Molecular characterization of Echinococcus species in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

Background: Species belonging to genus Echinococcus are cestode parasites well known for helminthic infections globally.Diseases caused by these parasites are serious health threats for public and veterinary sectors. DNA-based characterization confirmed genetic variability among Echinococcus species and resulted in the identification of 10 genotypes (G1-10).Among identified Echinococcus species, E. granulosus and E. multilocularis are clinically most important responsiblefor cystic echinococcosis and alveolar echinococcosis, respectively. Identification and genetic characterization of thesecestode parasites at species level is essential for disease diagnosis and control measures. This study aimed at narrowinggap of missing knowledge on Echinococcus spp. and their genotypes in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Pakistan.Materials, Methods & Results: Hydatid cysts of human source were obtained under aseptic conditions from thoracic surgery unit of the Lady Reading Hospital (LRH) at Peshawar, KP, Pakistan. Hydatid cysts from animal source (cattle) werecollected at Peshawar visiting numerous abattoirs. Theses cyst samples (n = 40) were collected from animals (cattle) (n= 30) and human sources (n = 10). Nucleic acid was extracted from aspirates obtained from cysts, and investigated usingpolymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) analysis of a mitochondrial coding gene(rrnL, large subunit of ribosomal RNA). A pair of primers (ECH-LSU/F and ECH-LSU/R) were used to amplify a 570-bpDNA fragment of a mitochondrial gene (rrnL, large subunit of ribosomal RNA) containing a species-specific SspI restriction site for the differentiation among E. granulosus and E. multilocularis. Overall results indicated that among the cystscollected from animal and human sources, majority were positive for E. granulosus (n = 24, 60%) and E. multilocularis (n= 16, 40%)...(AU)

Molecular characterization of Echinococcus species in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

Background: Species belonging to genus Echinococcus are cestode parasites well known for helminthic infections globally.Diseases caused by these parasites are serious health threats for public and veterinary sectors. DNA-based characterization confirmed genetic variability among Echinococcus species and resulted in the identification of 10 genotypes (G1-10).Among identified Echinococcus species, E. granulosus and E. multilocularis are clinically most important responsiblefor cystic echinococcosis and alveolar echinococcosis, respectively. Identification and genetic characterization of thesecestode parasites at species level is essential for disease diagnosis and control measures. This study aimed at narrowinggap of missing knowledge on Echinococcus spp. and their genotypes in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Pakistan.Materials, Methods & Results: Hydatid cysts of human source were obtained under aseptic conditions from thoracic surgery unit of the Lady Reading Hospital (LRH) at Peshawar, KP, Pakistan. Hydatid cysts from animal source (cattle) werecollected at Peshawar visiting numerous abattoirs. Theses cyst samples (n = 40) were collected from animals (cattle) (n= 30) and human sources (n = 10). Nucleic acid was extracted from aspirates obtained from cysts, and investigated usingpolymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) analysis of a mitochondrial coding gene(rrnL, large subunit of ribosomal RNA). A pair of primers (ECH-LSU/F and ECH-LSU/R) were used to amplify a 570-bpDNA fragment of a mitochondrial gene (rrnL, large subunit of ribosomal RNA) containing a species-specific SspI restriction site for the differentiation among E. granulosus and E. multilocularis. Overall results indicated that among the cystscollected from animal and human sources, majority were positive for E. granulosus (n = 24, 60%) and E. multilocularis (n= 16, 40%)...

Epidemiology and clinical features of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan / Epidemiologia e características clínicas da leishmaniose cutânea em Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Paquistão

Current cross-sectional study was carried out between September 2019 to January 2020 at the Department of Pathology, Mardan Medical Complex (MMC), Mardan, and District Headquarter Hospital North Waziristan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Pakistan. The objectives of the current study were to determine the prevalence of leishmaniasis and its associated risk factors in selected districts of KP province, Pakistan. Altogether, three hundred and seventy-four (n=374) leishmaniosis patients were included in the current study. Skin specimen from the ulcer border were collected. The slides were stained by Giemsa stain and examined for the presence of amastigote. The prevalence of leishmania infected patients in different region of KP were as follows: North Waziristan region 53.7 (n=201) District Mardan 34.7% (n=130); District Nowshera 6.7% (n=25), District Swabi 1.1% (n=4) and other Districts i.e. Dir, Malakand, Buner and Bajawarr were 3.7% (n=14). The frequency of leishmaniasis were more in male and majority of the infected patients were in the age group of <10 years. Among n=374 patients 95.7% (n= 358) had cutaneous leishmaniasis while 3% (n= 11) had mucocutaneous type of infection and 1.3% (n= 5) patients had both cutaneous and mucocutaneous infection. Upon treatment by Sodium stibogluconate (SSG) 97% (n=362) showed clinical signs of complete or partial recovery of their skin lesions. Conclusively, highest incidence of leishmania infection occurred during short study period and majority of the cases showed positive response to treatment.

O estudo transversal atual foi realizado entre setembro de 2019 e janeiro de 2020 no Departamento de Patologia Mardan Medical Complex (MMC), Mardan, e no District Headquarter Hospital North Waziristan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Paquistão. Os objetivos do presente estudo foram determinar a prevalência da leishmaniose e seus fatores de risco associados em distritos selecionados da província de KP, Paquistão. Ao todo, 374 (n = 374) pacientes com leishmaniose foram incluídos no presente estudo. Amostras de pele da borda da úlcera foram coletadas. As lâminas foram coradas pelo corante Giemsa e examinadas quanto à presença de amastigotas. As prevalências de pacientes infectados por leishmania em diferentes regiões de KP foram as seguintes: região do Waziristão Norte 53,7 (n = 201), distrito Mardan 34,7% (n = 130); distrito Nowshera 6,7% (n = 25), distrito Swabi 1,1% (n = 4) e outros distritos, ou seja, Dir, Malakand, Buner e Bajawarr foram 3,7% (n = 14). A frequência de leishmaniose foi maior no sexo masculino e a maioria dos pacientes infectados estava na faixa etária < 10 anos. Entre n = 374 pacientes, 95,7% (n = 358) tinham leishmaniose cutânea enquanto 3% (n = 11) tinham infecção do tipo mucocutâneo e 1,3% (n = 5) pacientes tinham infecção cutânea e mucocutânea. Após tratamento com estibogluconato de sódio (SSG), 97% (n = 362) apresentaram sinais clínicos de recuperação completa ou parcial de suas lesões cutâneas. Conclusivamente, a maior incidência de infecção por leishmania ocorreu durante o curto período de estudo e a maioria dos casos apresentou resposta positiva ao tratamento.