referred to the Central or hospital labs in Zabol city, South East of Iran, during April 2014 to August 2016. Fecal examination was performed by staining with Ziel-Neelsen acid-fast to find oocysts of the parasite. The children were grouped according to the age, gender, kind of water supplies, and diarrheic and non-diarrheic condition. Data were evaluated using SPSS version 13.0 software. Results Among the children referred to the Central laboratory, 200 fecal samples from different age groups were collected. The prevalence of Cryptosporidium species was 9.7% which was higher in children under 4 years. There was a significant relationship between sources of water supply and diarrheic children infected with Cryptosporidium (

Leishmania major: Genetic Profiles of the Parasites Isolated from Chabahar, Southeastern Iran by PPIP-PCR

Background: Leishmaniasis is important vector-borne parasitic disease worldwide, caused by the genus Leishmania. The objective of the current study was to identify genetic polymorphism in L. major, one of the species causing cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL), isolated from southeastern Iran, using Permissively Primed Intergenic Polymorphic-Polymerase Chain Reaction (PPIP-PCR) method. Methods: Overall, 340 patients with suspected CL were examined. They referred to the Central Laboratory in Chabahar, Iran during Apr 2013 to Feb 2014. Microscopic examination of Giemsa-stained slides from lesions as well as aspirates cultured in Novy- Mac Neal-Nicolle (NNN) Media was employed in order to diagnose CL in these patients. Our analyses detected 86 suspected subjects as having CL from which 35 isolates were cultured successfully. PPIP-PCR method was performed on extracted genomic DNA from selected isolates in order to determine the genetic polymorphism among L. major isolates. Results: The electrophoresis patterns demonstrated two genetic profiles including A or A1 patterns between all samples tested. Frequency of A and A1 sub-types were 33 (94.3%) and two (5.7%), respectively. Conclusion: Both host and parasite factors may contribute to the clinical profile of human leishmaniasis in the endemic foci of the disease. Here we showed that genetic variations pertaining to the Leishmania parasites might determine, in part, the clinical outcomes of human leishmaniasis.

Iranian Hydatid Disease Registry: Establishment and Implementation of a Neglected Tropical Disease Registry

Background: Cystic echinococcosis (CE) or hydatid disease is a global public health concern which imposes considerable economic costs on the communities in endemic regions. CE surveillance data are not adequately reliable. The present study reports the development and outcomes of a CE registry in Iran. Methods: Hydatid Registry (HydatidReg) was initially established as a single-center registry in 2014 after the ethical approval of KMU. Following a call from MoHME to promote registry of different diseases and health outcomes, a call for participation was announced and all the Iranian Universities of Medical Sciences were requested to contribute to the registry. Subsequently, a nation-wide registry of hydatid disease was established in 2016. With a global perspective, HydatidReg joined the European Register of Cystic Echinococcosis (ERCE). A data collection form based on minimum dataset was designed and standard operating procedures (SOPs) were prepared to ensure standardized patient enrolment in the registry. A biobank system with two-dimensional barcoding was established along with HydatidReg for management and organization of biological specimens. Results: As of March 2021, a total of 690 patients were enrolled in the registry. HydatidReg registered 362 (17.3%) out of the total 2097 patients enrolled in ERCE. Quality control (QC) of the data demonstrated 91.2% completeness and 80% timeliness. In the biobank, 322 biological specimens from 184 CE patients have been deposited including 70 blood, 96 sera and 156 parasite materials. Conclusion: High-quality data in the HydatidReg registry provided opportunities for health professionals to improve quality of care and organize meaningful research