Background: Identification of freshwater snails and possible trematodes transmission sites are essential to continue monitoring the potential for disease outbreaks in areas with a history of ...parasitic infections. We aimed to search some areas in the margin of the Caspian Sea, northern Iran to identify the snail fauna of this area and verify the contamination of vector snails.
Methods: More than 5,308 snails from 51 diverse and permanent habitats were studied from April 2019 to October 2021. Snails were collected randomly and identified using shell morphology. Trematode infection in snails was investigated by the release of cercariae and dissection methods.
Results: Five families of freshwater snails including Lymnaeidae, Physidae, Planorbidae, Bithyniidae, and Viviparidae were investigated in the Caspian Sae Litoral of Iran. Physidae were found as the most prevalent snails (55.1%) followed by Lymnaeidae (29.4%). The parasitize rate was observed as 20% using releasing cercaria technique. Echinostomatoidea (31%), Schistosomatoidea (8%), and Diplostomoidea (21%), and Plagiorchioidea (40%) were seen as detected parasites. Meanwhile, 60% of the studied snails illustrated the other stages of trematodes.
Conclusion: The rate of infection of snails with different cercaria in northern Iran is significant. It needs further deep studies to clarify the situation of zoonoses transmitted by snails in the region. Policy makers should pay attention more to this area in terms of monitoring the snail-transmitted diseases.
Background: Identification of the larval stages of Echinostoma spp. in freshwater snails is an essential guide to continue monitoring the possibility of their transmission and the potential of ...echinostomiasis in areas where trematodes are the primary agent of parasitic diseases. The aim of this study was investigate Echinostoma using morphological and molecular techniques.
Methods: The study was conducted in Gilan and Mazandaran Provinces, northern Iran, from April 2019 to October 2021. Overall, 5300 freshwater snails were randomly collected and were identified using external shell morphology. Meanwhile, snails infected with trematodes were studied via shedding and dissecting methods. Larvae stages of Echinostoma were identified and the genomic DNA of the samples was extracted. The PCR amplification of the ITSI gene was carried out for 17 isolates and products were sequenced. Seven sequences were deposited in GenBank.
Results: Totally, 3.5% of snails containing three species (Stagnicola sp., Radix sp. and Planorbis sp.) were infected with two types of cercaria, E. revolutum with 37 and Echinostoma sp. with 45 spines in the collar. Moreover, 35% of the snails were infected with Echinostoma spp. metacercaria. Phylogenetic analysis illustrated that isolates were included in two ITSI haplogroups.
Conclusion: Results showed the potential hazard of a zoonotic parasite as Echinostoma in northern Iran. The potential of disease environmental relationship investigation and resource control optimization is necessary for effective disease prevention and health management.
Fascioliasis is a zoonotic parasitic infection caused by Fasciola species in humans and animals. Despite significant advances in vaccination and new therapeutic agents, little attention has been paid ...to validating methods for the diagnosis of fascioliasis in humans. Serological techniques are convenient assays that significantly improves the diagnosis of Fasciola infection. However, a more sensitive method is required. The aim of this study was to compare the Real-Time PCR technique with the indirect-ELISA for the detection of Fasciola hepatica in human. Using a panel of sera from patients infected with Fasciola hepatica (n = 51), other parasitic infections (n = 7), and uninfected controls (n = 12), we optimized an ELISA which employs an excretory-secretory antigens from F. hepatica for the detection of human fascioliasis. After DNA extraction from the samples, molecular analysis was done using Real-Time PCR technique based on the Fasciola ribosomal ITS1 sequence. Of 70 patient serum samples, 44 (62.86%) samples were identified as positive F. hepatica infection using ELISA and Real-Time PCR assays. There was no cross-reaction with other parasitic diseases such as toxoplasmosis, leishmaniasis, taeniasis, hydatidosis, trichinosis, toxocariasis, and strongyloidiasis. The significant difference between the agreement and similarity of the results of patients with indirect ELISA and Real-Time PCR was 94.4% and 99.2%, respectively (Cohen's kappa ≥ 0.7; P = 0.02). Based on the Kappa agreement findings, the significant agreement between the results of ELISA and Real-Time PCR indicates the accuracy and reliability of these tests in the diagnosis of F. hepatica in humans.
Background: Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is one of the most important parasitic infections in subgroup seven common neglected diseases of humans and animals. It is in the list of 18 neglected tropical ...diseases of the WHO. We aimed to analyze the situation of the disease in Iran using Geographical Information System (GIS) and satellite data analysis.
Methods: The data obtained from the Ministry of Health and Medical Education, Tehran, Iran and other related centers from 2009 to 2018 were analyzed using GIS. Then, the spatial distribution maps of the disease were generated, and the hot spots of the disease in Iran were determined using spatial analysis of ArcGIS10.5 software. Geographically weighted regression (GWR) analysis in ArcGIS10.5 was used to correlate the variables affecting the disease including temperature, relative humidity, normalized different vegetation index (NDVI) and incidence of hydatidosis. Data analysis was performed by Linear regression analysis and SPSS 21 software using descriptive statistics and chi-square test.
Results: Zanjan, Khorasan Razavi, North Khorasan, Chaharmahal Bakhtiari, Hamedan, Semnan, and Ardabil provinces were the hot spots of CE. The results of geographical weighted regression analysis showed that in Khorasan Razavi, North Khorasan, Chaharmahal Bakhtiari, Hamedan, Semnan, Ardabil, Zanjan, Qazvin, and Ilam provinces, the highest correlation between temperature, humidity, vegetation density and the incidence of hydatidosis was observed (P<0.001).
Conclusion: The use of maps could provide reliable estimates of at-risk populations. Climatic factors of temperature, humidity, NDVI had a greater impact on the probability of hydatidosis. These factors can be an indicator used to predict the presence of disease. Environmental and climatic factors were associated with echinococcosis.
Comprehensive Survey of Plagiarism in Iran Rokni, Mohammad Bagher; Bizhani, Negar; Habibzadeh, Farrokh ...
Pakistan journal of medical sciences,
12/2020, Letnik:
36, Številka:
7
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
We conducted this study to assess the prevalence of plagiarism and to shed light on some dark aspects of this issue. The main objectives included to find out the etiology, prevalence, and detection ...of various forms plagiarism.
In this Cross-sectional study we used a questionnaire, face-to-face interview, analyzing the present notifications and codes, websites, and literature review. The current study was conducted throughout Iran from 2017-2018. Those associated with scientific journalism, academic staffs, and authors were interviewed or asked to fill out a prepared questionnaire.
Nine hundred seventy nine questionnaires were circulated. Out of this 706 (72.1%) were completed and returned. Those with a master degree were most cooperative in filling out the questionnaires (36.4%); followed by Assistant Professors (29.6%). About 74.1% of respondents, had not participated in any educational workshops on plagiarism (
<0.001) while 10.8% had not heard anything about plagiarism (
<0.001). As regards correct reply as for definition and detecting plagiarism; 91.1%, 40.8%, 48.4% and 57.9% could reply correctly (
<0.001). Forty-one-point one percent of the participants believed that reprimand would be the best punishment. The percentage of plagiarism as per people associated in journal administration, was 22.9%; based on experts' opinions, it was 30.0%; and based on analysis of some journals published in Iran, it was 25.5%.
We found a noticeable prevalence of plagiarism in Iran. Many factors are involved in this misconduct; most important being the need for academic staff and students to publish e more papers regardless of their quality to meet some of the academic requirements. Considering the high rank of Iran in terms of scientific growth worldwide, it is expected from the regulatory authorities to monitor all aspects of scientific misconducts in medical journalism.
Background: We aimed to detect the genetic diversity of samples identified morphologically as Fasciola spp. from sheep, cattle and goat from Lorestan Province, western Iran using PCR-RFLP method. ...Besides, we evaluated the genetic diversity indices, sequencing and phylogenetic analysis using mitochondrial gene (ND1 and CO1).
Methods: PCR-RFLP analysis of ribosomal ITS1 fragment by RsaI restriction enzyme to investigate the genetic characteristics of Fasciola species obtained from different hosts (18 sheep, 21 cattle, and 17goats) was conducted. The samples were sequenced. Sequences were evaluated using BLAST software and the parasite species were identified with similarity percentage and overlap with the species registered in the gene bank. Then similarity and diversity of intra-species and intra-species diversity of Fasciola species were calculated.
Results: In Lorestan, based on RFLP pattern, 93% (52) of the Fasciola spp. isolates had a RFLP pattern related to F. hepatica and 7% (4) were F. gigantica. No hybrid forms were detected. The CO1 gene could clarify 19 haplotypes against ND1 gene that found 22 haplotypes among livestock. Sequencing results of the mtDNA showed intra-species identity 98. 5%-100% and Intra-species-diversity: 0-1.5% compared to the GenBank sequences.
Conclusion: Using PCR-RFLP method, two species of F. hepatica and F. gigantica, were present in Lorestan Province, but F. hepatica was more prevalent. Mitochondrial genes could better test variability indices in different hosts than ribosomal genes, consequently among mitochondrial genes, the ND1 gene could better examine differences and similarities than CO1.
Cysticercosis in among the neglected tropical disease caused by eating the egg of parasite
. In this review, we aimed to verify the prevalence of human cysticercosis in different countries of Asia ...using systematic review and meta-analysis approach.
Based of the protocol, reliable databases including PubMed, SCOPUS, Science Direct, Embase, and Cochrane Library from 1990-2018 were searched using a panel of keywords. Overall, 48 countries of Asia were searched in turn and data were analyzed using a category of statistical tests.
Out of 28 included studies, 586175 samples were collected and included in the data analysis. Based on the meta-analysis results, the overall pooled percent of cysticercosis was estimated 3.8% (95% CI: 2.0, 7.0). According to the result of heterogeneity statistics including I-squared, chi-square, and tau-squared, it was statistically significant (Tau2 = 2.94, chi2 = 12733.31,
<0.001, I2 = 100%) therefore a random effect model was used to handle the heterogeneity of studies. To evaluate the trend of cysticercosis over the time, Cumulative meta-analysis was performed and the result showed that there was a minor upward tendency in the prevalence of cysticercosis over the time.
Although, considering the religious culture and food habits in Asia, we might have expected to witness a low prevalence of human cysticercosis, but we noticed more or less significant infection in some countries of the region. Regarding the new feature of immigration and travel between countries, all authorities are advised to take measures on controlling and monitoring the disease.
Fasciolosis is a shared disease between humans and livestock caused by hepatic trematodes;
and
. Differentiate between the two species of this genus is essential. High-Resolution Melting (HRM) ...Analysis represents a new approach to this issue. This method can be performed right after termination of Real-Time PCR. This technique has not been used for identification of adult
and
genotypes. The aim of this study was to determine
species by using HRM in isolates taken from Iran, respectively.
Ninety-three
spp. samples were collected from infected slaughtered animals in different regions of Iran, including North West (Ardebil Province) and South East (Zahedan Province) during 2016. Genomic DNA from the samples was extracted using a DNA extraction kit and then after Real-Time PCR amplification, HRM was done.
Overall, 59 and 34 isolates were identified as
and
, respectively. The percentages of each species from animals were as follows: sheep (
, 80.39% and
, 19.61%), cattle (
, 42.85% and
, 57.15%).
HRM technique developed in the present study is a powerful, rapid and sensitive technique for epidemiological survey and molecular identification between
and
.
Background: We aimed to compare semi-nested PCR with indirect ELISA to diagnose human fasciolosis.
Methods: Overall, 70 serum samples were collected from different areas in Iran suspected for ...fascioliasis. Individuals were classified based on diagnostic of fascioliasis and habitat in endemic areas. Finally, all serum samples were tested by indirect ELISA (using secretory excretory antigen) and semi-nested PCR (using ITS1 gene). The study was conducted in the School of Publish Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Iran in 2021.
Results: Significant differences were found between agreement and similarity of patients' results of indirect ELISA and semi-nested PCR 94.46% and 98.4% respectively (Cohen's kappa ≥0.6; P-value≤0.05). No cross-reactions were observed with other parasitic diseases (toxocariasis, hydatidosis, strongyloidiasis, toxoplasmosis, cutaneous leishmaniasis, taeniasis and trichinosis). 69.84% of samples were positive by both techniques. In addition, the percentage of agreement and similarity between the results of the two techniques based on habitat in endemic areas was 88.9-100% and 97.7-100%, respectively (Cohen's kappa ≥0.6; P-value≤0.05).
Conclusion: Semi-nested PCR could be a suitable method for following up on patients' treatment and a confirmatory method for ELISA as for diagnosis of human fascioliasis.
Toxocariasis is one of the most neglected zoonotic diseases, predominantly caused by
. We aimed to evaluate the expression of microRNAs 21 and 103a in seropositive individuals for human toxocariasis ...as diagnostic biomarkers.
This study was conducted on 324 individuals for ELISA test on toxocariasis in Tehran and Karaj, Iran 2019. Then positive samples for anti-
IgG were obtained to quantitative Real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) assays to investigate the transcriptional profiles of miRNAs predicted to be involved in developmental and reproductive processes. qPCR was employed to assess levels of transcription for miRNAs of 103a and 21 in plasma samples.
After the experiments, the results were evaluated by REST software, Livak formula and quantitative
-test. The analyzes performed on human samples showed that in the case group compared to the control group, only in
miR-21 gene, a 0.3-fold increase in expression was obtained with REST software (Fold change ≤ 1.5,
>0.05), which was statistically significant by
-test (
<0.05).
To our knowledge, this is the first study to evaluate miR-21 and miR-103a in toxocariasis, which shed light on the fundamental role of it as a biomarker and diagnostic tool. However, due to the changes in expression of these miRNAs were not vast to be used as biomarkers in diagnosis. Despite of that the changes in the expression of these miRNAs were not vast but they could serve as novel promising biomarkers for diagnosis of toxocariasis.
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