مقالات رزومه دکتر رقیه نوروزی

Ticks are responsible for transmitting of pathogenic microorganisms during their feeding process on the hosts. They also cause significant losses in livestock production and, in many cases, the death of infected animals. In recent decades, many efforts have been carried out to combat ticks by using natural compounds. The present study aimed to evaluate the acaricidal effect of the hydroalcoholic extract of honey bee propolis against Haemaphysalis spp. in vitro. The acaricidal activities of the propolis were considered at concentrations of 25, 50, and 100 mg/ml and negative and positive controls (distilled water and Cypermethrin) following 10, 30, and 60 minutes of exposure. In this experiment the spraying and contact methods were used, and all tests were repeated twice. The chemical composition of propolis was identification by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC–MS). Data were analyzed using GraphPad Prism software version 5.0. According to the results, propolis had an acaricidal effect; however, this effect was more potent in the spraying. The propolis showed a 100% mortality rate at 100 mg/ml concentrations after 60 min exposure. GC-MS investigation showed that Heptanone (48.65%) was the main ingredient of propolis. The results indicated that the hydroalcoholic propolis extract carry potent acaricidal ingredients and might afford new natural acaricidal compounds for the control of Haemaphysalisspp.

 TRC (Toxoplasma gondii, rubella virus, and cytomegalovirus [CMV]) infections during pregnancy can lead to serious sequelae in the uterine fetus. Prenatal testing, which includes screening and diagnosis of antibodies to TRC infections, is one of the most important aspects of prenatal care recommended during pregnancy. The aim of the present study was to determine the seroprevalence of TRC infections in pregnant women who attended the antenatal clinic in Yazd province in central Iran.

 For this purpose, 8355 sera samples were obtained from pregnant women attending the central laboratory of Yazd province in central Iran and subjected to screening for immunoglobulin G (IgG) and IgM antibodies against TRC using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. Of these, 4,245, 2,190, and 1,920 pregnant women were screened for anti-Toxoplasma, rubella, and CMV, IgG, and IgM antibodies, respectively.

 The results revealed that 77.4% (1695/2190) and 78.1% (1500/1920) were positive for anti-rubella and anti-CMV IgG antibodies, and n.o seropositive was detected for anti-rubella and -CMV IgM antibodies. For anti-Toxoplasma antibodies, 20.85% (885/4245), 9.54% (405/4245), and 12.01% (510/4245) were positive for IgG, IgM, and both IgG-IgM antibodies, respectively. In addition, our findings showed the high prevalence of chronic TRC infections and a low recently acquired Toxoplasma infection in pregnant women.

 Our findings confirmed the high prevalence of chronic TRC infections and a low recently acquired Toxoplasma infection in pregnant women. Hence, observing personal behavioral practices (the source of infection and hygienic measures) are recommended to women at reproductive-age in general and seronegative pregnant women in particular.

Cystic echinococcosis (CE), caused by the larval stage of the Echinococcus granulosus, is a common human and animal disease that occurs worldwide. This study aimed to investigate the clinico-epidemiological characteristics of patients with hydatid cyst in surgical cases from 2001 to 2019 in Qom hospitals.

This cross-sectional study was conducted in Qom province, the center of Iran, from 2001 to 2019. The study population included all cases with hydatid cyst who operated in governmental and private hospitals. The participants’ characteristics such as age, gender, occupation, place of residence, organ involved, clinical signs and, diagnosis and treatment methods were collected using a questionnaire. The statistical analysis was carried out using SPSS (version 23) software package.

The results revealed that 53.21% and 46.79% of patients were females and males, respectively. Most cases were uban residents (57.69%), and 62.18% of them were housewives. Liver involvement was the most common localization of hydatid cysts reported in 73.7% of patients. The main diagnostic procedures were computed tomography scanning and indirect hemagglutination (IHA). Abdominal pain was reported in 62.2% of cases, and the most common treatment method for the disease was surgical (84.6%). Further, recurrence occurred in 13.47% of patients.

The results of this study showed that the majority of patients with CE were housewives. Therefore, proper washing of fruits and vegetables is very important. To prevent the occurrence of CE, the public awareness level should be increased. In addition, educational programs must be conducted by the Ministry of Health to identify whether the control measures are needed in the high risk population.

Hyalomma spp. is responsible for the transmission of protozoan, bacterial, rickettsial, and viral diseases and causes huge economic loss to the livestock industry.Recently, there is a wide number of promising attempts to evaluate and use herbal preparations for ticks control.This study aimed to evaluate the acaricidal activity of aqueous and ethanol extracts of Colchicum autumnale (C. autumnale) rhizome and leaf against the Hyalomma spp. in vitro. The acaricidal activities of the Colchicum leaf aqueous (CLA), Colchicum leaf ethanolic (CLE), Colchicum rhizome aqueous (CRA), and Colchicum rhizome ethanolic (CRE) extracts were evaluated at concentrations of 50, 100, and 150 mg/ml and controls (distilled water and Cypermethrin) following 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, and 1 h of exposure. It is worth mentioning that the spraying method was used in these experiments. Data were analyzed through GraphPad Prism 5 software. In addition, the chemical composition of aqueous leaf extract was analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS). The carbamodithioic acid (30.04%) was the major chemical constituent identified. Based on the results, CLA, CLE, CRA, and CRE extracts had an acaricidal effect; however, this effect was more potent in CLE. The CLE extract showed a 100% mortality rate at 50, 100, and 150 mg/ml concentrations and 1 h of exposure. The effectiveness of CRA on the Hyalomma spp. was very low. The median lethal concentration (LC50) values were obtained at 100 mg/ml. The results indicated that C. autumnaleleaves contained potent acaricidal ingredients and might provide new acaricidal compounds for the effective control of Hyalomma spp. However, further studies are required to evaluate the efficacy of C. autumnale in vivo.

Soil contamination with Toxocara spp. eggs is the main source of human toxocariasis. The aim of this study was to determine rate of soil contamination with Toxocara spp. eggs in Yazd, central Iran.

During September 2014 to February 2015, a total of 220 soil samples were collected from public parks, primary schools, green areas, kindergartens, suburban areas, streets, residential complexes, backyards and a bus terminal in the city of Yazd, Yazd Province. Soil samples were investigated for the presences of Toxocara eggs by flotation technique using sucrose solution (1.2 g/cm3) and using light microscopy. Data analysis was carried out by SPSS (version 23) software package.

A total of 220 soil samples from nine different places were examined. Of these samples, 51 (23.2%) were contaminated with Toxocara spp. eggs. The contamination rate was 26.3% in public parks, 19.2% in primary schools, 28.6% in green areas, 22.2% in kindergartens, 24% in suburban areas, 8.3% in streets, 18.8% in residential complexes, 19% in backyards and 28.6% in the bus terminal. There was no significant difference in the soil contamination rate with Toxocara spp. eggs between different sampling places (χ2 = 3.096, d.f = 8 and P= 0.92) and sampling areas (χ2= 2.289, d.f = 2 and P= 0.318).

The high rate of soil contamination with Toxocara spp. eggs in Yazd emphasize on the need for preventive measures, such as improving sanitation, providing public health education and controlling stray dogs and cats near children play areas.

Head louse, also known as Pediculus humanus capitis, is an obligate ectoparasite that is a distributed all around the world. The aim of present study was to determine the prevalence of head lice infestation in primary school students in Tabriz, East Azerbaijan Province, Iran.

Overall, 3,032 students (1,515 boys and 1,517 girls) from 33 primary schools in Tabriz were selected via multi-stage cluster sampling in 2018. The students were examined individually and privately by experts. Head lice infestation was confirmed by detecting adult or nymph or nits less than 1 cm from base of hair. Data analysis was carried out in SPSS software package (version 23). Association of participants’ characteristics with pediculosis infestation was evaluated using logistic regression and chi-square test at significance level of 0.05. 

Head lice infestation was present in 130 (4.29%) students, while the prevalence of this condition was higher in girls (2.11%) than in boys. The highest prevalence (6.05 %) was observed in children age 6 years old regardless of gender. The rate of head lice infestation was lowest among students aged ≥12 years (3.17%). There was a significant relationship between head louse infestation and parent’s occupation, family size, the frequency of combing and hair style.

Although the prevalence of head lice infestation in Tabriz is relatively low, screening and treating schoolchildren should be done continuously in order to reduce the infestation rate.

 Sarcoptes scabiei is a microscopic parasitic arthropod that penetrates into epidermis of the skin and causes scabies, a contagious disease that is one of the most common causes of dermatosis in the world.     

We herein summarize published papers about Sarcoptes scabiei infestation in Iran. Databases including MEDLINE, Pubmed and Google scholar were searched using the following terms: Sarcoptes scabiei, mange, prevalence of Sarcoptes scabiei and scabies status in Iran.      

Overall, we found approximately 15 articles related to the prevalence of Sarcoptes scabiei infestation in Iran. According to these studies, the prevalence of Sarcoptes scabiei infestation has been rather high in Iran during war and in prisons and humid areas of the country.     

In spite of the low prevalence of scabies, it is necessary to implant prevention programs continuously by reducing overcrowding, improving health education, personal hygiene, diagnostics tools, and screening and treatment of high-risk populations.