فهرست مطالب nawfal hussein

H. pylori is known to increase the risk of developing gastritis, peptic ulcer disease, gastric adenocarcinoma, and gastric lymphoma in adults, worldwide. This study aimed to determine the seroprevalence of H. pylori infection and risk factors associated with such infection among adult in Duhok province, Kurdistan Region, Iraq. This cross-sectional study was conducted among adult population in Duhok Province, Iraq. During the study period from 2018 to 2020, a total of 259 subjects aged more than 18 years who visited the general hospitals were included. H. pylori seropositivity rate was determined using un enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). A standardized questionnaire was administered to all study participants through face-to-face interview. The data obtained from H pylori IgG antibody were analyzed using the chi-square test. The prevalence of anti H. pylori IgG antibody positivity was present in 104 out259 (40.02%) of the adult. Among the studied variables, all the following risk factors were significantly associated with the presence of anti H. pylori IgG antibodies; male (p< 0.043), level of education (p<0.025), history of gastrointestinal diseases (p< 0.001), smoking status (p< 0.001) and a larger sibling number (p< 0.001). This study supports the hypothesis that H. pylori infection in adult is highly related to poor hygiene, smoking status, low level of education and crowded conditions. Therefore, it is crucial to implement effective strategies aimed at enhancing fundamental sanitary conditions, as well as improving educational level and socioeconomic status, in order to reduce the prevalence of H. pylori infection among adults in our region

Staphylococcus aureus is a common commensal bacterium of the human body and a potential pathogen, causing public health hazards. Due to various virulent factors and growing antibiotic resistance, bacteria could cause various infections, ranging from minor skin infections to life-threating sepsis.

The present study aimed to evaluate the prevalence rate of S. aureus and determine its antimicrobial sensitivity profile in the secondary school students in Duhok City, Iraq.

Samples were collected from the anterior nares of 492 volunteers aged more than 16 years in different cities, including Akre, Amedye, Bardarash, and Duhok. Conventional laboratory tests were performed for the identification of the bacterial isolates. In addition, the antimicrobial sensitivity test was carried out in accordance with the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI).

Out of 492 subjects, 185 cases (37.6%) were carriers of S. aureus, including 57/185 (30.8%) males. The oxacillin resistance rate was estimated at 41.08%, while the resistance rate against tetracycline, fusidic acid, ciprofloxacin, gentamicin, vancomycin, clindamycin and rifampicin was 27.02%, 19.46%, 9.19%, 8.65%, 7.56%, 3.78%, and 1.08%, respectively. All the isolates were susceptible to teicoplanin.

According to the results, the prevalence rate of S. aureus was high, and the species were more common in females. Therefore, further investigations are required to monitor the S. aureus antimicrobial profile and implement proper plans to manage the associated issues.
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The aim of this report was to investigate the genotypes of HCV in patients on regular hemodialysis in Iraq

A cross sectional study was conducted to investigate the genotypes of HCV in patients on regular hemodialysis in 7 centers across Iraq. 255 subjects with positive anti-HCV antibodies were recruited in this study.

To confirm the positivity, RTPCR was performed. Amongst all samples, 31% (79/255) was positive by RTPCR. Then, we genotyped all the RTPCR positive samples, it was found that 39/79 (49.4 %) of our samples were typed as HCV genotype 1 including 26 samples (66.7%) as HCV 1a and 13 samples (33.3%) as HCV 1b. HCV genotype 4 was found in 34/79 (43%) of the samples while 6/79 (7.6%) of the samples typed as HCV 3

HCV genotype 1 was the most prevalent genotype followed by genotype 4. Further population-based study is required to investigate the prevalence of HCV genotypes.

Hepatitis B virus infection (HBV) is a leading cause of increased mortality and morbidity in renal transplant subjects. The purpose of this project was to investigate the prevalence of HBV in patients with renal transplant and compare it with the general population in Duhok city, Iraq. Then, the impact of HBV infection on graft function was evaluated. A total of 560 renal transplant subjects and 2975 volunteers were recruited in this study. All subjects were examined for HB surface antigen (HBsAg) positivity. Then, all HBsAg positive subjects were tested for viral load, alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), serum creatinine and HBV profile. All HBsAg positive renal transplant subjects received treatment and were followed up for 24 months. It was found that 6/560 (1.1%) of the renal transplant subjects were HBsAg positive while 30/2975 (1.09%) of the volunteers were positive for HBsAg (P>0.05). After initiation of medications, viral load became undetected within 6 months of treatment. Serum creatinine levels were normal at the end of the study. No major side effects were recorded. The prevalence of HBV in renal transplant subjects was similar to the prevalence in general population. HBV infection did not show any negative effect on the graft function. Further study is needed with a larger sample size to explore the long term effect of the infection on graft functionality.

Toxoplasma gondii and Cytomegalovirus (CMV) can cause a range of diseases in pregnant women and may lead to adverse fetal outcomes. Therefore, the detection of these infections is necessary during pregnancy. The aim of this study was to estimate the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma and Cytomegalovirus infections among the pregnant women with history of abortion in Zakho city, Iraq.
Over a period of five years (2014-2018), blood samples were collected from 500 subjects aged 16-45 years old and tested to identify the presence of specific IgG and IgM to Toxoplasma and CMV infections by Enzyme Linked Fluorescent Assay (ELFA) method.
Of 500 pregnant women, 145 (29%) and 7 (1.8%) were seropositive for anti-Toxoplasma IgG and IgM, respectively. IgG seropositivityto T. gondii infection varied significantly between age groups (P=0.05). Additionally, the seroprevalence of IgG and IgM antibodies for CMV was 475 (95%) and 9 (1.8%), respectively. Estimation of age specific subgroups showed high CMV IgG seropositivity rates for all age groups with no significant difference between them. Altogether, 145 cases were verified seropositive for specific IgG antibody against both pathogens and only 2 cases were positive for specific IgM against both agents.
Anti-Toxoplasma and CMV IgG and IgM antibodies positivity rates among pregnant women determined in the present study are quite similar as compared to other studies reported in Kurdistan Region, Iraq. Though, infection with those pathogens is not a major cause of abortion; it is useful to screen women with recurrent abortion for such infections in order to avoid undesirable fetal outcomes and other serious complications.

Tuberculosis (TB) is a major public health problem. Close household-contacts are at high risk of infections, particularly latent TB (LTBI). The study aimed to investigate the prevalence of LTBI in household-contacts of active TB patients. A total of 150 household contacts with active TB patients were recruited. Blood samples were collected and tested for the presence of LTBI by QuantiFERON-TB-Gold-Plus assay. Amongst those recruited in this study, 62/150 (41.3%) were positive. Amongst the positive subjects, 33/62 (53%) were male. Four samples gave indeterminate results including two males and two females. The prevalence of LTBI was high in household-contacts. For successful TB control, close screening of contacts should be considered.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a serious concern of the global health sector and more recently, an escalating problem in the community. This study was performed to investigate the incidence of MRSA in hospital staff and community students in Duhok, Kurdistan, Iraq, and make a molecular comparison between the strains based on the detection of mecA gene and Panton-Valentine Leukocidin (PVL) gene. We obtained 109 and 103 samples from the nares of hospital staff and community students, respectively. Conventional laboratory tests were performed for the detection of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and antibiotic sensitivity testing to identify MRSA isolates. Besides, PCR was utilized for molecular analysis. All isolates from hospital staff were identified as S. aureus. Out of the 109 isolates, 55 (50.4%) were MRSA carrying the mecA gene, among which 4/55 (3.7%) were MRSA-PVL positive. Additionally, 54/109 (49.5%) isolates were methicillin-sensitive S. aureus (MSSA) but four isolates (3.7%) were MSSA-PVL positive. Furthermore, 23/103 (22.3%) samples from community students were identified as S. aureus, among which 5/23 (21.7%) and 17/23 (73.9%) isolates were MSSA-PVL positive and MSSA-PVL negative, respectively. Moreover, 1/23 (4.3%) was found as MRSA and was PVL gene-positive. The results showed that MRSA is swarming in hospitals and community in Duhok, Iraq. The highest rate of PVL was associated with community-acquired-MSSA (CA- MRSA). With further genotypic study, immediate action is needed to control and reduce the spread of MRSA clones, determine their clonal relations, and conduct epidemiological investigations.

Infection with toxoplasma, cytomegalovirus (CMV) or rubella is associated with negative pregnancy outcomes. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of anti-toxoplasma, CMV and rubella IgM antibodies in women with abortion. This was a cross sectional study conducted in Kurdistan region of Iraq. Samples were collected between January 2015 and October 2018. Women with a recent history of abortion were included in the study and electrical chemiluminescence immunoassay (ECLIA) was used to determine the IgM positivity. Overall, 1275 women were recruited. Amongst these cases, 36 out of 1275 (2.82%) were positive for anti-toxoplasma IgM antibodies. Additionally, 29 out of 1275 (2.27%) of the samples were positive for anti-CMV IgM antibodies, and 22 out of 1275 (1.73%) were positive for anti-Rubella IgM antibodies. The prevalence of toxoplasmosis, CMV, and rubella IgM positivity was low in women with abortion. It seems that infections with these microorganisms are not major causes of abortion in the studied region.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a public health problem. The lack of information about the seroprevalence and risk factors is an obstacle for preventive public health plans to reduce the burden of viral hepatitis. Therefore, this study was conducted in Iraq, where no studies had been performed to determine the prevalence and risk factors of HBV infection.
Blood samples were collected form 438 blood donors attending blood bank in Duhok city. Serum samples were tested for HBV core-antibodies (HBcAb) and HBV surface-antigen (HBsAg) by ELISA. Various risk factors were recorded and multivariate analysis was performed.
5/438 (1.14%) of the subjects were HBsAg positive (HBsAg and HBcAb positive) and 36/438 (8.2%) were HBcAb positive. Hence, 41 cases were exposed to HBV and data analysis was based on that. Univariate analysis showed that there were significant associations between history of illegitimate sexual contact, history of alcohol or history of dental surgeries and HBV exposure (p This study suggested that the history of dental surgery was predictive for HBV transmission in Duhok city. Further population-based study is needed to determine HBV risk factors in the society and public health plan based on that should be considered