Avicenna Journal of Clinical Microbiology and Infection
Volume:7 Issue: 2, Jun 2020

Chlamydia pneumonia has currently been proposed to be involved in multiple sclerosis (MS) pathogenesis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the serum level of anti-C. pneumoniae immunoglobulin G (IgG) in patients with MS compared to the control group, which may be helpful in further understanding of MS etiology.

The serum was obtained from 66 people with MS and 20 healthy people as patient and control groups, respectively. Serums were matched to the patient’s age, gender, and place of residence. Finally, anti-C. pneumoniae IgG was measured by a sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Sixty-six patients (25 men and 41 women within the age range of 17-56 years and mean±SD of 35.53±9.56) with MS and 20 control subjects (8 men and 12 women with the age range of 25-56 and mean±SD of 38.3±9.66) were enrolled in this study. The mean serum anti-C. pneumoniae IgG of patients with MS (28.82±33.54 RU/mL) was compared with that of the control group (4.075±6.691 RU/mL) and a statistically significant difference was observed in this regard (P<0.001).

In general, there was a significant relationship between the incidence of MS and the C. pneumoniae infection. However, the actual involvement of C. pneumoniae in MS is still a matter of debate and needs to be clarified in further studies (e.g., by creating animal models and conducting trial tests).

Klebsiella pneumoniae is one of the most important opportunistic enteric bacteria and is a major cause of pneumonia and urinary tract infection. In addition, the serotype capsules of K1 and K2 can cause intense diseases. Further, the acquisition of plasmid that codes the production of extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs) confers K. pneumoniae resistance on a number of broad-spectrum antibiotics posing a global public health problem. Accordingly, this study aimed to identify 120 K. pneumoniae isolates that were detected from infected wound samples in Isfahan hospitals in Iran.

Capsular serotypes and antibiotic resistance genes were studied in 120 isolates of K. pneumoniae from different clinical cases in Isfahan, Iran. To this end, the frequency of resistance genes at the presence of specific primers was examined and all resistant isolates were tested for the detection of capsular serotypes genes using special primers.

The results demonstrated that 120 isolates had serotype K2 with the redundancy of 78% and most cases had serotype K5 with the redundancy of 63%. Based on the results, aac (3)-IV gene was observed in most isolates with the redundancy of 54.1% and tetA with the redundancy of 75.86%. In this study, the highest resistance belonged to ceftazidime (74.3%), ciprofloxacin (78.5%), and tetracycline (72). Furthermore, the results revealed that serotype K2 is one of the most important serotypes of K. pneumonia. Finally, there seems to be a strong relationship between the presence of integron and increased resistance to different antibiotics.

In general, this was the first extensive study regarding the distribution and antimicrobial resistant profile of K. pneumoniae and related genes. Therefore, the continued monitoring of the antimicrobial resistance establishment of a surveillance system is urgently needed to prevent further dissemination in Iran.

Catheter-related bloodstream infection (CRBI) is one of the main causes of mortality and morbidity among hemodialysis patients. Thus, documenting its prevalence and risk factors in each center will help control them and improve patients’ prognosis.

This one-year cross-sectional study was performed in the educational hospitals of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences. Patients were selected using the census method. The included cases aged more than 18 years and had hemodialysis using a double lumen catheter. Finally, data were analyzed by SPSS analytical software.

In general, 345 patients with a mean age of 57.90±16.59 were included (192 men and 153 women) in this study. In addition, 138 (40%) patients had the elementary education and 127 (36.8%) study participants were housekeepers. Further, the subclavian vein was the most used site for the catheter (228 cases, 66.10%). Further, 187 (54.20%) cases had CRBI of whom, 181 patients had a previous history of CRBI. Furthermore, fever and chills at the time of hemodialysis were the most prevalent manifestations. Eventually, patients’ age, job, level of education, location of the catheter, previous history of CRBI, hand washing (patient and health-care personnel), use of gloves (health-care personnel), oral administration of antibiotics, use of topical antibiotic ointment, and the pattern of dressing change had a significant impact on the risk of CRBI (P<0.001).

The prevalence of CRBI is still high. Accordingly, it is needed that interventions be conducted to reduce modifiable risk factors for this issue and prevent hemodialysis patients’ morbidity and mortality.

Bovine theileriosis is an important disease in Iran and throughout the world with economic losses in Iranian cattle husbandry. The aim of the current study was to determine prevalence and geographic distribution of Theileria annulata infection in cattle and ixodid ticks species diversity in Kurdistan Province, West of Iran.

A total number of 193 blood samples were randomly taken from jugular vein. Ixodid ticks were also collected from body surface of examined cattle in three sub-areas of the region, i.e. north, center and south. The genomic DNA was extracted and PCR was performed to amplify a 721-bp-long fragment of the 30 Kilo Dalton major merozoite surface antigen of T. annulata.

The overall prevalence was 50.2% (97/193) with lymphadenopathy (54.4%) and petechia in mucosal membrane (95%) of cross-breed cattle (24.9%) aged <3 year in north part of the region (82%). Of all cattle infected with T. annulata, 9.3% (18/193) were infested with a total of 147 unfed ixodid ticks. The ixodid ticks indices was 8.17. Eight species of ixodid ticks of two genus, i.e. Hyalomma (52.9%) and Rhipicephalus (23.3%) were identified. The predominant infesting tick in all examined cattle was R. sanguineus (12%, 23/193) in south area of the region.

The results revealed that T. annulata infection was prevalent and ixodid ticks abundance, geographic distribution and the variety of species were wide in this part of Iran.

Malaria is one of the fatal parasitic diseases caused by a species of Plasmodium parasite. The disease is found worldwide, and Plasmodium vivax, P. falciparum, P. ovale, P. malariae, and P. knowlesi are the common causes among which P. vivax and P. falciparum are numerous general malaria-causing species in the world. Therefore, the present research aimed at determining the extent of these cases over the past few years in one of the southern regions of Larestan, located in Fars province, Iran.

The population of the study included people referring to health centers between 2008 and 2018 whose data were recorded in the health centers of Larestan county. Data collection and evaluation were performed through patient files and recorded information.

The entire number of recorded malaria cases from 2008 to 2018 was 156, from which 140 (89.8%) and five (2.3%) cases were related to P. vivax and P. falciparum, and 11 mixed cases (7%) were reported as well.

Over the years, malaria eradication has been a significant problem for countries. Therefore, it is important to find out the intervening factors such as relapse and imported malaria. Hence, considering the reduced imported malaria is required for eradicating this disease.

Domestic animals play a significant role in the distribution of Brucella infection to humans. Particularly, horses have a high impact on the transmission of zoonoses due to long life and multi-function. This project was conducted in Hamedan Veterinary Office for the primary assessment of Brucella infection in horses in Hamedan province using the serology technique.

Between April 2019 and January 2019, a total of 495 horse blood samples was collected from different equestrian clubs of Hamedan province. The animals were of different breeds without the clinical signs of disease. The samples were evaluated for the presence of anti-Brucella antibodies using the Rose-Bengal plate test (RBPT).

All animals were negative for Brucella antibodies. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first evaluation of Brucella infection in horses from an intensive system in Iran. The prevalence of brucellosis in horses was low and it had no significant impact on the transmission of infection to humans.

Regular screening programs, along with the quarantine and elimination of animal transfer are essential for controlling the disease.