Different morphologies of Leishmania major amastigotes with no molecular diversity in a neglected endemic area of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis in Iran

Molecular diversity of Leishmania major and its morphological changes have become a controversial issue among researchers. Some aspects of polymorphic shapes of amastigotes in clinical manifestations along with molecular variation were evaluated among suspected patients of some exceptional zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis locations in Northern Khuzestan, Southwestern Iran. Suspected patients [n = 165] were sampled in zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis foci over two consecutive years during 2012- 2014. Prepared smears were stained, scaled and measured by ocular micrometer. DNA was extracted from smears; ITS-rDNA and Cytochrome b [Cyt b] markers were amplified, and PCR products were digested by BsuR1 restriction enzyme. Then the RFLP and sequencing were employed. Only L. major was identified in patients containing regular amastigotes' shapes [oval or round] with a size of 2-4 microm in each of classical wet, dry, mixed lesions. Meanwhile, irregular shapes [spindle, pear, or cigarette] were observed separately in non-classical wet lesions with more than 4 microm. Interestingly, a few amastigotes with an external flagellum were observed in some lesions. All sequenced ITS-rDNA and Cyt b genes of L. major did not show any molecular variation [chi [2] P > 0.05], including only one common haplotype [GenBank access no. EF413075]. Findings proved that unlike other endemic foci, there is not a meaningful correlation between phenotypic and genotypic features of L. major isolates. This study is considered as the first comprehensive report to incriminate morphometric shapes of L. major amastigotes, which enhances our knowledge concerning their relevance with various clinical appearances and genotypic traits

[Evaluation of the prevalence of vibrio species isolated from coastal waters of bandarabbas and determination of their microbial resistance during 2010-2011, Iran]

Vibrio species have been known as the cause of gastrointestinal and extraintestinal disorders, which usually appear epidemically in some seasons of the year. Since the sea has been known as one of the important ecosystems of Vibrio species, this study was carried out with the aim of determining the prevalence of Vibrio species and their microbial resistance in different coastal regions of the south of country in different seasons of year. In this descriptive cross-sectional study, 600 water samples taken from the coastal waters of Bandar Abbas were evaluated in terms of presence of Vibrio strains in two seasons of spring and winter. For primary detection, alkaline peptone water and TCBS were used, and the final identification was carried out using biochemical tests [oxidase, motility, Indole ring, KIA, and other biochemical tests such as 0% NaCl, 6% NaCl, VP, and ONPG]. V. harveyi [2.3%], V. cholerae [1.7%], V. parahaemolyticus [1.3%], V. furnissii [1.2%], V. metschnikovii [1%], P. shigelloides [1%], A. hydrophila [0.5%], V. vulnificus and V. mimicus [0.3%], and V. fluvialis [0.2%] had the highest prevalence. Also, in terms of the studied seasons, 71.2% of the contamination was related to winter season and 28.8% to spring season, which showed that the cases of contamination in winter was higher than in spring. Based on the study of researchers, the isolation of these species increases after rain. In the present study, this parameter had a positive effect on the isolation of Vibrio species.

prevalence of Trichomoniasis in high-risk behavior women attending the clinics of Tehran province penitentiaries

Trichomoniasis is a worldwide sexually transmitted disease [STD], and is associated with important public health problems, including enhancement of HIV transmission. The prevalence of the parasite, Trichomonas vaginalis, depends on host factors such as age, sexual activity, number of sexual partners and sexual behavior. The aim of the study was to evaluate the prevalence of trichomoniasis in high-risk behavior women, such as drug addicts and those who had multiple sexual partners, attending Gynecology Clinics in penitentiaries of Tehran province to help gynecologists with the diagnosis and treatment of the disease. Samples of posterior vaginal fornix discharges and urines of 450 women attending Gynecology Clinics of three prisons in Tehran province were collected. All samples were examined by direct smear and cultured in TYI-S-33 culture media. 10.2% of subjects were positive for trichomoniasis. 82.7% of infected patients were symptomatic individuals who complained of vaginal discharge and itching and/or burning sensation. Most of the infected women in the high risk behavior group were drug users [54.3%]. Physical examination showed that 50% of T. vaginalis positive subjects had a normal appearance of vagina and cervix. The peak prevalence [32.8%] of the disease occurred in the age range of 31-40 years. T. vaginalis infection is commonly associated with other STDs, and is a marker of high-risk sexual behavior. Due to the side effects of the drugs used to treat the infection, it is suggested that the treatment be performed after definite diagnosis using a diagnostic method with a higher sensitivity

Determination of HLA-B27 subtypes in Iranian patients with ankylosing spondylitis

The human leukocyte antigen-B27 is one of the class I molecules of the major histocompatibility complex which is strongly associated with ankylosing spondylitis [AS]. The strength of the disease association with B27 varies markedly among racial and ethnic populations. It is an allele family, which constitutes about 31 subtypes, with a considerable geographic and ethnic difference in distribution. It is important to know whether certain subtypes show any preferential association with AS. Because there is no report regarding HLA-B27 subtypes in Iranian patients with AS, main purpose of the present study was to assess the frequency of subtypes of human leukocyte antigen [HLA]-B27 in patients with ankylosing spondylitis in Iranian population One hundred and nineteen AS patients [82 HLA-B27 positive and 37 HLA-B27 negative] were selected for this study. HLA-B27 positive patients were by polymerase chain reaction amplification with sequence-specific primers [PCR-SSP] for B 27 subtyping. The results of present study revealed that only two subtypes were detected in Iranian patients, including B 2705 [52 patients, 63.4%] and B 2702 [30 patients, 36.6%]. Our results showed a restricted number of HLA-B27 subtypes associated with AS in Iran and an elevated frequency of the B 2705 allele in these patients similar to other Euro-Caucasoid [Aryan] groups in the world

Evaluation of Anti- HLA Class I antibodies in chronic rejection of kidney transplantation

Studies have shown that patients who do not produce donor specific and / or panel reactive anti-HLA antibodies have a longer graft survival. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the posttransplant humoral immune response towards HLA-class I antigens and the measurement of the serum creatinine levels which are used in monitoring posttransplant function of kidney. Serum samples from 132 renal transplant recipients were screened for preformed anti-HLA class I panel reactive antibodies [PRA] by means of microlymphocytotoxicity assay. The results revealed the presence of PRA in 26 [19.7%] out of 132 transplanted patients. Graft function was evaluated by measurement of serum creatinine levels which revealed the mean of 1.75 mg/di [SD: 1.08]. Because of clinical significance of presence of different PRA amounts [>10%, > 20% and >50% of panel reactivity] in patients, correlation with kidney function status was analyzed. The obtained data highlighted a higher presence of serum creatinine levels in PRA-positive patients compared to negative patients [P<0.01]. These results [and further studies for class II, ...] can be used to implement new therapeutic strategies to curtail post transplant alloantibodies production and better allografts survival

study of Th1/Th2 cytokine profiles [IL-10, IL-12, IL-4, and IFNgamma] in PBMCs of patients with multidrug resistant tuberculosis and newly diagnosed drug responsive cases

Background: Multi-drug resistant tuberculosis [MDR-TB], which is a worldwide clinical problem, is associated with high morbidity and mortality, as well as long-term survival of infected immunocompetent patients. In this study, the PPD-induced production of IL-12, IL-10, IFNgamma, and IL-4 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells [PBMC] from patients with MDR-TB were investigated and compared with cytokine production capabilities in newly diagnosed, treated cases

Materials and Methods: This study investigated the profiles of IFN-gamma, IL-12, IL-10, and IL-4 in response to a purified protein derivative [PPD] in peripheral blood mononuclear cells [PBMC] from 15 HIV negative patients with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis [MDR-TB], 11 newly diagnosed, treated cases and compared those with 10 healthy negative tuberculin reactors as controls

Results: ELISA results showed that the following stimulation with PPD, IFNgamma production was significantly increased, whereas IL-10 was significantly reduced in MDR-TB patients compared with PPD negative controls. Production of IL-12 in MDR-TB patients showed elevation, induced by PPD stimulation of their PBMCs. However, MDR-TB patients were similar to healthy negative tuberculin controls in their IL-12 production and there was no statistically significant difference between them. IL-4 was detected to be in very low levels in three groups

Conclusion: In this study MDR-TB patients have no dysregulation in IL-12 or IL-10 production during Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection, and profiles are prone to Th1 cytokines