Gene Diversity of Trichomonas vaginalis Isolates.

BACKGROUND: Trichomonas vaginalis is protozoan parasite responsible for trichomoniasis and is more common in high-risk behavior group such as prostitute individuals. Interest in trichomoniasis is due to increase one's susceptibility to viruses such as herpes, human papillomavirus and HIV. The aim of this study was to find genotypic differences between the isolates. METHODS: Forty isolates from prisoners' women in Tehran province were used in this study. The random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) technique was used to determine genetic differences among isolates and was correlated with patient's records. By each primer the banding pattern size of each isolates was scored (bp), genetic differences were studied, and the genealogical tree was constructed by using NTSYS software program and UPGMA method. RESULTS: The least number of bands were seen by using primer OPD8 and the most by using OPD3. Results showed no significant difference in isolates from different geographical areas in Iran. By using primer OPD1 specific amplified fragment with length 1300 base pair were found in only 8 isolates. All these isolates were belonged to addicted women; however, six belonged to asymptomatic patients and two to symptomatic ones. CONCLUSION: There was not much genetic diversity in T vaginalis isolates from three different geographical areas.

Molecular diagnosis of trichomoniasis in negative samples examined by direct smear and culture.

BACKGROUND: Trichomoniasis is an extremely common sexually transmitted infection (STI) worldwide and is associated with important public health problems, including amplification of HIV transmission. This disease is in forms of symptomatic and asymptomatic in women and may depend on host as well as parasite variables. Most of the studies reported from females are based on examination of vaginal secretions and urine samples by direct smear and culture in modified Diamond's media. The aim of this study was checking the samples, which were negative by direct smear and culture, with PCR technique. METHODS: The urine samples and vaginal discharge of patients attending Gynecology Clinics of Mazandaran Province, Iran with different symptoms rechecked for Trichomonas vaginalis by PCR technique using primers targeting a conserved region of the beta-tubulin genes of the parasite. Data were analyzed by Epi Info software program RESULTS: Out of 161 negative samples by direct smear and culture, seven samples (4.3%) were positive by PCR technique. CONCLUSION: Diagnosis of trichomoniasis by PCR is a sensitive and specific method that could play important role to help the physicians for properly treatment and control of infection.

The epidemiology of tick-borne relapsing fever in Iran during 1997-2006.

BACKGROUND: Tick-borne relapsing fever is an acute febrile and endemic disease in Iran. For many reasons, the incidence of disease is on decrease, however tick-borne relapsing fever is still a health issue in the rural areas for travelers. This study was carried out during 1997-2006 to investigate the tick-borne relapsing fever in Iran. METHODS: Based on a cross-sectional, retrospective and descriptive study in all the provinces, the residents in the endemic areas who were febrile and suspicious to tick-borne relapsing fever were enrolled in the study. Tick-borne relapsing fever is a notifiable disease in Iran and the national communicable disease surveillance data were used through questionnaires. The infectivity of Ornithodoros species to Borrelia also was studied in two highly endemic areas including Hamadan and Qazvin provinces. RESULTS: During 1997-2006, a total of 1415 cases have been reported from the entire country. The highest prevalence was observed in year 2002 with the incidence rate of 0.41/100,000 population. Ardabil province is the first ranked infected area (625 out of 1415), followed by Hamadan, Zanjan, Kurdestan and Qazvin provinces sequentially. The disease is recorded during the whole year but its peak occurs during summer and autumn. There have been 87.6% of the cases recorded from June to November. Forty five percent of the infected cases were male and one third of the patients were under 5 years of age. Fifty four percent of the patients comprise the children under 10 years. Ninety two percent of the cases were living in rural areas where their dwellings were close to animal shelters. They were involved mainly with farming and animal husbandry activities. All the febrile patients with confirmed spirochetes in their blood samples were treated according to a national guideline for tick-borne relapsing fever treatment. Only 7% of the patients were hospitalized and 0.8% of them exhibited the Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction. The study of infectivity of Ornithodoros species to Borrelia revealed that Ornithodoros tholozani was infected with Borrelia persica and Ornithodoros erraticus with Borrelia microti. CONCLUSION: Travelers to the rural areas with high prevalence of the disease should be made aware of the risk of tick-borne relapsing fever and use of appropriate control measures. Communicable disease surveillance including tick-borne relapsing fever should be pursued as well.