IMPROVEMENT IN ISOLATION AND AXENIC GROWTH OF GIARDIA LAMBLIA IN TYI-S-33 MEDIUM SUPPLEMENTED WITH BILE

total of 60 fresh Giardia lamblia cyst present in human fecal specimens isolated in Central Laboratory of shan University of Medical Sciences. Thirty-eight new isolates of G. lamblia was gradually adapted to as in TYI-S-33 medium supplemented with bile. The parasites grew luxuriantly and formed a monolayer the surface of the culture vessels. When G. lamblia was inoculated into to fresh medium, the population of separasites grew from 0.9 x 105 to 1.6 x 105 /ml in six days with a generation time of 12 to 13 hrs at 37°C

The relationship of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis to ABO blood group

It has been hypothesized that leishmania parasites escape the host defence mechanisms by mimicry of human blood group antigen, conflicting reports have been published. The distribution of blood goup types of human infected with cutaneous leishmaniasis was compared with control subjects. For each patient and control the following data were collected: age, sex, ethnic origin frequency of contamination with plant materials. In total number of infected persons 51.7 were males and 48.3 females. The highest rate of leishmaniasis were seen in the group of less than 10 years old and the least rate were in the age group of 40 to 55year. We tested the hypothesis in cutaneous leishmaniasis, due to Leishmania major, by comparing to distribution of blood groups (ABO and Rhesus) among 482 patients in Isfahan central Iran with that among 1032 healthy controls. No association between blood groups and disease was found in this study, but further studies are needed with strains of the Leishmania donovani infantum

Assessment of sonographic power in diagnosis of intra abdominal injury in blunt traumatic patients

History and Objectives: Due to the prevalence of blunt abdominal trauma and availability, relative ease, economic consideration of sonographic applications and current controversy regarding sonography on diagnosis of intra-abdominal injury, the present study was carried on blunt abdominal traumatic patients at Rasul hospital in 1997-98 in order to assess the diagnostic power of sonography on intra-abdominal injury. Materials and Methods: A clinical diagnostic experimental study was performed and patient's information and characteristics of the injury was recorded. Definite diagnosis of injuries was based on CT scan and laparotomy findings. PPV and NPV of sonography were defined. Results: Study covered 94 patients (76.6 male and 23.4 female) with age of 26.9±14.8 years. Car accident was the major cause of trauma. PPV and NPV of sonography for diagnosis of intra-abdominal organs injury were 76.5 and 84.8 respectively and for diagnosis of intra-abdominal free fluid were 100 and 96.6 respectively. Conclusion: Sonography has sufficient power for diagnosis of intraperitoneal free fluid however it dose not have sufficient power for diagnosis of intraperitoneal organs injury. Further study regarding the cause of low power is recommended

PREVALENCE OF CRYPTOSPORIDIUM INFECTION AMONG CHILDERN IN KASHAN-IRAN

Cryptosporidiosis is one of the pathogenic parasites of human with different prevalence in each region of the world including our country. This is a self limited parasitic infection which may produce sever fatal disease in immunodeficient patients. Due to lack of information about the rate of human infections by this parasite in Kashan, this study was conducted to determine the rate of infection by the mentioned parasite in the childern with diarrhoea referred to central laboratory of Kashan, Iran during 2000-2002. A cross sectional descriptive study was performed on 240 stool samples taken by random sampling from childern suffering from intestinal discomforts. Formalin-ether concentration of fecal samples and warm Ziehl-Neelsen stain method was used and the smears were studied under light microscope. The highest rate of prevalence was found in rural areas and childern over 5-yrs of age. The prevalence of infection in the hot seasons (ie spring and summer) of the year was also more than the cold seasons (i.e. autum and winter). It was also observed the prevalence of infection in those people who were in contact with cattles was more than others. Keeping in view the 3.75% prevalence of cryptosporidium infection among childern under research, it is hereby recommended that the diagnostic centres pay more attention to this parasite particularly in those cases of diarrhoea where no other pathogenic agent is found in stool

Identification of mutation for drug resistance gene in cutaneous leishmaniasis

Background: Cutaneous leishmaniasis is a common parasitic disease and one of the health problems world wide. The pentavalent antimonial drugs (e.g. pentostam and Glucantime) are the first line treatment for leishmaniasis, and resistance to these drugs is a serious problem. Using PCR method, this study was carried out to identify the mutation for sodium stibogluconate resistance gene in cutaneous leishmaniasis cases referred to different health centers during 2006-8. Materials and Methods: This descriptive study was conducted on 150 isolates of leishmania major and leishmania tropica to identify the mutation in drug resistance gene. Promastigote clones were cultured in enriched RPMI 1640 medium and then the genomic DNA was isolated and using a pair of primers, a 400 bp of the gene was amplified. Finally, the PCR products were screened by conformation sensitive gel electrophoresis (CSGE) method and then the mutation was confirmed using RFLP with Sdu1 enzyme. Results: Screening using CSGE and RFLP methods showed that 6.3 of the samples carried a mutation for drug resistance gene.Conclusion: Results showed a resistance for cutaneous leishmania against sodium stibogluconate. Further studies are required to determine the biochemical mechanism of this resistance

Prevalence of liver flukes infections in slaughtered animals in Kashan, Isfahan province, central Iran

Liver fluke are common parasites of herbivores in most of Middle East countries including Iran. The choroic infections of this parasite cause biliary liver cirrhosis in cattle, sheep and goats that leads to huge economic losses. This cross-sectional study was carried out to determine the prevalence of fascioliosis and dicrocoelioss in Slaughtered animals in Kashan,Isfahan Provience central Iran. A total of 267802 liver stock including 9066 cattle, 77912 sheep and 180824 goats and were slaughtered in the 2-year period were examined and overall 31954 (12) livers were infected. Fascioliasis and dicrocoeliosis were responsible for 4.8 and 5.6 of total liver condemnations in this period, respectively.The infection rate of female sheep was more than males, but in female cattle and goats was lower than males. Data showed significant seasonal pattern for Dicrocoelium dendriticum in sheep and goats, but no for Fasciola in different animals. Liver condemnations due to fascioliasis and dicrocoeliosis were more prevalent in cattle slaughtered during spring. This survey provides baseline data for the future monitoring of these potentially important parasitic infections in this region. © IIOAB-India

Detection of drug resistance gene in trichomonas vaginalis by PCR

Background: Trichomoniasis is a worldwide protozoan parasitic disease. Considering the importance of the disease in public health and the controversial ideas about the prevalence of drug resistance, this study was designed to determine the prevalence of metronidazole resistance gene in trichomonas vaginalis (T. vaginalis) with PCR-RFLP method in Tehran and in Kashan. Materials and Methods: In this descriptive study 140 samples of T. vaginalis in patients with T. vaginalis infections were collected and assessed microscopically. Then they were isolated and examined by culturing in dorset's medium, DNA extraction and PCR amplification. The PCR products were analyzed using RFLP and suspected samples were sequenced. Results: All but 7 samples were T. vaginalis positive by PCR. Sixty-two samples (44.4) were examined by microscopic, culture and PCR techniques 12 samples (8.5) by microscope and PCR, 56 samples (40) by culture and PCR and other 3 samples (2.1) were positive only by PCR. Two samples (1.5) were also examined for detection of mutation in 18S rRNA gene with RFLP in Tehran. Conclusion: This study shows that T. vaginalis infections in the female population living in Tehran are metronidazole-resistant. Since metronidazole is considered as the drug choice for T. vaginalis infections, more studies are recommended for identification of the drug resistance mechanisms and prevention of the disease