ORIGINAL_ARTICLE Serological Evidence and Sociodemographic Risk Factors of Recent Cytomegalovirus Infection in Pregnant Women Attending a Tertiary Hospital in Maiduguri, Nigeria   Introduction : Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is able to go into latency and is the most common cause of congenital infections in humans. Its clinical manifestations range from asymptomatic forms to severe fetal damage, and in rare cases, fetal death due to abortion. This prospective cross-sectional study was designed to determine the seroprevalence of HCMV infection in pregnant women attending antenatal clinics of the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, Nigeria, and to identify its possible risk factors. Methods: Blood samples were collected from 182 pregnant women aged 16 to 40 years. Samples were tested for anti-CMV specific IgG and IgM antibodies using the commercial ELISA Kits. A brief structured questionnaire was used to obtain some of their sociodemographic characteristics. Results: Seroprevalence of CMV-specific IgG and IgM were 79.1% and 2.2%, respectively. Of 182 women, 144 had previous exposure to CMV [IgG (+) IgM (-)], 3 had CMV reactivated infection [IgG (+) IgM (+)], 37 were susceptible to CMV [IgG (-) IgM (-)], and only one woman had recent infection [IgG (-) IgM (+)]. There was no significant association between seroprevalence and any of the studied sociodemographic data (p>0.05). Conclusion: The findings of this study indicated that a large number of the studied pregnant women were non-immune (susceptible) to HCMV infection, while four of them had active HCMV infection, which places their unborn children at risk of acquiring congenital HCMV infections. Therefore, it is necessary to screen pregnant women for CMV infection as part of their antenatal care and follow-up them to assess the effect that CMV might have on their fetuses. J Med Microbiol Infec Dis, 2014, 2 (2): 7 pages. http://jommid.pasteur.ac.ir/article-1-50-en.pdf 2015-05-18 49 55 Congenital infection HCMV Serological survey Maiduguri Nigeria. Adamu Babayo adamsbby0038@gmail.com 1 Department of Medical Laboratory Science College of Medical Sciences University of Maiduguri Borno State, Nigeria AUTHOR Thairu Yunusa samhaamal200@gmail.com 2 Department of Medical Microbiology University of Abuja Teaching Hospital PMB 228, Gwagwalada, Abuja, Nigeria AUTHOR Idris Abdullahi Nasir eedris888@yahoo.com 3 Department of Medical Microbiology University of Abuja Teaching Hospital PMB 228, Gwagwalada, Abuja, Nigeria AUTHOR Marycelin B. Baba maryceelinb@yahoo.com 4 Department of Medical Laboratory Science College of Medical Sciences University of Maiduguri Borno State, Nigeria AUTHOR
ORIGINAL_ARTICLE The Association of Non-polio Enteroviruses with Aseptic Meningitis in Children in Iran   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. http://jommid.pasteur.ac.ir/article-1-52-en.pdf 2015-04-06 56 60 Non-polio enteroviruses Human enteroviruses Parechoviruses Enterovirus 71 aseptic meningitis. Pooneh Rahimi 1 Department of Hepatitis and AIDS, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran AUTHOR Hakimeh Mahdian Naser 2 Department of Microbiology, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran AUTHOR Amir Sohrabi 3 Advanced Medical Technologies, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran AUTHOR
ORIGINAL_ARTICLE A Study on the Ocular Infection with Rabies Virus in Mouse Introduction: The most common mode of rabies virus transmission is through a bite wound or contact of broken skin with saliva of a rabid animal. Various other routes of virus transmission include exposure of mucous membranes (i.e. eyes, nose, and mouth) to infected saliva of a rabid animal, aerosol transmission, and corneal transplantation. Laboratory workers during work with rabies virus and veterinarians during examination and surgery of rabid animals may be at risk for exposure to saliva or other infectious fluids splashing into their eyes. The aim of this study was to investigate the possibility of ocular rabies pathogenesis in mice as an animal model. Our results will determine if rabies virus strains challenge virus standard (CVS) and street rabies virus (SRV) are able to infect the central nervous system (CNS) of mice through the ocular route. Methods: This study was performed in two experiments. In experiment 1, different lethal doses of fixed rabies virus strain CVS were made and instilled into both eyes of test mice. In experiment 2, concentrated rabies virus strains CVS and SRV were instilled into both eyes of the test mice. Mice in all groups were kept for 3 months and tested by fluorescent antibody test (FAT) for detection of the presence of viral antigen in brain tissue. Results: Mice with ocular instillation of fixed and street rabies viruses developed no clinical symptoms of rabies and all were healthy and alive during the 3-month observation period. The FAT results were negative in both experiments. Conclusion: Our results suggest that CVS and SRV viruses are not able to infect the CNS of mice via intact conjunctiva and cornea.  http://jommid.pasteur.ac.ir/article-1-54-en.pdf 2015-05-30 61 65 Eye Infection Mouse Rabies Virus Atefeh Pilehvar Zavareh 1 Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Research, Institute of Zoonotic Diseases, University of Shahrekord, Shahrekord, Iran AUTHOR Mohammadreza Mahzounieh 2 Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Research, Institute of Zoonotic Diseases, University of Shahrekord, Shahrekord, Iran AUTHOR Mohammadreza Shirzadi 3 Department of Zoonosis, CDC of Iran, Ministry of Health, Tehran, Iran AUTHOR Rouzbeh Bashar 4 WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Rabies, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran AUTHOR Alireza Zavareh 5 WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Rabies, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran AUTHOR Nader Howaizi 6 WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Rabies, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran AUTHOR Firuzeh Farahtaj 7 WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Rabies, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran AUTHOR Alireza Janani 8 WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Rabies, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran AUTHOR Alireza Gholami 9 WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Rabies, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran AUTHOR
COMMENTARY_ON_THE_LAW Commentary: “Rabies in Iranian Traditional Medicine” & Reply to Commentary on “Rabies in Iran: Past, Present and Future” http://jommid.pasteur.ac.ir/article-1-59-en.pdf 2015-04-05 66 67 Mohammad Ali Mohaghegh 1 Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical science, Isfahan, Iran AUTHOR Hossein Hooshyar 2 Department of Parasitology, School of Medicine, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran AUTHOR Seyed Hossein Hejazi 3 Skin Diseases and Leishmaniasis Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Science, Isfahan, Iran AUTHOR Mohsen Ghomashlooyan 4 Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical science, Isfahan, Iran AUTHOR Alireza Gholami 5 WHO collaborating center for reference and research on rabies, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran AUTHOR
ORIGINAL_ARTICLE Assessment of Alkaline Phosphatase Activity in Hydatid Cyst Protoscolices and Liver Tissue as a Pathological Biomarker Introduction: Hydatid cyst disease is caused by the protoscolices of Echinococcus granulosus. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) enzyme is required for metabolism, physiology, immunology, and nutrients absorption in parasite. The aim of this study was to compare the level of ALP activity (as a pathological biomarker) in hydatid cyst protoscolices (HCP) with that of sheep liver tissue and to determine the effect of cystic infection on the enzyme activity. Methods: HCPs were collected from sheep livers with hydatid cysts at a local abattoir and washed 3 times with PBS buffer. HCP samples were freeze-thawed and sonicated, while the collected liver tissues were homogenized. Then, extract solutions were centrifuged and stored at -20°C. ALP activity was measured in the extract solutions of HCP and healthy and infected sheep liver tissue samples. The amounts and bands of protein samples were detected using Bradford method and sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), respectively. To determine the significant difference between the two groups, independent two samples t-test was used. Results: The mean values of ALP-specific activity of healthy and infected livers and HCP were estimated 0.019, 0.175, and 1.28 U/ml/mg, respectively. Higher ALP activity level was observed in cystic liver compared to healthy liver (p<0.05). T-test analysis showed higher ALP enzyme activity for HCP compared to healthy liver (p<0.05). SDS-PAGE demonstrated a protein band with molecular weight of 59 kDa in HCP samples, which was identified as ALP. Conclusion: ALP activity in HCP and healthy liver indicates the importance of this enzyme in comparative biochemistry of liver and parasite. Higher level of ALP enzyme activity in cystic liver in comparison with healthy liver could be considered as a pathological biomarker for diagnosis of hydatid cyst disease with other hydatid disease parameters. http://jommid.pasteur.ac.ir/article-1-57-en.pdf 2015-05-18 68 70 Alkaline phosphatase Hydatid cyst Liver Parasite Mojgan Farrokhi Karibozorg 1 Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran AUTHOR Ali Farahnak farahnak@tums.ac.ir 2 Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran AUTHOR Mohammad Bagher Molaei Rad 3 Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran AUTHOR Taghi Golmohammadi 4 Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran AUTHOR Mohammad Reza Eshraghian 5 Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran AUTHOR
ORIGINAL_ARTICLE Antibacterial and Antifungal Activities of Different Lichens Extracts Introduction: Natural products have been the most successful source of potential drug leads. One of them is lichens, which have been used since antiquity as natural sources of drugs. The aim of this study was to investigate the antibacterial and antifungal activity of different extracts of the Iranian lichens in Ilam Province. Methods: The aqueous, acetone, and methanol extracts of 6 lichen species, including Caloplaca variabilis, Fulgensia subbracteata, Lecanora muralis, Physcia adscendens, Psora decipiens, and Megaspora verrucosa, were produced using Soxhlet extractor. Then, antibacterial and antifungal activities of them against 6 standard strains of bacteria, including Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 2321, Escherichia coli ATCC 1652, Proteus mirabilis ATCC 2601, Salmonella typhi ATCC 1679, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 1885, and Staphylococcus epidermidis ATCC 2405 and two fungi, including Fusarium moniliforme and Verticillium dahliae, were evaluated using the disc-diffusion method and the minimal inhibitory concentration was determined by broth tube dilution. Streptomycin (10 µg/ml) and ketoconazole (10 µg/ml) were used as positive controls for bacteria and fungi, respectively. Sterile distilled dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) was used as negative control. Results: Methanol extract from F. subbracteata and L. muralis lichens showed relatively high antibacterial activities (p<0.01), whereas aqueous extracts showed no activity against the microorganisms and only acetone extract of L. muralis showed antibacterial activity against the S. epidermidis (MIC=500). Methanol extracts of F. subbracteata and L. muralis had higher antifungal activities than others. Conclusion: The methanol extracts of L. muralis and F. subbracteata showed the highest activity against the bacteria and fungi and it seems that they have some antibacterial and antifungal properties. http://jommid.pasteur.ac.ir/article-1-56-en.pdf 2015-06-30 71 75 Antibacterial Antifungal Extracts Lichens. Tahereh Valadbeigi Bhrami2222@gmail.com 1 Department of Plant Microbiology, Ilam Universty, Ilam, Iran AUTHOR Ali Mohammad Bahrami Am.bahrami@ilam.ac.ir 2 Department of Pathology, Facuty of Para Veterinary Medicine, Ilam University, Ilam, Iran AUTHOR Minoo Shaddel min_shad@yahoo.com 3 Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Aja University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran AUTHOR
ORIGINAL_ARTICLE A Study on the Prevalence of Enterobius vermicularis in Kindergartens of Dezful City (Khuzestan Province, Iran), 2013 Introduction: Intestinal parasitic infections are of a major public health problem in many societies. Enterobius vermicularis (E. vermicularis) is particularly more persistent in places such as kindergartens, dormitories, and barracks, where people live and work together. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and risk factors of infection with E. vermicularis in the kindergartens of Dezful City, 2013. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, a total number of 254 children aged 3-7 years, were randomly selected from private kindergartens from different parts of the city based on population density. Data collection tool was a questionnaire including demographic characteristics. The children were examined using Graham method (Scotch tape) to determine the prevalence rate of E. vermicularis infection. Non-parametric statistical ;chi2 test was used to evaluate the objectives. All statistical tests were done at a confidence level of 95% and a p-value<0.05. Results: A total of 254 children were examined for the prevalence of E. vermicularis, of whom 127 cases (50%) were males and 127 (50%) were female. Out of the total number of examined children, 20 cases (7.8%) were observed to be infected with E. vermicularis. Of these patients, 11 (4.3%) were female and 9 (3.5%) were male. The highest rate of infection was observed in children aged 5-6 years. The highest prevalence of E. vermicularis infection (19 cases, 7.5%) was observed in children of parents with preliminary education. However, one positive case (0.3%) was documented for a family with parents having higher education level. In general, this study showed 19 out of 20 E. vermicularis positive cases were from Dezful;#39s kindergartens located in poor socio-economic areas. Another factor for the prevalence of E. vermicularis was presence of health trainers in the kindergartens. A considerable number of E. vermicularis cases (95%) were recorded for kindergartens with no health trainer. Conclusion: With respect to the obtained p-value of 0.6 for age and gender of children, as well as having equal gender distribution and according to the findings of this study, the age and gender did not have significant effects on the prevalence of E. vermicularis infection in kindergartens. In addition, the infection rate was recorded to be 5.8% for the age group of 5-6 years. In fact, the prevalence of E. vermicularis infection was increased with increasing age, probably due to increased social communication in this age. http://jommid.pasteur.ac.ir/article-1-55-en.pdf 2015-06-24 76 79 Enterobius vermicularis Kindergarten Dezful Iran Mohammad Hossain Feiz Haddad hfeizhaddad@yahoo.com 1 School of Medicine, Ahvaz Jondishapour University of Medical Sciences, Ahwaz, Iran 2) Health Research Institute, Infectious and Tropical Diseases Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur Universitty of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz Iran. AUTHOR Elham Kord Ekord87@yahoo.com 2 School of Medicine, Ahvaz Jondishapour University of Medical Sciences, Ahwaz, Iran. AUTHOR Abdollah Rafiei rafieiabdollah@yahoo.com 3 School of Medicine, Ahvaz Jondishapour University of Medical Sciences, Ahwaz, Iran2) Health Research Institute, Infectious and Tropical Diseases Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur Universitty of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz Iran. AUTHOR Rezvan Feiz Haddad Fhadad218@yahoo.com 4 School of Medicine, Dezful University of Medical Sciences, Dezful, Iran AUTHOR
ORIGINAL_ARTICLE Prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in Sheep and Goats in Three Counties of Gilan Province, North of Iran the More Humid Climate the Higher Prevalence Introduction: Toxoplasma gondii is one of the most important foodborne pathogens. Toxoplasmosis causes abortion and neonatal loss in livestock and imposes significant losses to farming industry. Prevalence of T. gondii in sheep and goats was investigated in three adjacent geographical areas within Gilan province in north of Iran. Methods: Serum samples were collected from 247 sheep and 155 goats in three counties Roudsar with humid subtropical climate and average annual precipitation (AAP) of 1400 mm, Masal with sub-humid climate and AAP of 700 mm, and Roudbar with cold semi-arid steppe climate and AAP of 400 mm. The samples were tested for Toxoplasma antibodies by using Sabin- Feldman Dye Test. Results: The overall prevalence in sheep was significantly higher than goats (P<0.001). Moreover, the prevalence in sheep was greatly increased with AAP (P<0.001) the prevalence in sheep was 62.2% in Roudsar, 39.3% in Masal and 15% in Roudbar. Conclusion: Sheep is the most common source of meat consumed in Iran, as well as many parts of the world, and presents the most danger in foodborne transmission of T. gondii to humans. Intensive farm management resulted in decreased prevalence of Toxoplasma in poultries and pigs while sheep are raised in small flocks in Iran, as many other developing countries, and extensively exposed to oocysts shed by cats. The information obtained here could have important implications for prevention of T. gondii infection in humans as well as reducing the rate of infection, and consequent abortion and neonatal loss in sheep and goats.  http://jommid.pasteur.ac.ir/article-1-62-en.pdf 2015-05-05 80 83 Climate Iran Prevalence Sheep Toxoplasma. Yashar Havakhah 1 Department of Parasitology, Molecular Parasitology Laboratory, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran AUTHOR Ahmad Reza Esmaeili Rastaghi 2 Department of Parasitology, Molecular Parasitology Laboratory, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, IranDepartment of Parasitology, Molecular Parasitology Laboratory, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran AUTHOR Samira Amiri 3 Department of Parasitology, Molecular Parasitology Laboratory, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran AUTHOR Jalal Babaie 4 Department of Parasitology, Molecular Parasitology Laboratory, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran AUTHOR Zohreh Aghighi 5 Department of Parasitology, Molecular Parasitology Laboratory, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran AUTHOR Majid Golkar 6 Department of Parasitology, Molecular Parasitology Laboratory, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran AUTHOR
ORIGINAL_ARTICLE Detection of Different Types of Metallo-β-Lactamases among Pseudomonas aeruginosa Isolates Obtained from Intensive Care Unit Patients Introduction: Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a serious challenge for antimicrobial therapy, due to chromosomal mutations or intrinsic resistance to various antimicrobial agents, such as Metallo-β-Lactams (MBL). This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of β-lactamases encoding genes among P. aeruginosa strains isolated from intensive care unit (ICU) patients by phenotypic and multiplex PCR methods. Methods: A total of 48 non-duplicate strains of P. aeruginosa were collected from different clinical specimens of patients hospitalized in ICU wards of a teaching hospital in Isfahan, Iran. Susceptibility test was performed by disk diffusion method. All meropenem resistant strains were subjected to modified Hodge test (MHT) for detection of carbapenemases. Multiplex PCRs were performed to detect β-lactam-resistant P. aeruginosa isolates. Results: In disk diffusion method, P. aeruginosa strains showed the most (97.9%) resistance against imipenem and meropenem and the least (45.8%) against colistin. Thirty-six (75%) out of the 48 isolates were multidrug resistant. PCR amplification of β-lactamase genes showed the presence of blaVIM genes in 7 (14.6%) and blaIMP in 15 (31.3%) strains. Also, blaSME, SPM, GIM, AIM and NDM genes were not observed in any of the strains. We only found a statistically significance difference between the presence of blaIMP gene and multidrug-resistant (MDR) positivity and source of specimen (p=0.009 and 0.002, respectively). Conclusion: Rapid and reliable identification of MBLs appears to be necessary for effective treatment of related infections. Besides, our results may provide useful perception to make a more appropriate choice of antibiotics, which may put a stop to carbapenem-resistant infections. http://jommid.pasteur.ac.ir/article-1-58-en.pdf 2015-08-16 84 90 Pseudomonas aeruginosa PCR Carbapenem Beta-lactamase Farzin Khorvash khorvash@med.mui.ac.ir 1 Department of Infectious Diseases, Nosocomial Infection Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran AUTHOR Mohammad reza Yazdani yazdani@med.mui.ac.ir 2 Department of Infectious Diseases, Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran AUTHOR Shiva Shabani dr.shiva_shabani90@yahoo 3 Department of Infectious Diseases, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran AUTHOR Houri Alizadeh houri.alizadeh@yahoo.com 4 Department of Microbiology, Science and Research, Islamic Azad University, Shiraz, Iran AUTHOR Ali asghar Soudi A_soudi_2005@yahoo.com 5 Department of Infectious Diseases, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran AUTHOR Parisa Shoaei shoaei@idrc.mui.ac.ir 6 Department of Microbiology, Science and Research, Islamic Azad University, Shiraz, Iran AUTHOR Behrooz Ataei ataei@med.mui.ac.ir 7 Department of Infectious Diseases, Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran AUTHOR Majid Yaran yaranmajid@yahoo.com 8 Department of Infectious Diseases, Acquired Immunodeficiency Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran AUTHOR