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Blastocystis sp. is a polymorphic intestinal parasite in humans and animals. The parasite has a worldwide distribution, especially in developing countries with poor sanitation, exposure to animals, and improper disposal systems. The aim of this study was to identify the subtypes of Blastocystis sp. among children of Qazvin, northwest Iran. Totally, 864 stool samples were collected from the children referred to Qods hospital in Qazvin, Iran. Fecal specimens were investigated by formalin-ethyl acetate concentration method and trichrome staining as well as cultivation of all samples in clotted fetal bovine medium. DNA extraction of culture-positive specimens and PCR amplification of 18S ribosomal RNA gene region was performed. The sequences detected were compared with reference genes in the GenBank, and the sequences further deposited in the GenBank database. Data analysis was performed by Chi square test while a p value of < 0.05 was considered as significant. Of 864 isolates, 4.1% (36/864) were positive for Blastocystis sp. with infection rate insignificantly higher among the females than males. The highest infection rate was estimated at 6.8% in 6–9 years old age group with abdominal pain as the most common (33%) gastrointestinal sign. No statistically significant difference was found between the variables and Blastocystis infection. Molecular analysis clarified the presence of three subtypes of Blastocystis including ST1 (56%), ST2 (28%), and ST3 (16%) of among specimens with ST1 as the predominant subtype. A significant association between intestinal signs and the subtypes was not found. Considering ST1 as the predominant subtype, it seems that zoonotic transmission is a main route of human infections with Blastocystis sp. in the area studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: We aimed to investigate the genotypes of Giardia intestinalis among the food handlers in Qazvin, Iran. Methods: Overall, 1530 stool specimens were collected from the food handlers who visited Shahid Bolandian Health Center, Qazvin, Iran during 2016. Specimens were evaluated by microscopic and concentration methods. Twenty specimens with appropriate number of giardia cysts were selected followed by DNA extraction. Determination of giardia genotypes was achieved through PCR and sequencing the glutamate dehydrogenase gene. The phylogenetic tree was drawn using the MEGA7 software. Finally, the data were analyzed statistically with a P-value<0.05 was considered as significant. Results: Twenty stool samples (1.3%) were positive for Giardia cyst. All positive specimens were obtained from male participants with abdominal cramp being their most common symptoms. The mean age for infected individuals was 32 yr. Molecular characterization was successfully performed for 17 isolates and two genotypes A (AII, 65%) and B (BIII, 35%) were identified. Conclusion: The most prevalent giardia genotypes among the food handlers in Qazvin were A (AII) and B (BIII) genotypes with A (AII) genotype as the dominant one in the region. Considering the direct association between the food handlers and public health as well as the impact of geographical and host conditions on dispersion and pathogenicity of various genotypes and their zoonotic aspects, further investigations are necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Quality of life (QoL) is an important tool for evaluating the effect of a disease as well as effects of treatment interventions. The present study is aimed to investigate QoL of the patients with various prevalent chronic diseases in Iran. Methods: In a cross-sectional study, 625 patients with one of the prevalent chronic diseases were assessed. Participants were recruited via convenient sampling method in special clinics of chronic diseases in three educational hospitals in Qazvin, Iran, from May to December 2016. Data were collected using WHOQOL-BREF and demographic questionnaire through interview. Data were analyzed using independent t-test, ANOVA, Pearson's correlation coefficient, and multiple linear regression method. Results: Significant difference in QoL scores was found in different chronic disease; patients with diabetes and hypertension had higher scores and patients with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) had the lowest scores. Multivariate analysis showed that age, economic status, and type of disease were among the significant variables in predicting the QoL of the patients with chronic diseases. Conclusions: Some patients, such as those with asthma and COPD, had less QoL than other patients and should be prioritized while planning for the promotion of healthcare services. Due to the negative effects of economic status on QoL, the financial support programs should be among the major priorities of the patients' QoL improvement programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was aimed at determining the prevalence of parasitic infections among the food handlers of Saqqez County in 2016. Stool samples collected from 1530 food handlers. All samples were examined by both direct technique and sedimentation technique using formalin-ethyl acetate for detecting the intestinal parasites. Of total participants, 1462 (95.6%) were male and 62 (4.4%) female. Intestinal parasitic infections were found in 92 (6.01%) individuals. The highest infection rate was due to Giardia lamblia (4.1%) and the lowest associated with Endolimax nana, Iodamoeba butschlii, and Hymenolepis nana (0.1%). No significant correlation between the intestinal parasitic infections and age, gender, education level, gastrointestinal signs and symptoms, and the type of profession, was established. The results of the present study revealed that only a small number of food handlers in Saqqez County were infected with intestinal parasites with G. lamblia as the most common cause of infection. More strict health control for those working in food industries is of vital importance and continuous education to improve the level of general health in these people is undoubtedly considered as a key determinant towards lower number of parasitic infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Hydatidosis is one of the most important zoonotic diseases and surgery is still the main treatment for this problem. One of the side effects of hydatid cyst surgery is recurrence, thus, searching and assessment of some new agents such as medicinal plant extracts are very important. In the present study, the scolicidal effect of ethanolic extract of Ziziphora tenuior (Z. tenuior) was investigated. Materials and Methods: Protoscolices were aseptically collected from sheep livers containing hydatid cyst and used in the experiments. Z. tenuior extract was used at concentration of 3-100 mg/ml for 10-60 min. Viability of protoscolices was determined by 0.1% eosin staining. Results: Based on our results, Z. tenuior extract at concentration of 10 mg/ml killed all protoscolices after 20 min. However, this medicinal plant at concentration of 25 mg/ml destroyed all protoscolices in a shorter exposure time (10 min). Therefore, the scolicidal activity of the extract at 10 and 25 mg/ml concentrations was considerably effective in lower concentrations and shorter exposure times. Conclusion: The findings of this study showed that the ethanolic extract of Z. tenuior produces high scolicidal activity; it may be used as an appropriate and effective scolicidal agent in hydatidosis surgery. This is the first report on the protoscolicidal activity of Z. tenuior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surgical operation is the treatment of choice for hydatid cyst. To date, many protoscolicidal substances have been used for inactivation of hydatid cyst contents but most of these compounds may produce several side effects. The aim of this study was to evaluate the protoscolicidal effects of hypertonic glucose on protoscolices of hydatid cyst at different concentrations and exposure times. Protoscolices were obtained aseptically from the livers of slaughtered sheep at Qazvin abattoir, Iran. Protoscolices were exposed to different concentrations of hypertonic glucose (10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 30%, 40%, and 50%) at different times (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, and 60 min). Viability of protoscolices was evaluated by 0.1% eosin and the movement of protoscolices flame cells. The highest protoscolicidal effect (100%) of hypertonic glucose was obtained at concentrations 40% and 50% following 40 and 20 min exposure times, respectively. Some protoscolicidal agents show a variety of dangerous complications such as biliary tract fibrosis and liver necrosis; however, hypertonic glucose especially at a concentration of 40% may demonstrate less side effects compared with glucose 50%. Further in vivo investigations are suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]