فهرست مطالب mahmoud mahami-oskouei

 Opportunistic pathogens such as Cryptosporidium, Isospora belli, Blastocystis, etc. cause various gastrointestinal and non-digestive diseases in people with HIV. These symptoms are especially severe in people with HIV who have a CD4 count of less than 200. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of parasitic infections in people living with HIV in Tabriz.

 This cross-sectional and descriptive study was performed on137 people with HIV referred to Behavioral Disease Counseling Centers in Tabriz, 2019-2021. Then, after receiving written consent, fecal samples were collected and evaluated for the detection of parasitic infections using direct methods, Ziehl-Neelsen and Trichrome Weber stain.

 A total of 137 stool samples were collected, including 93 males and 44 females. Most of them were in the age range of 20-60 years. The overall frequency of parasitic infections was 57.7% and the highest prevalence was related to Blastocystis 24.1% and Cryptosporidium 14.6%.

 Due to the relatively high prevalence of parasitic infections, especially Blastocystis and Cryptosporidium in people with HIV in Tabriz, which can endanger the health of these patients, essential interventions, including personal hygiene training to control and prevent infection with these pathogens, seem to be necessary.

Toxoplasma gondii is a protozoan parasite that belongs to the family Coccidae. We aimed to evaluate IgG avidity and the changes of anti-Toxoplasma immunoglobulins M (IgM) and G (IgG) in patients with acute leukemia and lymphoma.

Ninety eight patients with Acute myeloid leukemia (AML), Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) and lymphoma, selected from patients referring to Imam Reza Hospital of Tabriz (38°04′N 46°18′E), in terms of the presence of anti-Toxoplasma IgM, IgG, IgG avidity antibodies and the major risk factors were evaluated.

The results of pre-chemotherapy evaluation showed that of the examined patients, only two cases, one patient with ALL and another patient with lymphoma, had a positive IgM titer. Overall, 46 cases had positive IgG titers, including 20 patients with AML, 15 patients with ALL and 11 patients with lymphoma. Three (3.06%) patients were positive for anti-T. gondii IgM and one of them was with new infection of toxoplasmosis in lymphoma patients. The post-chemotherapy IgG titer evaluation showed 46 [46.9% (95% CI 37.4–56.7)] positive IgG cases that this result was similar to the result of pre-treatment phase. One [1% (95% CI 0.2–5.6)] positive IgG avidity case was detected using ELISA method, in a patient with lymphoma whose IgM was also positive. There was no significant difference between the type of leukemia and the history of contact with cat.

Performing specialized tests to diagnose toxoplasma infection before starting treatment, in immunodeficiency patients who undergo chemotherapy, is necessary; therefore, these tests should be considered in therapeutic protocols.

We employed a highly sensitive loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) by targeting 18S rRNA gene to identify the rapid mass screening of Leishmania infections in captured sand flies of southwest Iran and In vitro culture.
One hundred fifty sand flies were collected from 11 sites adjacent to Iraqi’s borders in southern parts of Khuzestan Province by using sticky sheets of paper and CDC miniature light traps during late May 2014 to Nov 2015. Following morphological identification of sand flies species, the DNA of infected samples was extracted and amplified by PCR and LAMP assays by targeting ITS-rDNA and 18S rRNA genes. The PCR amplicons were directly sequenced to conduct the phylogenetic analysis
Ten (6.6%) Leishmania infections were identified by LAMP assay (detection limit 0.01 parasites DNA) among infected Sergentomyia baghdadis, S. sintoni and Phlebotomus papatasi sand flies that was more sensitive than PCR (n=6.4%; (detection limit 101parasites DNA). LAMP can identify 101-106promastigotes/100 µl RPMI 1640 while PCR recognized104-106 promastigotes. The majority infection rate of sand flies was confirmed to L. major inferred by phylogenetic analysis.
This is the first exploration characterized the Old World Leishmania infections by LAMP technique in both infected sand flies and In vitro conditions. The LAMP method because of its shorter reaction time, robustness, more sensitivity, lack of requirement of complicated equipment and visual discriminatory of positivity can be appeared a promising tool instead of PCR to identify low Leishmania loads and entomological monitoring of leishmaniasis in resource-limited endemic of the world.

Acanthamoeba is an opportunistic amphizoic protozoan found in different fresh water sources. The aim of this study was to identify and characterize Acanthamoeba isolates from surface resting waters, in Northwest Iran.
Samples were collected from twenty-two different areas, between May and Sep 2014. After filtration, samples were cultivated on non-nutrient agar. The extracted DNAs were amplified and sequenced using partial 18S rRNA in order to genotype and phylogenetic analyses.
Thirty-four (68%) out of 50 collected samples were positive for free-living amoebae based on both culture and morphological characterizations but 28 samples were identified as Acanthamoeba spp. by PCR. Sequentially, one isolate was identified as A. lenticulata, (T5) (AN: KP940443, identity 99.7%-100%, and divergence 0.3%) whilst other sequenced isolates identified Acanthamoeba spp. (AN: KP940444-45) as very similar to A. rhysodes and A. royreba with identity 100% and divergence 0%.
Surface resting waters in Northwest Iran, were potentially contaminated with pathogenic amphizoic protozoan. Further studies will be required to determine other Acanthamoeba species and genotypes in the region.

Toxoplasmosis, a worldwide parasitic infection, is considered as a transfusion-transmitted disease.
Due to ignorance about Toxoplasma infection in blood donors monitoring and its important role in provision of safe blood and blood products and also poor information about the seroprevalence of T. gondii infection in blood donors, this study was conducted to assess anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies and associated risk factors among blood donors in northwest of Iran.
In this cross- sectional study, 194 serum samples were collected from healthy blood donors who referred to Tabriz Blood transfusion organization (East Azerbaijan, Iran) during April and June 2014 and tested for anti-T. gondii IgM and IgG antibodies using chemiluminescence immunoassay. The questionnaire consisting of demographic and risk factors were filled for all the participants.
From 194 donors, 75 (38.66%) and 2 (1.03%) individuals were seropositive for anti-T. gondii IgG and IgM antibodies, respectively. In the present study, anti-T. gondii antibodies in first-time donors was significantly higher than those in regular blood donors (P Considering the medical importance of blood transfusion and high rate of anti- T. gondii antibodies in healthy blood donors, it seems that effective monitoring of infection is required to prevent transfusion- transmitted toxoplasmosis.

Toxoplasma gondii, the obligate, intracellular parasite afflicts human in diverse ways such as ingestion of tissue cysts in undercooked meat. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and genotyping of Toxoplasma isolated from meat samples being consumed in East Azerbaijan, Northwest of Iran.
Overall, 150 samples including chicken, beef and lamb meat were collected from retailers in different regions of Tabriz, northwestern Iran during April to September 2014. Molecular detection was done by amplifying B1 gene and T. gondii surface antigen 2 (SAG2) loci. For genotyping of T. gondii, restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) was performed using Sau3AI and HhaI restriction enzymes. Finally, three positive isolate from each host was sequenced to evaluate and phylogenetic analysis.
Overall, 26 (17.33%) samples were positive for T. gondii including 4 (8%) isolate from chicken, 8 (16%) isolates from cattle and 14 (28%) isolates from sheep. According to the RFLP patterns, sequencing and phylogenetic results, all of the samples were identified as genotype I.
The results indicated a potential risk of transmission of the disease through the consumption of infected meat. This is particularly important especially for pregnant women and immuno-compromised patients and this suggests that the training on the prevention of infection is necessary.

Leeches are a group of round worm that belonged in Hirudina order. They live in freshwater, soil and wetlands. Some leeches are predators and feeding of worms, insect’s larvae and snails, whereas some of the other is bloodthirsty and feeding invertebrates and vertebrates. Although leeches can have important therapeutic but sometimes cause serious problems in humans and animals. In the present report, a 22 year old woman living in Tabriz admitted to infectious diseases ward of Sina hospital, with diarrhea, nausea and gastroenteritis symptoms. After clinical and parasitological experiments, leeches were confirmed in the patient's gastrointestinal secretions.

Cryptosporidiosis is one of the most important parasitic infections in human and animals. This study was designed for survey on the prevalence of Cryptosporidium infection in farms of Ilam, west of Iran, using parasitology method and genotyping by Nested PCR-RFLP. Fecal samples of 217 cattle were collected fresh and directly from the rectum of cattle. All of the samples were examined by microscopic observation after staining with modified Ziehl-Neelsen (MZN). Genomic DNA extracted by using EURx DNA kit. A Nested PCR-RFLP protocol amplifying 825 bp fragment of 18s rRNA gene conducted to differentiate species and genotyping of the isolates using SspI and VspI as restriction enzymes. The prevalence of Cryptosporidium infection in cattle using both methods is 3.68%. Most of the positive cattle were calves under six months. Species diagnosis carried out by digesting the secondary PCR product with SspI that C. parvum gener­ated 3 visible bands of 448, 247 and 106 bp and digested by VspI restriction en­zyme generated 2 visible bands of 628 and 104bp. In this investigation all of the positive samples were Cryptosporidium parvum. C. parvum (bovine genotype) detected in all positive cattle samples in Ilam, west of Iran. The results of the present study can help for public health care systems to prevention and management of cryptosporidiosis in cattle and the assess­ment of cattle cryptosporidiosis as a reservoir for the human infection.

Hydatidosis, as the most important zoonotic parasitic disease in Iran, has posed many health and economic losses. This study was conducted to investigate the demographic characteristics of hydatid cyst surgeries in hospitals of East Azerbaijan Province, Northwest of Iran. Demographic characteristics of all patients with hydatid cyst surgery in hospitals of the province, during 2009-2011 were gathered including age, gen­der, occupation, number and location of the cyst, clinical symptoms, place of residence and history of contact with dog. They were extracted from reports of health center and were analyzed using STATA 11 software. Out of 52 hydatid cyst surgeries, 27 cases were females. Mean age of patients was 38.3 yr. Liver was reported as the most involved organ. The most clinical symptoms were abdominal and liver pain. Housewives comprised the most victims of the disease. Forty seven percent of patients had one cyst and 59% had the history of contact with dog. The majority of the patients were liv­ing in rural areas. Due to the high costs of diagnosis and treatment of hydatidosis, collecting data on the prevalence and transmission of the disease as well as on vulnerable groups seems to be essential as the first step in controlling and prevent­ing the disease.

Visceral Larva Migranas (VLM) is a zoonotic disease caused by the migration of Toxocara canis or Toxocara cati larva in human tissues. This study was performed to evaluation of indirect immunofluorescent antibody (IFA) and ELISA in diagnosis of visceral larva migranas followed by a seroepidemiological survey in Tabriz. In this cross-sectional study، 558 persons from 2-20 years old selected from Tabriz in 2009-2010. Venous blood samples were collected and transferred to the research laboratory. Toxocara antibodies were detected by ELISA and IFA methods. We used the chi-square test for statistical analysis. Of 558 samples (235 male and 323 female) 162 (29. 04%) had anti-Toxocara antibodies and 396 (70. 96%) were negative. 162 samples were seropositive by ELISA، whereas anti-Toxocara antibodies were detected in 161 samples by IFA method. Discussion & The results of this study showed that، the IFA test have well efficiency for detection of VLM، but requires a laboratory equipped and trained personnels، While the ELISA test، is a simple and easy for the diagnosis and seroepidemiological study of toxocariasis.

Strongyloides stercoralis is a human’s intestinal nematode with global expansion. This parasite is common in tropical and subtropical regions. The 11-year-old male patient from Miyandoab with 39 °C fever referred to Tabriz Children Hospital، Tabriz، Iran، and admitted with the acute myeloid leukemia Tcell type cramping abdominal pain and severe diarrhea associated with cervical lymphadenopathy. Patient was undergoing to induction therapy with Prednisolone، Vincristin، Daunoru-Bicin، and L-Asparginase. Due to severe diarrhea and dehydration، it was conducted stool examination and detected Strongyloides stercoralis rhabditiform larvae. The patient were treated with Albendazol and serum therapy.