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Background: Cryptosporidium spp. are protozoan parasites that cause diarrhea in humans and animals. Subtyping data about Cryptosporidium spp. in Isfahan, Iran is limited; therefore, we aimed to study the prevalence rate of Cryptosporidium spp. in cancer patients, associated risk factors, and subtypes of Cryptosporidium spp. Methods: Fecal samples were collected from 187 cancer patients from the Oncology Department of Seyed-al-Shohada Hospital, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences during 2014-2020 and screened for Cryptosporidium spp. using microscopical techniques. Nested PCR amplifying 18S rRNA gene was used to detect Cryptosporidium spp. in samples, followed by subtyping using nested PCR amplifying gp60 sequences. Results: Overall, the rate of infection with Cryptosporidium spp. was 4.3% (n=8). Five samples out of eight samples were identified as Cryptosporidium spp. using a nested PCR for the 18S rRNA gene, two subtypes of C. parvum named IIaA18G3R1 (n = 2) and IIaA17G2R1 (n = 2), and one subtype of C. hominis named IbA6G3 were identified by sequencing of the gp60. The IbA6G3 subtype has rarely been detected in other investigations. Conclusion: This is the first survey on the subtyping of Cryptosporidium spp. in this region. The results of the present survey show both zoonotic and anthroponotic transmission routes in the region.
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BACKGROUND: Determination of the prevalence of intestinal protozoan infection is a fundamental step to set up an effective control program to improve the health status of society and to establish efficient strategies. Intestinal pathogen and even non-pathogen protozoa consider as major causes of disease in patients with gastrointestinal problems. The objective of this study is to determine the prevalence of intestinal protozoan infection in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) in Isfahan, Iran. METHODS: The descriptive cross-sectional study carried out from 2013 to 2018 in Isfahan, Iran. One thousand nine hundred and sixty-five samples of feces from patients with UC collected and each sample examined using direct wet mounting with normal saline and iodine and sedimentation tests such as formol-ethyl acetate concentration and trichrome-staining methods. RESULTS: From 655 patients, 185 (28.2%) infected with Giardia lamblia followed by Blastocystis hominis (27.3%), Endolimax nana (14.4%), Entamoeba coli (11.5%), Iodamoba butschlii (4.7%), Entamoeba histolytica (1.4%), and Chilomastix mesnili (0.6%). CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed a high prevalence of infection with at least one or six non-pathogenic and pathogenic intestinal protozoa in UC patients in the Isfahan region. Intestinal protozoa are a challenging public health problem wherever health care is limited in the area. The emergence of UC in the world results in the need to study etiologic factors. In order to obtain further information about the etiology of disease, we investigated the prevalence of intestinal protozoan infection in patients with UC in Isfahan, Iran.
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Apicomplexan parasites, including Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii), express different types of calcium-dependent protein kinases (CDPKs), which perform a variety of functions, including attacking and exiting the host cells. In the current bioinformatics study, we have used several web servers to predict the basic features and specifications of the CDPK7 protein. The findings showed that CDPK7 protein has 2133 amino acid residues with an average molecular weight (MW) of 219085.79 D. The aliphatic index with 68.78 and grand average of hydropathicity (GRAVY) with -0.331 score were estimated. The outcomes of current research showed that the CDPK7 protein included 502 alpha-helix, 1311 random coils, and 320 extended strands with GOR4 method. Considering the Ramachandran plot, the favored region contains more than 92% of the amino acid residues. In addition, evaluation of antigenicity and allergenicity showed that CDPK7 protein has immunogenic and nonallergenic nature. The present research provides key data for more animal-model study on the CDPK7 protein to design an efficient vaccine against toxoplasmosis in the future.
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PURPOSE: The probable association between Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) infection and diabetes mellitus (DM) is still controversial, and there are several studies with conflicting results. Thus, this study was performed to assess the possible association between chronic T. gondii infection and type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and T2DM. METHODS: In this case-control study, a total of 105 diabetic subjects including 36 patients with T1DM and 69 patients with T2DM were recruited. In addition, 150 nondiabetic subjects were enrolled as controls. Each case group had its own control group. Each participant completed a structured questionnaire obtaining demographic information. Serum samples were examined for T. gondii-specific IgG antibody using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. RESULTS: Analysis revealed that 69.4% and 34.0% of patients with T1DM and control subjects were serologically positive for T. gondii, respectively (odds ratio (OR): 4.41; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.75-11.06; P=0.001). Moreover, 72.5% of T2DM patients and 29.0% of healthy individuals were seropositive for T. gondii (OR: 6.44; 95% CI: 3.25-12.74; P < 0.001). Among risk factors, only contact with cats was significantly associated with IgG seroprevalence in both T2DM patients (P < 0.001) and control subjects (P=0.045). CONCLUSION: Although the results showed that chronic T. gondii infection is significantly associated with T1DM and T2DM, there remain many questions regarding the exact mechanisms of T. gondii in the pathogenesis of DM.
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Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is an obligate intracellular parasite with worldwide distribution. It is estimated that near one-third of the people around the globe are latently seropositive for the parasite. Since the current common drugs are incapable in the elimination of parasites within tissue cysts, the development of an effective vaccine has high priority for researchers to limit the infection. During recent years, non-stop efforts of scientists have made great progress in the identification and development of T. gondii candidate vaccines. However, there is a lack of a commercially licensed vaccine for human application yet. Rhomboid proteases (ROMs) are a class of serine proteases that have an important role in the invasion of the parasites that can be considered as a new target for vaccine strategy. They also play critical roles in mitochondrial fusion and growth factor signaling, allowing the parasite to completely enter into the host cell. In the current review, we have summarized the recent progress regarding the development of ROM-based vaccines against acute and chronic T. gondii infection in animal models.
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Toxoplasma gondii is an intracellular parasite with global distribution. Toxoplasmosis in individuals with normal immune system is usually asymptomatic, but in immunocompromised patients may lead to death if not cured. In this study, the prevalence rate of acute and chronic toxoplasmosis in children with cancer was investigated using serological and molecular methods. Blood samples were taken from 372 children with cancer in Shafa hospital in Ahvaz, southwest of Iran. Anti-T. gondii IgG and IgM antibodies were investigated by ELISA. The presence of Toxoplasma in the blood samples was evaluated by Nested PCR. Among 372 children with cancer, 155 (41.7%) were positive for anti-T. gondii IgG antibodies and 24 (6.4%) were positive for anti-T. gondii IgM antibodies, as well. In IgG avidity test, 34 (22%) had antibodies indicating acute phase and 121 (78%) had antibodies indicating chronic phase. The Nested PCR results were showed T. gondii parasite in 34 (100%) patients among 34 IgG antibody-positive patients with acute infection, among 16 IgG antibody-positive patients with chronic infection, 10 patients were indicative of T. gondii and 6 patients were not indicative of T. gondii. A total of 50 cases, 44 (88%) were T. gondii-positive and 6 (12%) were T. gondii-negative in Nested PCR. This study showed high prevalence of toxoplasmosis in children with cancer. Results of serological techniques (ELISA and IgG avidity) had a higher overlap with Nested PCR in identifying T. gondii of seropositive patients.
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BACKGROUND: Although the assignment and suturing of the spreader graft to the septum is a routine part of rhinoplasty, it is a time wasting procedure and some problems may occur. Rather, autospreader flap is a new method that the dorsal part of the upper lateral cartilage is used as its own graft. In the present study, we intended to compare the functional and aesthetic outcomes of these two techniques of rhinoplasty. METHODS: In a clinical trial, patients who referred to 15 Khordad Hospital for elective rhinoplasty during 2013-2014 were enrolled. The functional and aesthetic outcomes were compared between the two techniques of spreader graft and autospreader flap using rhinomanometry and satisfaction questionnaire in two stages before and one months after the surgery. RESULTS: Total nasal airway resistance increased significantly by both spreader graft and autospreader flap, but the difference between the two methods was not statistically significant. The total nasal flow before and after the surgery significantly decreased using both techniques, but this reduction was not significant between the two methods of surgery. When questioned about the satisfaction with the surgery outcomes, 18 subjects (36%) had complete aesthetic satisfaction, 25 (50%) were partial satisfied and 7 subjects (14%) were unsatisfied from aesthetic results. The rate of patient's satisfaction in both groups was higher for functional outcome. Overall, 32 (64%) subjects were completely satisfied, 13 (26%) were partially satisfied and 5 (10%) subjects did not report satisfaction. Loss of respiratory function in both groups was inevitable due to short time post-operative period. CONCLUSION: Both spreader graft and autospreader flap techniques can be used in the preservation and restoration of the normal internal nasal valve angle, as well as restoration of dorsal aesthetic lines of the nasal dorsum.
