Anahita Bavand; Arezoo Aghakhani; Minoo Mohraz; Mohammad Banifazl; Afsaneh Karami; Majid Golkar; Jalal Babaie; Parviz Saleh; Setareh Mamishi; Amitis Ramezani
Abstract
Background & Objective: Toxoplasma gondii infection has public health importance and can lead to serious diseases in immunosuppressed patients, such as HIV cases. Appropriate control of T. gondii infection in HIV patients requires information about the prevalence of T. gondii antibodies and DNA in ...
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Background & Objective: Toxoplasma gondii infection has public health importance and can lead to serious diseases in immunosuppressed patients, such as HIV cases. Appropriate control of T. gondii infection in HIV patients requires information about the prevalence of T. gondii antibodies and DNA in different population. In this study, we aimed to determine the prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii antibodies and DNA in HIV patients in Tehran, Iran.Methods: A total of 149 HIV patients from the Iranian Research Center for HIV/AIDS, Tehran, Iran were enrolled in the study. Anti-Toxoplasma IgG and IgM were detected by ELISA and T. gondii DNA was evaluated by PCR and quantitative real-time PCR. IgG positive samples were also assessed for their avidity. Results: Anti-Toxoplasma IgG and IgM were positive in 46.3% and 2.7% of cases respectively. 92.7% of our patients showed past infection and 4.3% revealed recently acquired toxoplasmosis based on their IgG avidity test. T. gondii DNA was not detected by PCR but real-time PCR results showed DNA in 4.7% of total patients and 13.1% of the IgG seropositive cases.Conclusion: Our findings indicated that latent toxoplasmosis was relatively prevalent in our study population, but new T. gondii infection had low prevalence. Almost half of our patients were IgG negative and at risk of acquiring toxoplasma infection. Low copy numbers of DNA were detected in 4.7% of the cases without any clinical manifestation. Therefore, detection and monitoring of anti-Toxoplasma antibodies and DNA in HIV patients is substantial to estimate the risk of reactivation and new infection.
Amir Tajbakhsh; Faezeh Ghasemi; Seyedeh Zohre Mirbagheri; Mastoureh Momen Heravi; Mehdi Rezaee; Zahra Meshkat
Volume 13, Issue 4 , October 2018, , Pages 429-437
Abstract
Background and Objectives: The incidence of rifampin-resistant strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis has attracted more attention than the tuberculosis infection due to laborious treatment and control. Recognizing the Mycobacterium tuberculosis genotypes involving in drug resistance via multiplex PCR, ...
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Background and Objectives: The incidence of rifampin-resistant strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis has attracted more attention than the tuberculosis infection due to laborious treatment and control. Recognizing the Mycobacterium tuberculosis genotypes involving in drug resistance via multiplex PCR, a simple and rapid genotyping method, is an emergency for better treatment and control of tuberculosis. This study was designed to specify the frequency of rifampin-resistant strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolated from patients by multiplex allele-specific Polymerase Chain Reaction assay (MAS-PCR).Methods: In this study, 88 Mycobacterium tuberculosis positive samples were included from Qaem Hospital, Mashhad. MAS-PCR was used to detect the rifampin resistance associated mutations in rpoB gene. Results: Mutations in three codons of rpoB gene causing rifampin resistance were detected in 51 isolates (58.96%). The detected mutations in codons 531, 526, and 516 were 55.68%, 38.63%, and 13.63%, respectively. The simultaneous mutations were detected in 11 isolates (12.50%) in codons 531, 526 and 516, in 21 isolates (23.86%) in codons 531 and 526, and in one isolate (1.13%) in codons 526 and 516. Conclusion: According to the results of this study, the frequency of rifampin-resistant strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolated from Khorasan province patients (North-East of Iran) was high. The developed MAS-PCR assay can be used for rapid detection in clinical diagnostic laboratories in areas with high prevalence of multidrug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains. In this respect, MAS-PCR is simple, rapid, and highly sensitive method for drug susceptibility tests for detecting multidrug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
Behnam Mohammadi-Ghalehbin; Shahram Habibzadeh; Mohsen Arzanlou; Roghayeh Teimourpour; Saeideh Amani Ghayum
Abstract
Background & objective: Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) is responsible for pulmonary infection in immunocompromised patients. This study aimed to investigating the frequency of Pneumocystis colonization in patients hospitalized in the intensive care unit (ICU) and evaluating the relationship between ...
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Background & objective: Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) is responsible for pulmonary infection in immunocompromised patients. This study aimed to investigating the frequency of Pneumocystis colonization in patients hospitalized in the intensive care unit (ICU) and evaluating the relationship between PCP and Pneumocystis colonization. Methods: In the current cross sectional study bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL)fluids of 100 patients were collected from surgery and neurosurgery ICUs with different underlying corticosteroid therapy conditions. Patients were divided into 2 groups (patients who received corticosteroids and not received corticosteroids). Direct examination on BAL fluids was performed by the Gomori methenamine silver andGiemsa staining techniques. Additionally, 2 filtered air samples of the 2 above mentioned units were collected. A nested-PCR targeted mtLSUrRNA gene and sequencing were used to identify Pneumocystis spp. Results: In direct microscopy, 31 out of 100 hospitalized patients (31%) showed positive results. Twenty-three (46%) of smear positive patients were from the group of patients who received corticosteroid, the other 8(16%) were from the group of patients who didn’t receive corticosteroids (P= 0.001). Pneumocystis jirovecii DNA was detected in 77 out of 100 BAL samples by nested-PCR (77%) in which 40(52%) and 37(48%) samples were obtained from the patients who received and not received corticosteroids, respectively. Pneumocystis genome was found in 1 of the 2 filtered air samples. Conclusion: A significant number of patients who received corticosteroids were also colonized by P. jirovecii that may predispose to PCP or be transmitted to susceptible patients. A significant relationship was observed between the mean hospital stay and detection rate.
Abdolmajid Ghasemian; Kobra Salimian Rizi; Hassan Rajabi Vardanjani; Farshad Nojoomi
Abstract
Background & Objective: The spread of carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a global concern. Metallo-beta-lactamase (MBL) enzymes cause extensive drug resistance among Gram-negative bacteria. The current study aimed at determining the prevalence of MBL-producing P. aeruginosa in Iran. Methods: ...
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Background & Objective: The spread of carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a global concern. Metallo-beta-lactamase (MBL) enzymes cause extensive drug resistance among Gram-negative bacteria. The current study aimed at determining the prevalence of MBL-producing P. aeruginosa in Iran. Methods: A total of 43 studies were found out of which 36 were adopted. Data were collected from Google, Google Scholar, Science Direct, PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Sciverse. The terms “Pseudomonas aeruginosa”, “metallo-beta-lactamase”, “prevalence”, “carbapenems”, and “Iran” were searched. Data from the isolates not producing MBLs were excluded from the study. Data were analyzed with Graph Pad Prism 6, meta-analysis section. Results: According to the results of the current study, 36 surveys indicated that 55% of the clinically isolated P. aeruginosa in Iran were resistant to imipenem and meropenem, among which 37.72% were the MBL producers. Among genes encoding MBLs, blaVIM and blaIMP were predominant with the prevalence of 12.91%±11.01% and 12.50%±23.56%, respectively. No report of harboring blaNDM1 and blaSPM1 by P. aeruginosa was found, similar to most of the other countries in Asia. The prevalence of blaVIM and blaIMP from burn settings were 11.50%±3.5% and 24.65%±23%, respectively. Furthermore, the prevalence of these genes was not significantly different among burn and non-burn isolates (P=0.942 and P=0.597, respectively). Moreover, no relationship was observed between the MBL production and patients’ age range. Conclusion: Approximately half of P. aeruginosa isolates were carbapenem-resistant in Iran, and approximately half were the MBL producers. The blaVIM and blaIMP were the predominantMBLs among P. aeruginosa strains, while other genes were not found in P. aeruginosa. Moreover, there was no significant difference between blaVIM and blaIMPamong burn and non-burn isolates. Due to the multiple drug resistance conferred by MBLs, detection and control of their spread alongside proper therapeutic regimens in hospitals and community settings are essential to prevent infection acquisition.
Ali Majidpour; Sara Fathi Zadeh; Mastaneh Afshar; Mohammad Rahbar; Mina Boustanshenas; Marjan Heidarzadeh; Leila Arbabi; Somayeh Soleymanzadeh Moghadam
Abstract
Background & Objective: Staphylococcus aureus, especially methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), represent serious nosocomial and community infections. Biofilm formation as an important virulence factor may be affected by sub-inhibitory levels of antibiotics. Few studies examined the effects of ...
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Background & Objective: Staphylococcus aureus, especially methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), represent serious nosocomial and community infections. Biofilm formation as an important virulence factor may be affected by sub-inhibitory levels of antibiotics. Few studies examined the effects of all therapeutic antimicrobial agents on clinical S.aureus. The current study aimed at observing the inducing and reducing effects of antibiotics, commonly used to treat staphylococcal infections on the production of staphylococcal biofilm. Methods: Four MRSA (1ATCC and 3 clinical) and 1 methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) strains with biofilm forming ability, evaluated by the Congo red agar (CRA) plate test, were employed. Biofilm formation was measured by crystal violet microtiter plate assay. Cefazolin, rifampicin, vancomycin, oxacillin, clindamycin, cotrimoxazole, minocycline, linezolid, azithromycin, and clarithromycin were added to wells ranging from 0.06to 128 µg/mL (1× to 1/1024 MIC dependent on the MIC value of each strain). Results: The current study showed that azithromycin and vancomycin had a significant inducing effect on biofilm formation. In contrast, linezolid, cefazolin, and clarithromycin, and in the second place, clindamycin and minocycline could inhibit the level of biofilm production in the sub-minimal inhibitory concentrations. Conclusion: The findings demonstrated that the biofilm formation as an important virulence factor may be affected by the subinhibitory levels of antibiotics.
Farhad Razjou; Abolfazl Dabir Moghaddam; Gharib Karimi; Maryam Zadsar
Abstract
Background & Objective: Bacterial, contamination of blood components are a significant risk for transfusion reactions. Inherently, platelet concentrates (PCs) are vulnerable to bacterial contamination, due to the storage condition of processed PCs at room temperature, which provide very suitable ...
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Background & Objective: Bacterial, contamination of blood components are a significant risk for transfusion reactions. Inherently, platelet concentrates (PCs) are vulnerable to bacterial contamination, due to the storage condition of processed PCs at room temperature, which provide very suitable conditions for the proliferation of microorganisms. The current study aimed at investigating the transfusion associated septic reaction rate in patients with hemato-oncological diseases in Imam Khomeini Hospital, Tehran, Iran, and identifying the contaminating bacteria. Methods: A total of 3056 adult patients of the Cancer Center of Imam Khomeini Hospital in Tehran transfused with PCs were studied based on the clinical symptoms of septic transfusion reaction from June 1, 2010 to May 31, 2011. Patient presented with the criteria of reaction and the residual components were evaluated for bacterial contamination by Bac T/Alert system. Results: Patients with leukemia or lymphoma transfused with random-donor PCs were evaluated the signs and symptoms of transfusion reaction occurred only in 12 (%0.4) cases. Automated cultivation found 3 positive blood cultures. Among these a male recipient was categorized as possible septic transfusion reaction and Citrobacterfreundii was isolated from blood sample. Conclusion: Appropriate clinical utilization of PCs transfusion, and ongoing vigilance to recognize, investigate, promptly treat, and report all suspicious transfusion reactions are necessary to manage the transfusion complication including transfusion-transmitted infections (TTI).
Mohammad Salehi; Abdolmajid Ghasemian; Seyyed Khalil Shokouhi Mostafavi; Somayyeh Najafi; Hassan Rajabi Vardanjani
Abstract
Backgrounds & Objective: The Helicobacter pylori prevalence has continuously decreased during recent years in Iran. The current study aimed at determining H. pylori prevalence in Neyshabur city, Northeast Iran, during 2010-2015. Methods: The current epidemiologic survey was conducted in Neyshabur ...
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Backgrounds & Objective: The Helicobacter pylori prevalence has continuously decreased during recent years in Iran. The current study aimed at determining H. pylori prevalence in Neyshabur city, Northeast Iran, during 2010-2015. Methods: The current epidemiologic survey was conducted in Neyshabur from 2010 to 2015 to determine the prevalence of H. pylori infection. A total of 11596 participants (3681 male with the mean age of 31.7±6.2 years and 7915 female with mean age of 68.3±4.7 years) were included. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits for the detection of H. pylori and Stat Fax 3200® Microplate Reader (USA) with a sensitivity of 95% and specificity of 98% were used. Titers above 12 units were considered positive for IgG, IgA, and IgM (negative <8, equivocal 8 to 12, and positive >12 U). The Chi-square t test and F test were used to analyze data. Results: The overall IgA, IgG, and IgM seropositive samples among the study participants were 852 (7.2%), 9000 (72.8%), and 1256 (5.2%), respectively. The IgA seropositivity was significantly high among the age group above 51 years, compared with the other age groups. Moreover, the IgG and IgM seropositivity were significantly high among the age groups 41 to 50 and 31 to 40 years respectively, compared with the other age groups. There was no significant difference between male and female cases regarding IgA and IgG seropositive samples, but IgM level was significantly higher among females, compared with that of the male cases. Furthermore, there was no significant alteration in IgA, IgG, and IgM seropositivity during 2010-2014 in Neyshabur. Conclusion: The prevalence of H. pylori in Neyshabur was high in the healthy population. Furthermore, the H. pylori prevalence did not change from 2010 to 2014 in the studied city. Effective approaches to improve health, educational, and socioeconomic status should be implemented to minimize and control H. pylori infection.
Masoomeh Sofian; Mohammad Banifazl; Masoomeh Ziai; Arezoo Aghakhani; Ali-Asghar Farazi; Amitis Ramezani
Volume 11, Issue 4 , October 2016, , Pages 328-333
Abstract
Background: The household transmission of hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a major health problem. High incidence of HBV infection is observed within the household contacts of HBV carriers. We aimed to evaluate serological markers of hepatitis B infection among family members of HBV carriers in Arak, central ...
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Background: The household transmission of hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a major health problem. High incidence of HBV infection is observed within the household contacts of HBV carriers. We aimed to evaluate serological markers of hepatitis B infection among family members of HBV carriers in Arak, central Iran. Methods: Data were collected from the 100 chronic HBV carriers (subjects with positive HBsAg for at least 6 months period) as index cases and 700 members of their family. Then, we checked serologic markers of hepatitis B [hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc) and hepatitis B surface antibody (anti- HBs)] using the ELISA test. Results: The prevalence rate of HBsAg, anti-HBs and anti-HBc among household members was 23.3%, 20.4% and 23% respectively. Isolated anti-HBc (positive anti-HBc with negative HBsAg and anti-HBs) found in 0.4% of family members. Mothers and children with 47.6% and 17.2% had the highest and lowest rates of HBV infection, respectively (P=0.00). There was a significant difference between mothers and spouses of index case (47.6% and 29.8%) regarding HBsAg positivity (P=0.03). Conclusion: The low rate of HBV infection reported in children reveal the effective prevention of HBV transmission with the universal vaccination programs and also importance of pregnant women screening for HBV serological markers.
Manizheh Jozpanahi; Amitis Ramezani; Shahrzad Ossareh; Mohammad Banifazl; Anahita Bavand; Setareh Mamishi; Arezoo Aghakhani
Volume 11, Issue 3 , July 2016, , Pages 210-215
Abstract
Background: Primary infection with BK virus (BKV) is occurred during childhood and usually asymptomatic, but after initial infection, BKV may persist lifelong in the kidney and genitourinary tract. Reactivation may occur in individuals with compromised immunity such as renal transplant recipients. Due ...
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Background: Primary infection with BK virus (BKV) is occurred during childhood and usually asymptomatic, but after initial infection, BKV may persist lifelong in the kidney and genitourinary tract. Reactivation may occur in individuals with compromised immunity such as renal transplant recipients. Due to the role of BKV in BK virus-associated nephropathy (BKVAN) and potentially renal allograft rejection, the detection of BKV in renal transplant candidates is very important. The aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency of BK viremia in end stage renal disease cases who were candidates for renal transplantation. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 50 cases with end stage renal disease who were candidates for renal transplantation were recruited from the main dialysis unit in Tehran, Iran. Presence of BK viremia was determined in plasma samples of cases using real time PCR. Results: A total of 50 renal transplant candidates with mean age 37.8±13 yr were enrolled in the study. Fifty two percent of subjects were male. Forty six (92%) of them were under HD and 4 (8%) were on PD. BK virus was not detected in any plasma samples of renal transplant candidates. Conclusion: This study showed absence of BK viremia in our renal transplant candidates. However, due to the important role of BKV in BKVAN and renal graft failure and rejection, further studies involving larger number of cases are required to elucidate the rate of the BKV in renal transplant candidates.
How to cite this article:
Jozpanahi M, Ramezani A, Ossareh S, Banifazl M, Bavand A, Mamishi S, et al. BK Viremia among Iranian Renal Transplant Candidates. Iran J Pathol. 2016; 11(3):210-5.
Rupali Malik; Nisha Rana
Volume 11, Issue 3 , July 2016, , Pages 298-300
Abstract
Any patient with bilateral lymphadenopathy especially in Indian subcontinent is regarded as suffering from tuberculosis unless proved otherwise. This sometimes leads to unwarranted delay in correct diagnosis and management if there is ignorance regarding other rarer etiologies. Rosai-Dorfman Disease ...
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Any patient with bilateral lymphadenopathy especially in Indian subcontinent is regarded as suffering from tuberculosis unless proved otherwise. This sometimes leads to unwarranted delay in correct diagnosis and management if there is ignorance regarding other rarer etiologies. Rosai-Dorfman Disease (RDD) may present in the same manner and should always be kept on the back of the mind to help avoid unnecessary empirical anti-tuberculous therapy that is usually prescribed in so called difficult-to-diagnose tuberculosis infections.
Biology & Genetic
Alireza Abdollahi; Hana Saffar
Volume 11, Issue 2 , April 2016, , Pages 89-96
Abstract
It is estimated that the number of HIV infected children globally has increased from 1.6 million in 2001 to 3.3 million in 2012. The number of children below 15 years of age living with HIV has increased worldwide. Published data from recent studies confirmed dramatic survival benefit for infants started ...
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It is estimated that the number of HIV infected children globally has increased from 1.6 million in 2001 to 3.3 million in 2012. The number of children below 15 years of age living with HIV has increased worldwide. Published data from recent studies confirmed dramatic survival benefit for infants started anti-retroviral therapy (ART) as early as possible after diagnosis of HI. Early confirmation of HIV diagnosis is required in order to identify infants who need immediate ART. WHO has designed recommendations to improve programs for both early diagnoses of HIV infection and considering ART whenever indicated? It is strongly recommended that HIV virologocal assays for diagnosis of HIV have sensitivity of at least 95% and ideally greater than 98% and specificity of 98% or more under standardized and validated conditions. Timing of virological testing is also important. Infants infected at or around delivery may take short time to have detectable virus. Therefore, sensitivity of virological tests is lower at birth. In utero HIV infection, HIV DNA or RNA can be detected within 48 h of birth and in infants with peripartum acquisition it needs one to two weeks. Finally it is emphasized that all laboratories performing HIV tests should follow available services provided by WHO or CDC for quality assurance programs. Both clinicians and staffs providing laboratory services need regular communications, well-defined SOPs and nationally validated algorithms for optimal use of laboratory tests. Every country should use assays that have been validated by national reference laboratory.
Seyed Ali Asghar Fakhrmousavi; Azar Hadadi; Seyed Hamed Hosseini; Maryam Rahbar; Reza Hamidian; Amitis Ramezani; Gholamreza Pourmand; Effat Razeghi
Volume 11, Issue 2 , April 2016, , Pages 127-132
Abstract
Background: Hepatitis B virus potentially accelerates graft rejection and mortality in renal transplantation population. Vaccination of graft candidates without prior immunization against HBV seems essential before transplantation but some candidates of transplantation have not received HBV vaccine at ...
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Background: Hepatitis B virus potentially accelerates graft rejection and mortality in renal transplantation population. Vaccination of graft candidates without prior immunization against HBV seems essential before transplantation but some candidates of transplantation have not received HBV vaccine at the time of receiving graft. We aimed to evaluate immunogenicity of an enhanced regimen (4 doses of double-strength intramuscular shots) after kidney transplantation in candidates without history of prior HBV vaccination. Methods: This quasi-experimental study was conducted, 49 renal graft recipients in Sina Hospital (Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran) of age >18, receiving graft within past 6 months and negative history of hepatitis B vaccination from 2010-2011. Participants received 40 μg intramuscular (IM) shots of a recombinant vaccine in the months 0, 1, 2 and 6. The titer of HBsAb was measured 8 weeks after the 3rd and 4th injections. Cases with HBsAb titers less than 10 mIu/ml were considered as non-responder while antiHBs≥10 mIu/ml was considered protective. Results: The overall response rate was 57.14% (28/49 patients). Protective HBsAb titers were detected in 44.89% patients following 3rd dose and reached to 57.14% after injecting the 4th shots. The mean HBsAb titers were 50.00 (±88.35) mIu/ml and 229.45 (±356.56) mIu/ml after the 3rd and 4th shots respectively. Responders showed significantly younger age in comparison to non-responders (P=0.013). The vaccine was well tolerated in all patients with no side effects. Conclusions: Regarding the relative good response rate following HBV vaccination in graft recipients, we suggest a post-transplantation enhanced regimen of 4-dose double-strength IM shots against HBV in patients without prior immunization.
Moeinadin Safavi; Shahriar Dabiri
Volume 11, Issue 2 , April 2016, , Pages 186-188
Abstract
Leishmaniasis include several clinical manifestations, mostly cutaneous, visceral and mucosal (1, 2). Various species can lead to diverse clinical presentations. Thus species identification contribute to proper management (3). Localized Leishmania Lymphadenitis (LLL) is a distinct entity in clinicopathologic ...
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Leishmaniasis include several clinical manifestations, mostly cutaneous, visceral and mucosal (1, 2). Various species can lead to diverse clinical presentations. Thus species identification contribute to proper management (3). Localized Leishmania Lymphadenitis (LLL) is a distinct entity in clinicopathologic field presenting with isolated lymphadenitis and possible cocomitant cutaneous lesion in the absence of systemic visceral involvement (4). Species identification has been acceptable by conventional microscopic evaluation, serologic methods such as isoenzyme and monoclonal antibody detection and particularly PCR. However, definite identification and confirmation of parasite without gene sequencing have always been doubted (5).
Sora Yasri; Viroj Wiwanitkit
Volume 11, Issue 2 , April 2016, , Pages 191-193
Abstract
Diabetes mellitus is the common endocrine problem that affects millions of world population. The disease can be seen in every country around the world. It is recorded as one of the most common noninfectious disease at present. In the era of the new emerging diseases, the concern on the effect of new ...
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Diabetes mellitus is the common endocrine problem that affects millions of world population. The disease can be seen in every country around the world. It is recorded as one of the most common noninfectious disease at present. In the era of the new emerging diseases, the concern on the effect of new diseases on diabetes should be discussed. For example, in the case of new emerging zoonotic influenza infections, the effect of the new diseases on the clinical course of diabetes mellitus is mentioned (1). In addition, the interesting observation of the prevalence and severity of new emerging infections in the cases that has diabetes mellitus, as a concomitant disorder is also available in the literatures.
Hossein Keyvani; Fahimeh Safarnezhad Tameshkel; Mohammad Hadi Karbalaie Niya
Volume 11, Issue 1 , January 2016, , Pages 35-40
Abstract
Background: Varicella zoster virus (VZV) causes chickenpox in children and zoster (zona) in the elderly. Using RFLP-PCR method for detection of VZV specific SNPs ORF38, 54 and 62 could distinguish the profile of VZV isolates. The aim of this study was to investigate enzymatic digestion pattern ...
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Background: Varicella zoster virus (VZV) causes chickenpox in children and zoster (zona) in the elderly. Using RFLP-PCR method for detection of VZV specific SNPs ORF38, 54 and 62 could distinguish the profile of VZV isolates. The aim of this study was to investigate enzymatic digestion pattern of VZV ORF38 and ORF54 in chickenpox patients using RFLP technique. Methods: Thirty-eight chickenpox patients, who referred to the hospitals of Iran University of Medical Sciences in Tehran from May 2010 to June 2015 were enrolled in this cross sectional study. After the DNA extraction, PCR amplification of 38 VZV isolates performed by specific primers of ORFs 38 and 54, then RFLP assay and digestion carried out by PstI (for ORF38) and BglI (for ORF54) restriction enzymes. Results: Of 38 positive VZV DNA, the mean age (yr)±SD was 34.4±23.3 (range: 7-89). 22 (57.9%) were female and 16 (42.1%) were male. The predominant VZV profile of BglI+PstI+ were 89.5% (34/38) followed by 10.5% (4/38) PstI+BglI‾. Statistical analysis showed that there was no significant relationship between genotype, age, sex, and year of infection variables (P value> 0.05). The common VZV genotype among Iranian patients with chickenpox and zona infection is genotype BglI+PstI+ followed by PstI+BglI‾. Conclusion: There are different VZV circulating genotypes that call for for more research on this field by widely population and other methods such as nucleotide sequencing to justify the accurate VZV genotype prevalence in Iran.
Microbiology
Massoud Hajia; Ali Akbar Amirzargar; Mina Nazari; Neda Razavi Davodi; Morteza Karami Zarandi
Abstract
Background: Tuberculous meningitis (TBM) is a severe form of extra pulmonary tuberculosis with high mortality and morbidity rate in all age group patients specific in adults and children. The incidence and prevalence are not exactly known in Iran. In this study, we tried to evaluate the role of rapid ...
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Background: Tuberculous meningitis (TBM) is a severe form of extra pulmonary tuberculosis with high mortality and morbidity rate in all age group patients specific in adults and children. The incidence and prevalence are not exactly known in Iran. In this study, we tried to evaluate the role of rapid diagnosis and to find out the highest risk group patients.
Methods:Totally, 1783-suspected patients with tuberculous meningitis whose CSF specimens were admitted at Noor Pathobiology Laboratory, Tehran, Iran were enrolled in this study from January 2009 until December 2013.All specimens were checked for MTB by direct examination, culture and PCR tests, andfor the adenosine deaminase (ADA).
Results:Confirmed positive cases were aged from 13 to 82 yr old with mean age 46.63 yr (SD±18.84). The number of diagnosed positive MTB was different by the 3 applied protocol, 64 by PCR, 28 by culture and 33 by direct examination. Considering the result of PCR protocol theTBM was approved in 64 patients with rate of 3.59%. Two patients had other infection as well, one 56 years old with VZV and the other patient who was HIV positive was 27 years old. Increased ADA titer higher than cutoff was relevant with other results of positive samples except in two cases.
Conclusion:Analysis of the results proved adults are more at risk for tuberculous meningitis than children in Iran are. It is also confirmed PCR method provide the most efficient, rapid and reliable results for these patients who are at the critical situations.
