Search

Background: Several markers have been described to characterise the population structure and genetic diversity of Fasciola species (Fasciola hepatica(F. hepatica) and Fasciola gigantica (F. gigantica). However, sequence analysis of a single genomic locus cannot provide sufficient resolution for the genetic diversity of the Fasciola parasite whose genomes are ∼1.3 GB in size. Objectives: To gain a better understanding of the gene diversity of Fasciola isolates from western Iran and to identify the most informative markers as candidates for epidemiological studies, five housekeeping genes were evaluated using a multilocus sequence typing (MLST) approach. Methods: MLST analysis was developed based on five genes (ND1, Pepck, Pold, Cyt b and HSP70) after genomic DNA extraction, amplification and sequencing. Nucleotide diversity and phylogeny analysis were conducted on both concatenated MLST loci and each individual locus. A median joining haplotype network was created to examine the haplotypes relationship among Fasciola isolates. Results: Thirty‐three Fasciola isolates (19 F. hepatica and 14 F. gigantica) were included in the study. A total of 2971 bp was analysed for each isolate and 31 sequence types (STs) were identified among the 33 isolates (19 for F. hepatica and 14 for F. gigantica isolates). The STs produced 44 and 42 polymorphic sites and 17 and 14 haplotypes for F. hepatica and F. gigantica, respectively. Haplotype diversity was 0.982 ± 0.026 and 1.000 ± 0.027 and nucleotide diversity was 0.00200 and 0.00353 ± 0.00088 for F. hepatica and F. gigantica, respectively. There was a high degree of genetic diversity with a Simpson's index of diversity of 0.98 and 1 for F. hepatica and F. gigantica, respectively. While HSP70 and Pold haplotypes from Fasciola species were separated by one to three mutational steps, the haplotype networks of ND1 and Cyt b were more complex and numerous mutational steps were found, likely due to recombination. Conclusions: Although HSP70 and Pold genes from F. gigantica were invariant over the entire region of sequence coverage, MLST was useful for investigating the phylogenetic relationship of Fasciola species. The present study also provided insight into markers more suitable for phylogenetic studies and the genetic structure of Fasciola parasites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Our knowledge of the epidemiology of rodents’ parasitic agents in Iran is scarce, although some of these pathogens play an important role in human and veterinary medicine, such as Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum. The purpose of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum in rodents of northwestern Iran between Mar and Dec 2015. Methods: Overall, 157 serum samples from rodents (101 Meriones persicus, 41 Mus musculus, and 15 Cricetulus migratorius) were assayed by the indirect fluorescence antibody test (IFAT) for antibodies to T. gondii and N. caninum. Results: We found a prevalence of 20.38% (32/157) for N. caninum, 35% (55/157) for T. gondii. Co-presence of antibodies to N. caninum and T. gondii was found in 10 (6.36%) rodents. A significant association was found between the rodents species and seropositivity to N. caninum (P<0.05) but there was no association with rodents species for T. gondii. The overall prevalence of the aforementioned parasites was higher in male versus female rodents. Conclusion: The high seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis and neosporosis in rodents in the study area has implications for translocation of these infections across wider geographical regions since these rodents are mostly preyed on by cats or dogs; hence, which can transfer the parasite to other hosts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The prevalence of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is growing in Iran, and new sources of the disease have been found in the country. The purpose of this study was to describe the epidemiology of CL in Qasr-e Shirin County, Kermanshah Province, West of Iran. Qasr-e Shirin is located near the Iran-Iraq border, and several million pilgrims pass through this area to Iraq every year. Materials and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out for active case detection from April 1, 2014, to March 31, 2015. All individuals with suspicious lesions were identified through house-to-house visits in the aforementioned area. A questionnaire was filled out for everyone with clinical suspicion of CL. A diagnosis was made based on parasitological examination of the lesion exudate. The annual incidence and prevalence of CL were estimated. Results: In total, 5277 individuals were randomly screened for the presence of active lesions or scars suspected of CL. The overall prevalence of CL in the County was 4.8% (60 cases had active lesions and 194 cases had scars). All age groups were affected, but the highest incidence of CL was seen in the age group 20-29 years (1.9%). The incidence and prevalence were higher in women than men (5.5% vs. 4%). Most cases (45.6%) had a single lesion or scar and 44 (17.4%) patients had five or more lesions or scars. Conclusion: The incidence of CL in Qasr-e Shirin County is high. There is a need for further studies on reservoirs and vectors of leishmaniasis in this area. The results of such studies help to perform more efficient and timely spraying against phlebotomine sandfly or detect and decrease the animal reservoir population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To determine Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) as a cause of morbidity and mortality in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected patients by ELISA method and to investigate toxoplasmosis-associated risk factors. Methods: This cross sectional study was conducted with 385 patients with HIV/AIDS referred to the behavior disease consultation center in Kermanshah, Iran between May 2012 and June 2013. Anti-Toxoplasma IgG and IgM antibodies were measured by using the ELISA method. Also, the relationship between the infection and age, gender, education, occupation, antiretroviral status, CD4+ cell counts and some other factors of the patients were assessed. P<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Among the HIV-positive patients, 40.8% (157/358) and 2.6% (10/358) patients were positive for anti-T. gondii IgG and IgM antibodies, respectively. The mean CD4+ count in the patients with HIV was 327 cells/μL. A significant correlation was observed between the toxoplasmosis infections with the age group (P<0.05). Nevertheless, no statistically significant difference was found between gender, living area, educational level, occupational, marital status, antiretroviral status, prophylaxis, CD4+ cell count and toxoplasmosis. Conclusions: This study revealed that the patients with HIV infection were at the high risk of developing toxoplasmosis disease especially those patients who do not receive antiretroviral therapy and prophylaxis. The development and use of the effectiveness-based guidelines for controlling and the prevention reactivation of the latent T. gondii infection is required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]