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Date palm (Phoenix dactylifera) fruit is an important food in the Middle East. Some date palm cultivars like the Ajwa is revered for its health-promoting properties. Phytochemicals like phenolic compounds are in part responsible for such health benefits. However, detailed information on these compounds is lacking. The present work aimed to investigate phytochemical components of Ajwa cultivar using UHPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS in three different extraction solvents (aqueous, methanol–water, acetone–water) and three different extraction durations (2, 5 and 24 h). The proposed method provided tentative identification of 169 bioactive compounds out of which 44 (polyphenols and other phytochemical compounds) were successfully identified from three different extracts and three different extraction durations. Twenty-one compounds never previously reported in the Ajwa cultivar were identified. Aqueous-based extraction solvent and 24-h extraction duration yielded most phytochemical compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Parasitic worm infection is a global affliction with significant disease burden. The disease however is endemic in the tropics where poverty stricken communities live in substandard living conditions. In Malaysia, the infection is largely limited to Orang Asli (aborigine) and rural communities across the country where prevalence may reach up to 90%. Objective: This study investigates the parasitic worm infection in an aboriginal primary school closely located to Cyberjaya, the modern IT capital of Malaysia. Materials and Methods: 42 pupils from Bukit Cheeding primary school participated in this study and were screened for hel- minth infection by faecal sample examination using Kato-Katz technique. Result: The overall prevalence of soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infection was 59.5%. Majority of pupils were infected with Trichuris trichiura and Ascaris lumbricoides and double infection with Trichuris and Ascaris constituted 16.6% prevalence. None of the pupils were infected with hookworm. The infection rate amongst the males (66.7%) seemed to be higher than the females (46.7%). The mean worm burden for Ascaris lumbricoides was 2495.6 ± 1709 while for Trichuris trichiura was 1093.1 ± 433. Conclusion: Despite the rising affluence in Malaysia's Klang Valley, minority communities such as the aborigine who live side by side to modernity are still plagued with soil-transmitted helminth infection. More efforts are needed to address this problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study is the first phylogenetic genotype analysis of Giardia lamblia in Iran. The main objective was to determine genotyping and identify the sub-assemblages of Giardia lamblia isolates involved in the transmission of giardiasis in Fars Province, south of Iran, in 2012. Methods: Forty G. lamblia isolates were collected from the patient's fecal samples with gastrointestinal discomfort referred to the health centers and hospitals in Shiraz, Fars Province, south of Iran. Purification of G. lamblia cysts from fecal samples and DNA extraction were performed using monolayer of sucrose density gradient and Phenol-Chloroform-Isoamylalcohol (PCI) respectively. Semi-nested PCR and sequence analysis were then performed using the primers (GDHeF, GDHiF, and GDHiR) which amplified a 432-bp fragment of Giardia glutamate dehydrogenase (gdh) gene. Phylogenetic analysis was carried out using a neighbor-joining tree composed of the nucleotide sequences of G. lamblia isolates obtained in this study and the known sequences isolates published in GenBank. Results: G. lamblia sub-assemblage AII was the most prevalent genotype with 80% of the cases and 20% of the cases belong to sub-assemblage BIII and BIV based on the DNA sequence of the gdh. G. lamblia isolates at Fars Province were widely distributed within assemblage A cluster (sub-assemblage AII) and the remaining isolates were dispersed throughout the assemblage B cluster (sub-assemblage BIII and BIV). Conclusion: PCR Sequencing and phylogenetic analysis was a proper molecular method for genotyping and discriminating of the of G. lamblia sub-assemblages in fecal samples, using the glutamate dehydrogenase gene that suggests a human contamination origin of giardiasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Alternating wet and dry seasons may play an important role in the acquisition and distribution of Blastocystis subtype infection in the tropics. This cross-sectional study was therefore conducted to provide the prevalence of Blastocystis and to determine the potential risk factors associated with each subtype during the wet and dry seasons in the Aboriginal community, Pahang, Malaysia. Methods: A total of 473 faecal samples were collected: 256 (54.1%) and 217 (45.9%) samples were obtained during the wet (October-November 2014) and the dry season (June 2015), respectively. All fresh faecal samples were subjected to molecular analysis for subtype and allele identification. Results: Of the 473 samples, 42.6% and 37.8% were positive for Blastocystis ST1, ST2, ST3 and ST4 during wet and dry seasons, respectively. Prevalence of Blastocystis ST1 was significantly higher during the wet season compared to the dry season (Z = 2.146, P < 0.05). Analysis of the association of each Blastocystis subtype with socioeconomic characteristics showed the presence of other family members infected with Blastocystis ST3 and the use of stored river water for domestic activities were the significant risk factors for Blastocystis ST3 infections during both seasons. Untreated water supply and low monthly household income (less or equal to RM 500) were the other significant risk factors for Blastocystis ST3 infections during wet and dry season, respectively. The presence of other family members with Blastocystis ST1 and ST2 was the only significant risk factor associated with ST1 and ST2 infections during both seasons. We hypothesise that transmission of Blastocystis ST1, ST2 and ST3 occurred from person to person during both seasons. The waterborne transmission was also identified as a mode of transmission of Blastocystis ST3. Conclusion: The significant risk factors identified in this study were important in the dynamic transmission of Blastocystis infections during both seasons. Provision of treated water supply and health education are affirmative actions to be taken to control Blastocystis infections in this community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Contact lens wear is a major risk factor for Acanthamoeba keratitis. Disinfection solutions effective at killing Acanthamoeba organisms are important in preventing corneal infection. This study was therefore performed to gain insight into how commercial contact lens disinfecting solutions affect cysts of a clinical isolate of Acanthamoeba castellani. Materials and Methods: Three brands of multipurpose contact lens disinfecting solutions currently available in the market consisting of Boston SIMPLICITY™, Opti-Free Express® and Complete™ were tested. Suspension of cysts was exposed to the disinfecting solutions at intervals varying from 4 to 8 hours and later cultured onto non-nutrient agar Iawned with Escherichia coli for the growth of Acanthamoeba trophozoites. Results: All three multipurpose contact lens disinfecting solutions (Boston SIMPLICITY™, Opti-Free Express® and Complete™) showed no effect on Acanthamoeba castellani cysts in time suggested by the manufacturers but Boston SIMPLICITY™ was effective at inactivating the cysts at 8 hours. Conclusion: This study has proven that though contact lens disinfecting solutions have antimicrobial properties, not all are effective against Acanthamoeba cysts. Boston SIMPLICITY™ showed its effectiveness when the exposure time is extended to 8 hours. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Disinfections of contact lens play a crucial part in eliminating Acanthamoeba keratitis. This study was therefore performed to evaluate the effectiveness of contact lens disinfecting solutions on cysts of Acanthamoeba castellani derived clinically from keratitis case based on the exposure times suggested by manufacturers, 4 hours and 8 hours. Materials and Methods: Three brands of multipurpose contact lens disinfecting solutions currently available in the market consisting of Freshlook All in One™, Solo Care® Plus' and Renu Multi-Plus® were tested. Suspension of cysts was exposed to the disinfecting solutions at intervals varying from 5 minutes to 8 hours and later cultured onto non-nutrient agar lawned with Escherichia coli for the growth of Acanthamoeba trophozoites. Results: All three multipurpose contact lens disinfecting solutions (Freshlook All in One™, Solo Care® Plus' and Renu Multi-Plus®) showed no effect on Acanthamoeba castellani cysts in time suggested by the manufacturers, 4 hours, and 8 hours. Conclusion: This study has proven that though contact lens disinfecting solutions have antimicrobial properties, not all are effective against Acanthamoeba cysts. The search for a solution which is effective against Acanthamoeba cysts would be desirable for contact lens wearers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Cutaneous larva migrans is a common parasitic skin disease that can be easily prevented by wearing ‘protective’ footwear. However, this has been under-emphasized in terms of what constitutes the protective footwear. Even though the disease resolves spontaneously, the significant duration of the disease along with severity of pruritus make treatment unavoidable. Here, we present a very long-standing creeping eruption, which puzzled many attending clinicians handling the case, and the possibility of long socks as a causal effect on the development of cutaneous larva migrans infection. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Purpose: To evaluate the activity of the ethanol leaf extract of Piper sarmentosum against toxoplasmosis. Methods: An in vitro anti-Toxoplasma study was conducted using Vero cells as a host for T. gondii. Clindamycin used as the reference drug. Light microscopy technique was used to study the in situ antiparasitic activity of T. gondii. Non-toxic concentrations of the ethanol extract for Vero cells were determined by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) cell proliferation. The presence of Toxoplasma gondii was observed by Giemsa staining. Results: The results showed that significant (p < 0.05) anti-toxoplasma activity of the ethanol extract, though lower than that of clindamycin (control drug), was achieved, with half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 12.4 and 7.2 μg/mL for the extract and reference drug, respectively. After 24 hours of exposure to the extract, the inoculated Vero cells showed lower parasitemia and no remarkable morphological changes. Conclusion: The findings demonstrate that the ethanol extract of P. sarmentosum leaves are active against toxoplasmosis in vitro. However, further studies are required to determine the therapeutic significance of these findings in vivo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many modern-day diagnostic tests for parasitic diseases rely on conventional labour-intensive technologies such as serology and microscopy. Although major advances have been recorded in the diagnosis of infectious diseases in humans, parasitic diseases continue to present challenges, particularly in resource-poor countries, and this is mainly attributable to war and famine. Factors such as poverty, deteriorated health facilities and destruction of infrastructure are the consequence of the lack of suitable sanitary practices and proper hygiene, especially in refugee camps, that adversely promote infectious diseases to migrants, particularly among vulnerable children. Generally, the gastrointestinal tract is the predilection site for most helminths and protozoa. They are therefore regarded as a serious public-health problem, as they cause malabsorption, malnutrition and blood loss, leading to anaemia or even death. In addition to their health effects, parasitic infections cause physical and mental impairment in children, retard their educational achievements and hinder economic development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing demand for monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) used for diagnostic and therapeutic applications has led to the development of large scale manufacturing processes, with improvements in production achieved through continuous optimization of the inherent systems. The number of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) that have already been approved for therapeutic applications and for use in clinical trials have significantly increased in the past few years. In view of the side effects and limitations of mAbs, several improvements and modifications to monoclonal antibodies have been developed. These modifications have facilitated the use of mAbs in various forms of therapeutic applications such as treatment of infectious diseases caused by bacterial, viral, fungal and parasitic organisms. Monoclonal antibodies have also been applied in the treatment of non-infectious diseases such as cancer, immune diseases, arthritis and other disorders resulting from organ transplantation. This review highlights mAbs applications in biomedicine, and discusses state-of-the-art technologies related to their potential uses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To detect Strongyloides ratti in faecal samples using conventional methods and to confirm the identification using a sensitive and specific method, namely, polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Methods: A PCR method targeting the small subunit of the rRNA gene was performed in this study for the detection of DNA from Strongyloides ratti (an animal model of S. stercoralis) in faecal samples of wild Brown rats, Rattus norvegicus. Results: Strongyloides ratti was detected in 34.2 % of collected rats by different conventional techniques and confirmed by PCR. The essay presented 100 % sensitivity with Strongyloides universal primer. Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that the application of PCR with universal primer is a very sensitive methodology to detect S. ratti in faecal material of wild rats infected even with very low parasite burden. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]