Molecular diagnosis of intestinal microsporidia infection in HIV/AIDS-patients in Zahedan city, Southeast of Iran.

Microsporidia belong to the intracellular spore-like pathogen, that can cause infection in invertebrates and vertebrates, including humans. Encephalitozoon spp. and Enterocytozoon bieneusi, are important causes of chronic diarrhea, especially in patients with HIV/AIDS. Therefore, in this study, modified trichrome staining (MTS) and nested polymerase chain reaction (nested PCR) methods were used for the diagnosis of common intestinal microsporidia in faecal samples of patients with HIV/AIDS in Zahedan, southeastern Iran, for the first time. Stool samples were collected from 50 HIV/AIDS-infected patients with gastrointestinal symptoms whose infections were confirmed by serology test. Prepared smears from each stool sample were stained using the MTS method. Nested PCR was used to amplify 440 bp and 629 bp fragments of 16S rRNA genes in E. bieneusi and Encephalitozoon spp., respectively. Based on the MTS method and the nested PCR, 8 (16%) and 12 (24%) stool samples were positive, respectively. According to the results of nested PCR, eight, three, and one case were infected with E. bieneusi, Encephalitozoon spp., and both of them, respectively. Findings indicated microsporidiosis in HIV/AIDS-infected patients in Zahedan is an important health problem. Therefore, this opportunistic microorganism in HIV/AIDS-infected patients should be diagnosed using sensitive and accurate methods.

Seroprevalence and Risk Factors Associated with Toxoplasma gondii Infection in the Population Referred to Rural and Urban Health Care Centers in Zahedan, Primary Referral Level, in Southeastern Iran.

Introduction: Toxoplasmosis is one of the protozoan diseases caused by Toxoplasma gondii. This study is aimed at evaluating the seroprevalence and associated risk factors of Toxoplasma gondii infection in the population referred to rural and urban health care centers in Zahedan, southeast Iran. Methods: A total of 1,324 blood samples of patients referred to the health care centers were evaluated using the IgG Toxoplasma ELISA Kit, between October 2019 and August 2021. The obtained data were analyzed through univariable and multivariable regression models. Results: The seropositivity of Toxoplasma gondii infection was obtained at 18.8%. In the multivariable logistic regression model, risk factors including age group of 11-30 (OR = 3.25, 95% CI: 1.29-7.06), urban residency (OR = 4.36, 95% CI: 2.9-6.3), students (OR = 3.76, 95% CI: 1.88-4.53), and contact with cat (OR = 7.67, 95% CI: 4.76-12.36) were significantly associated with seropositivity to Toxoplasma gondii infection. Moreover, consumption of washed vegetables with salt or detergents decreases (OR = 0.14, 95% CI: 0.09-0.23) the risk of Toxoplasma gondii infection. According to the results of the multivariable logistic regression, no significant association was observed between seropositivity to Toxoplasma gondii and other risk factors. Conclusion: The results of this study indicated significant seropositivity to Toxoplasma gondii infection in the population referred to rural and urban health care centers in Zahedan, Iran. Therefore, health programs should be considered for raising awareness regarding the risk factors for Toxoplasma gondii infection in this region.

Seroprevalence of human hydatid cyst: a cross sectional study in a rural areas of Zahedan, southeastern Iran.

Hydatidosis or cystic echinococcosis (CE) is one of the most common zoonosis diseases. Iran is one of the endemic regions in terms of this disease. For the first time, the present study was conducted to determine the seroprevalence of hydatid cyst in Zahedan rural areas due to the importance of human CE and lack of information in this region. The present study was performed on 551 people referred to seven rural health centers in Zahedan during 2019-2020. Serum samples were collected and analyzed by indirect ELISA method using recombinant antigen B subunit B8/1. Results were analyzed by SPSS (version 22) software and Chi-square test. The CE seroprevalence was 4%. The most positive cases were in the age group of 10-30 years. The highest infection was reported in homemakers. A significant relationship (P-value<0.05) was only reported between the seropositivity to hydatid cyst and the presence of dogs in the environment. The present study's findings indicated human hydatid cyst in rural areas of Zahedan is a health problem; moreover, the control and prevention principles and analysis of various epidemiological aspects of this disease should be considered.

Immunodiagnosis of Human Fascioliasis: An Update of Concepts and Performances of the Serological Assays.

Human Fascioliasis (HF) is a foodborne neglected parasitic disease caused by Fasciola hepatica and Fasciola gigantica. New epidemiological data suggest that the endemic areas of the disease are expanding and HF is being reported from areas where it was previously not observed. Diagnosis of HF is challenging. Performances of parasitological approaches, based on the detection of parasite's egg in the stool, are not satisfactory. Currently serological methods for the diagnosis of HF are mainly based on detection of anti-Fasciola antibodies in serum. Although, there have been some improvement in the development of immunological diagnostic tests for the diagnosis of HF, yet these tests suffer from insufficiency in sensitivity or/and specificity. Detection of antigens, rather than antibodies, seems to be a suitable approach in the diagnosis of HF. Antigen can be detected in sera or stool of the fascioliasis patients. Circulating antigen in serum disappears within a short time and most of the circulating antigens are in immune complex forms which are not freely available to be detected. Therefore, antigenemia might not be an appropriate method for the diagnosis of HF. Detection of antigen in stool (coproantigens) seems to be a suitable alternative method for the diagnosis of HF. Recent data provided convincing evidence that detection of coproantigen improved and simplified the diagnosis of HF. The present review highlights the new achievements in designing and improvement of diagnostic approaches for the immunodiagnosis of HF. Moreover, current status of the available immunodiagnostic techniques for the diagnosis of HF, their strengths and weaknesses has been discussed.

Molecular characterization and seroprevalence of Echinococcus granulosus in wild boars (Sus scrofa) in south-western Iran.

This study presents the first molecular and serological evaluation of Echinococcus granulosus infections in wild boars in Iran. Twenty five wild boars were collected in south-western Iran, during authorized hunting program, from March to October 2013, necropsied and examined for E. granulosus infection. Furthermore, seroprevalence of cystic echinococcosis in hunted boars was evaluated by an ELISA system. A fertile hydatid cyst due to E. granulosus was detected in the lung of one of the animals. Genotype analysis of the isolate was determined by analyzing a mitochondrial gene, cytochrome C oxidase subunit 1 (co1). DNA was extracted from the cyst sample and polymerase chain reaction amplification and DNA sequencing of the specific region of the co1 gene was performed. Molecular evaluation confirmed the presence of a sheep strain, the G1 genotype, in the wild boar in south-western Iran. This is the first report of the presence of G1 genotype of E. granulosus in wild boar in Iran. Serological evaluation of hydatid cyst by antigen-B ELISA revealed E. granulosus antibodies in 5 (20%) of 25 wild boars. A statistically significant difference was observed between the prevalence of E. granulosus antibodies and gender while the difference between the seroprevalence of E. granulosus and age was insignificant. Findings of this study might have important implications for the prevention and control of cystic echinococcosis.