Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Disease

767-771

Authors: Muhammad Shoaib Amjad, Nazish Sadiq, Huma Qureshi, Ghazala Fareed, Sidra Sabir

Nanotechnology is an emerging scientific discipline with numerous applications in the field of biomedicine and manufacturing new materials. They hold potential to be applied in different biological fields and most strictly focused in medical applications, e.g., tools for noninvasive imaging, diagnostic test assays for early disease detection, drug development and targeted drug delivery systems to reduce secondary systemic negative effects. Nanoparticles have contributed a lot to the advancement of the medical arena. To extract gold nanoparticles with different techniques, green biosynthesis is under exploration due to its cost-effective, ecofriendly preparations with controllable shape, size and disparity, great physical and chemical inertness, optical properties related with surface plasmon resonance, surface modification, surface bio-conjugation with molecular probes, excellent biocompatibility and less toxicity. A significant potential of nanoparticles in biomedical applications including imaging of tissues and cells, sensing of target molecules, drug delivery is among recent efforts in their synthesis and functionalization e.g., Feridex (iron oxide nanoparticles) have been clinically administered as a contrast agent in MRI.

779-785

Authors: Robert Soumay Houmsou, Sambo Obadiah Elkanah, Liatu Columbus Garba, Binga Emmanuel Wama, Elizabeth Une Amuta, Santaya Larit Kela

Objective: To determine the spatial distribution of soil-transmitted helminthiases (STHs) and level of infection in relation to epidemiological factors, and to determine co-infection with schistosomiasis among school-aged children in Gashaka Local Area, Taraba State, North East, Nigeria. Methods: Both urine and faecal samples were collected from school-aged children from January–June 2014. The samples were processed using standard filtration and formol-ether concentration techniques for urine and stools respectively. Remotely sensed images were processed using earth resource data analysis system 9.1 and ArcGis 9.2 softwares. Results: A point prevalence of 11.0% (119/1080) was reported out of 1080 children examined. Hookworm infection had the highest infection (5.4%, 59/1080) followed by ascariasis (3.8%, 41/1080) and trichuriasis (1.7%, 19/1080). The spatial distribution of the individual helminths infection showed hookworm infection to be higher in Mayo-selbe (23.8%, 43/180), Gashaka (21.6%, 39/180) and Serti A (12.7%, 23/180) (χ2 = 52.58, P = 0.000). Ascariasis was higher in Serti A (6.7%, 12/180) and Gashaka (6.1%, 11/180) (χ2 = 54.15, P = 0.000), while trichuriasis was higher in Mayo-Selbe (7.2%, 13/180) (χ2 = 54.15, P = 0.000) than the other localities. Considering the overall STHs, localities such as Gashaka (30.0%, 54/180), Mayo-Selbe (23.8%, 43/180) and Serti A (19.4%, 35/180) were significantly infected than other localities (χ2 = 93.68, P = 0.000). The logistic regression model showed that low altitude (< 716 m) was significantly associated (odds ratio = 2.676, confidence interval = 1.981–3.615; P = 0.000) with STHs. Conclusions: Though hookworm infection remains an important public health problem in the area, its infection levels varied between children’s locations. The spatial distribution maps in this study are important and useful for planning, evaluating and implementing adequate control programmes for STHs among school-aged children.

792-797

Authors: Mohammad Djaefar Moemenbellah-Fard, Mohammad Ahmadyousefi-Sarhadi, Kourosh Azizi, Mohammad Reza Fakoorziba, Mohsen Kalantari, Masoumeh Amin

Objective: To determine the sand fly composition, its frequency distribution and natural infection with Leishmania parasites to incriminate the likely vectors of cutaneous leishmaniosis in Jiroft, Southeast Iran. Methods: Sand flies were caught with sticky paper traps during a 6-month period in 2013. They were morphologically identified to species level using valid taxonomic keys. They were then subjected to nested PCR method and the results were analyzed. Results: A total of 3751 sand flies were identified to belong to 21 species in two genera (8 spp. in the Phlebotomus genus, and 13 spp. in the Sergentomyia genus) most of which were males (65.60%) and exophilic (63.80%). The two most frequent species were Phlebotomus papatasi (39.40%) and Phlebotomus sergenti (17.20%). The latter was confirmed by PCR to be naturally infected with Leishmania tropica (3.33%). Conclusions: It was thus concluded that wild-caught Phlebotomus sergenti naturally infected with Leishmania tropica was mainly incriminated by molecular method to be the principal vector of cutaneous leishmaniosis in this endemic focus.

804-807

Authors: Mahmoud Mohammed Kardousha

Objective: To survey mosquito diversity in the north-eastern area, which includes the most important gas industrial city in Qatar, and to investigate the potential mosquitoes for transmitting diseases. Methods: A study was performed from September 2009 until June 2011 in Al-Khor district of North-eastern Qatar. Five localities were selected for larval collection: Al Khor City (the main city), Al Dhakira, Ras Laffan (gas industrial city), Simsimah and Al Ghuwariyah. The survey was carried out by using different sampling methods and covering all expected natural breeding sites. The larvae were collected, preserved and transferred to the laboratory for identification. Results: Our findings revealed that 10 species of mosquito larvae had been detected from the area and five of them were new records in Qatar. The species encountered were: Ochlerotatus caspius (Pallas 1771), Anopheles stephensi (Liston 1901), Culex quinquefasciatus (Say 1823) (Cx. quinquefasciatus), Culex pipiens biotype molestus (Forskal 1775) (Cx. pipiens), Culex univittatus (Theobald 1901), Culex pusillus (Macquart 1850), Culex tritaeniorhynchus (Giles 1901) (Cx. tritaeniorhynchus), Culex laticinctus (Edwards 1913), Culex sitiens (Weidmann 1828) and Culex perexiguus (Theobald 1901). The new recorded species were Cx. quinquefasciatus, Cx. tritaeniorhynchus, Culex laticinctus, Culex sitiens and Culex perexiguus. The most prevalent type was Cx. pipiens molestus (31.29%) and followed by Culex pusillus and Cx. quinquefasciatus which have relatively similar prevalence of 18.72% and 18.52% respectively. Anopheles stephensi was an established vector for malaria. Cx. pipiens molestus and Cx. quinquefasciatus were vectors of West Nile virus and filariasis. Cx. tritaeniorhynchus was established as a vector of Rift Valley virus and Culex univittatus was the main vector of Sindbis virus. Conclusions: The north-eastern area of Qatar harbors is the most important industrial city in the country, which has witnessed an increase in the number of expatriate people. Because of the increase of reported mosquitoes, there is an urgent need for a surveillance program. This will allow us to build a database of mosquito vectors in the area.

813-816

Authors: Syilvia Jiero, Muhammad Ali, Syahril Pasaribu, Ayodhia Pitaloka Pasaribu

Objective: To assess the prevalence of soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infection and its correlation with eosinophil counts among elementary school children within the Medan Belawan District, North Sumatera Province, Indonesia. Methods: Ninety-nine subjects participated in this study (ascariasis, n = 40; trichuriasis, n = 9; mixed infection, n = 50). Stool samples were examined by using the Kato-Katz method, and blood samples were examined by using peripheral blood smears. Results: The prevalence of STH infection in children from two elementary schools was 65.4%; the baseline prevalences of ascariasis, trichuriasis, and mixed infection were 37.1%, 21.9%, and 40.8%, respectively. The respective mean eosinophil counts among children with ascariasis, trichuriasis, and mixed infection were 7.18%, 8.11%, and 8.64% (P = 0.32), and the respective prevalences of eosinophilia were 47.5%, 77.8%, and 70% (P = 0.05). The eosinophil counts correlated significantly with the number of eggs per gram of feces; ascariasis correlated strongly (P < 0.001; r = 0.62), and trichuriasis showed correlated weakly (P = 0.04; r = 0.21) with this parameter. The mean eosinophil count correlated significantly with STH infection intensity (P < 0.001). Conclusions: Eosinophil counts correlated strongly with ascariasis while weakly with trichuriasis. We determined that eosinophil count may be used as a marker of STH infection.

821-824

Authors: Zahra Eslamirad, Homa Soleimani, Reza Hajihossein, Fatemeh Rafiei

Objective: To investigate the lethal effect of microwave radiation on protoscolices of hydatid cyst. Methods: The protoscolices were divided in two separate groups. The first group received continuous irradiation while the second group received repetitive irradiation. According to the exposure time, the first and the second groups were divided into 8 subgroups. Non-treated protoscolices were considered as the control in each experiment. The protoscolex mortality rate was calculated, and changes in temperature difference in protoscolex suspension before and after the irradiation and the mortality rate with the increase of exposure time were recorded. Results: The results showed that microwave was able to increase the mortality rate of protoscolices in hydatid cyst. The mortality rate from 20% in 20 s of continuous exposure was increased to 100% in 50 s. Also, the differences between the mortality rates in subgroups of the first and the second groups and the control were significant (P < 0.001). Although the effect of temperature change in repetitive irradiation was not significant, non-thermal repetitive irradiation effects were obviously stronger than the thermal continuous irradiation effects. Conclusions: It seems that, microwaves especially in the repetitive mode, may be used as a supplementary measure for both treatment and prevention of hydatidosis.

830-834

Authors: Titin Andri Wihastuti, Mochamad Aris Widodo, Teuku Heriansyah, Novita Apramadha Kartika Sari

Objective: To investigate the effect of ethanolic extract of mangosteen pericarp (EEMP) through lipid profile, H2O2, nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) measurement in hypercholesterolemic rat. Methods: A total of 20 rats were used in true laboratory experiment which were divided into 5 groups (n = 4) using posttest-only design. There were a normal diet group, a hypercholesterol diet (HCD) group, a group that was given HCD with EEMP 200 mg/kg body weight, a group that was given HCD with 400 mg/kg body weight and a group that was given HCD with 800 mg/kg body weight. The lipid profile was measured using Cobas Mira. On the other hand, H2O2 was analysed using colorimetric hydrogen peroxide kit. Double staining immunofluorescence was given to observe NF-κB, iNOS and eNOS by using confocal laser scanning microscopy. The result was analyzed quantitatively using Olymphus Fluoview software (version 1.7a). Results: Lipid profile was significantly worsened in HCD and H2O2 level and expressions of NF-κB, iNOS and eNOS were also increased in HCD. EEMP 200 mg/kg body weight generally did not show significant results. However, high density lipoprotein level was affected by EEMP 400 mg/kg body weight, but not for other lipid profiles which reduced H2O2 level and NF-κB, iNOS and eNOS expressions significantly. EEMP 800 mg/kg body weight had been shown to be the most effective dose to improve lipid profile, decrease level of H2O2 and the expression of NF-κB and iNOS and maintain expression of eNOS. Conclusions: EEMP is an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant agent to inhibit atherogenesis in hypercholesterolemic rat.

837-840

Authors: Ittoop Pulikkottil Sunish, Ananganallur Nagarajan Shriram, Amitabh De, Paluru Vijayachari

Malaria has been endemic to Andaman and Nicobar Archipelago for over a century. However, the cases were observed to decline during the past few years. Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium falciparum are the predominant malaria causing parasites, but the occurrence of Plasmodium knowlesi has also been reported recently. Anopheles sundaicus is the incriminated vector of malaria parasites, and they breed both in fresh and brackish water. This mosquito is predominantly endophagic and zoophagic. Cytogenetic and molecular studies revealed the presence of Anopheles sundaicus cytotype “D” alone. The annual parasite incidence in the archipelago ranged between 6.0 and 11.9 till 2010, which decreased and reached 1.2 in the year 2014. The slide positivity rate also varied significantly, and declined from 3.09% in 2005 to 0.74% in 2014. Bioenvironmental control strategy, especially through the use of larvivorous fishes was the main contributory factor for the cases to decline. Although malaria transmission is being suppressed through effective interventions, it is likely to resurge if these measures are not continued. There is a window of opportunity to achieve the goal of malaria elimination in this archipelago, by sustaining the gains achieved and by strengthening the control activities in areas where the cases are still persistent.