Pasteur Institute of Iran

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  Introduction : Viral meningitis is an inflammation of the leptomeninges as a manifestation of central nervous system (CNS) infection, and more than 85% of viral meningitis cases are caused by non-polio enteroviruses. Molecular methods such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR) are increasingly used to detect and type non-polio enteroviruses. Here, we describe the impact of these viruses on aseptic meningitis in young children in Iran. Methods: Cerebrospinal fluids were collected from 366 children under 8 years old with primary clinical diagnosis of aseptic meningitis. Real-Time RT-PCR and PCR were performed using specific primers for each human enterovirus (HEV), human parechovirus (HPeV), and enterovirus 71 (EV71). Results: Positive results were obtained for HEV, HPeV, and EV71 in 118 (32.2%), 154 (42%), and 94 (25.7%) patients, respectively. HPeV detection rate was higher in both male and female patients with no statistically significant difference. Conclusion: Using molecular methods, such as PCR as routine laboratory diagnostic tests for HEVs will result in better understanding of disease burden of these viruses, especially in central nervous system involvements, and will consequently reduce hospitalization and use of antibiotic, which often lead to other complications. J Med Microbiol Infec Dis, 2014, 2 (2): 5 pages.

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Introduction: Rodents are known as the reservoir of various zoonotic diseases and play a critical role in the transmission of pathogenic agents to humans. During an investigation on rodent reservoirs of leptospirosis in Caspian Sea littoral, northern Iran, we took advantage of the opportunity to examine the animals for intestinal helminth infections. Methods: We received gastrointestinal tracts (GITs) of 132 rodents belonged to the genus Rattus, from Mazandaran, Gilan and Golestan Provinces. The GIT of the animals had been preserved in 10% formalin and transferred to Helminthology Laboratory of School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences. We examined the GITs contents for helminths under a binocular followed by a microscope with different magnifications and identified the specimens according to reliable morphological keys. Results: Out of the 132 rats, 83 (62.87%) harbored helminth parasites. We identified 11 helminth species among which the zoonotic cestodes, Hymenolepis diminuta (29.5%) and Hymenolepis nana (18.18%) exhibited the highest prevalence. The species Euparyphium murinum and Skerjabinotaenia abnormalis are reported here for the first time from Iran. Conclusion: The Caspian Sea littoral of Iran is a suitable area for the breeding of the commensal rodents. In this study, the rats from this area exhibited a high burden of helminth infections, with some species of public health importance.

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Introduction: Rodents are reservoir hosts of various infectious diseases. Many species and subspecies of genus Rattus play a significant role as potential reservoir hosts of different emerging and re-emerging diseases, including leishmaniasis. Methods: Rodents were captured using live wooden traps from different localities of Khuzestan Province, southwest of Iran. To precise identification of two sister species of rats, including Rattus rattus and Rattus norvegicus, morphological, molecular, and biosystematics characters were examined using amplification of mitochondrial Cytochrome b (Cytb) gene fragment. Results: Out of 119 captured rodents, 44 were R. rattus, 12 were R. norvegicus, and 63 belonged to other species (Tatera indica, Nesokia indica, Mus musculus). Partial Cyt b gene (≤624 bp) was amplified to characterize R. rattus and R. norvegicus, accurately. Three haplotypes of R. rattus (six samples) and a unique haplotype of R. norvegicus (three samples) were identified with some nucleotide variations. Conclusion: Mitochondrial results confirmed morphological disparity between the two Rattus species in Khuzestan Province. Therefore, we recommend applying an integrative approach to identify host reservoirs for infectious diseases, especially those suspected as reservoirs of cutaneous Leishmaniasis.

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Introduction: Tracheal tubes are among the primary means of infection transmission in hospitals. Therefore, identifying microbial agents transmitted via this route is necessary to control and prevent these infections. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of pharyngeal-contaminating microorganisms and their antibiotic resistance pattern.  Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we used 117 pharyngeal swabs samples obtained from patients referred to Fatemeh Zahra Hospital of Sari, Iran, in 2018. The Samples were obtained using the sterile cotton swab from the throat and then cultured in the sheep blood agar. The positive colonies for the alpha-hemolytic test were subcultured on the Mueller-Hinton agar for further assays, including the susceptibility to optochin, catalase test, Gram's polychromatic stain, microscopic examination, pyrrolidonyl aminopeptidase (PYR) test, sensitization to bacitracin, and latex agglutination assay. The antibiotic susceptibility assay was performed using the agar disk diffusion method according to CLSI-2018 guidelines. The results were analyzed using SPSS 16.0 software and descriptive statistical methods. Results: The frequency of Streptococcus pneumoniae and Streptococcus pyogenes was 13.7% and 9.4%, respectively. However, the highest frequency belonged to Pseudomonas aeruginosa (14.5%), and the lowest to Citrobacter spp. (0.9%). Conclusion: Our results indicated increased antibiotic resistance in streptococcal strains due to inappropriate prescriptions and antibiotic misuse. Therefore, recognizing and controlling the contributing factors and the rational use of antibiotics can be very important.

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Introduction: Heteroresistance is the phenomenon wherein subpopulations of microbes exhibit a range of resistance to an antibiotic and are prevalent in a broad range of microorganisms. Not much data on carbapenem and β-lactams heteroresistance among extra-intestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli (ExPEC) in blood infections is available. This study aimed to investigate the frequency of heteroresistance to β-lactams and carbapenems in ExPEC strains isolated from patients' blood in Tehran, Iran. Methods: Identification of E. coli isolates was performed using standard biochemical tests, and PFGE was employed to determine the E. coli isolates genotypes. Antibiotic resistance pattern to carbapenems (ertapenem, meropenem, and imipenem), cefotaxime, and cefepime was determined by measuring minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). The results were used to assess β-lactam and carbapenem heteroresistance in E. coli isolates. Results: In this study, for the first time, heteroresistance to the antibiotics carbapenem (ertapenem, meropenem, and imipenem), cefotaxime, and cefepime was observed in E. coli isolates from blood samples. Sixteen samples had heteroresistance to antibiotics. Three and two isolates showed heteroresistance to imipenem and ertapenem, respectively. Simultaneous heteroresistance to two carbapenem family antibiotics in three isolates was detected. Also, three isolates showed heteroresistance to cefepime and five to cefotaxime. The imipenem-resistant isolates exhibited a higher level of heteroresistance than those resistant to other carbapenem antibiotics. Conclusions: The present study shows that heteroresistance is increasing in Iran. Furthermore, this study demonstrated increasing resistance to the carbapenem family.

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Introduction: COVID-19 ocular manifestations commonly occur in adults; however, there is limited data on this manifestation in children. This systematic review and meta-analysis investigated the prevalence of ocular manifestations in children. Methods: We searched PubMed, Scopus, EMBASE, Web of Science, and MedRxiv from December 1, 2019, to February 3, 2021. Two independent reviewers screened the articles, extracted the data, and assessed the quality of the articles. Results: After screening 1,510 articles, 19 were approved and included in the systematic review and meta-analysis. The literature review showed that 89 out of 749 children with COVID-19 had at least one ocular manifestation. The estimated pooled prevalence of ocular manifestations was 8.0% (95% confidence intervals 4.0 – 12.0). The most common symptoms were conjunctival discharge (n = 31, 23.1%), conjunctival congestion (n = 21, 16.0%), eye rubbing (n = 19, 14.2%). Conclusion:  Ocular manifestations are common in children with COVID-19; one out of 14 infected children shows at least one ocular manifestation. Physicians should pay attention to the ocular manifestations associated with COVID-19 in children.

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Introduction: In recent years, the green synthesis of nanoparticles has received much attention. Green synthesis has several advantages over other methods: cost-effectiveness, simplicity, and non-toxicity. In the present study, we obtained the aqueous extract of Thymus daenensis (Celak) flora, biosynthesized the copper nanoparticles (Cu-NPs), and evaluated the antifungal activity. Methods: UV-vis spectroscopy analyses, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) were used to identify the synthesized nanoparticles. The antifungal activity of the synthesized copper nanoparticles was evaluated using the microdilution method. Results: After adding the extract to the copper sulfate solution, the solution color changed from light blue to yellowish-green. A maximum peak at the wavelength of 414 nm confirmed the copper nanoparticles formation. Scanning electron microscopy demonstrated the particle size ranging from 30 nm to 42 nm. The biosynthesized Cu-NPs had an inhibitory effect against Candida albicans, Fusarium solani, Aspergillus Niger, and Aspergillus flavus. Conclusion: Our findings demonstrated that T. daenensis aqueous extract acts as a reducer and stabilizer factor. We successfully synthesized Cu-NPs from copper sulfate using T. daenensis (Celak) flora aqueous extract according to the UV-Vis spectrum, FTIR, and SEM results. This research was the first report of Cu-NPs synthesized from an aqueous T. daenensis (Celak) flora extract. Our simple, quick, and inexpensive method for biosynthesis of a nanoparticle, which showed antifungal activity, provides a new potential antifungal agent for therapeutic applications.

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Introduction: Acinetobacter baumannii is notorious for its high resistance levels, and the development of clinically effective antimicrobial agents is an urgent medical challenge. Single-chain variable fragments (scFvs) that exhibit antibacterial properties against challenging pathogens, such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus, have the potential to improve therapeutic strategies significantly. Their unique ability to function independently of the host immune system makes scFvs a highly promising option for effective treatment. In our previous studies, we identified two human scFvs (EB211 and EB279) that showed direct growth inhibition activity against A. baumannii strains in vitro and therapeutic effectiveness in immunocompromised mice with pneumonia caused by an extensively drug-resistant A. baumannii strain. In the present study, we endeavored to demonstrate how EB211 and EB279 could inhibit the growth of A. baumannii. Methods: A. baumannii, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains were individually incubated with the scFv in the presence of a high concentration of magnesium (MgSO₄; 20 mM). Epitope mapping and immunoblotting were conducted to identify A. baumannii proteins likely bound by EB211 and EB279. Results: It was found that EB211 and EB279, similar to colistin sulfate, lost their activity in the presence of magnesium. Moreover, immunoblotting revealed that EB211 and EB279 might bind the OprD family outer membrane porin and TonB family C-terminal domain protein, respectively. Conclusion: EB211 and EB279 elicit direct growth inhibitory activity against A. baumannii without needing immune cells or complements, which could be helpful for immunocompromised patients.