Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Disease

174-178

Authors: Tawatchai Apidechkul, Sauwaluck Pongwiriyakul

Objective: To identify factors associated with HIV and hepatitis B virus (HBV) co-infection in Northern Thailand. Methods: We tested 355 newly diagnosed HIV-infected subjects for hepatitis B surface antigen, hepatitis B surface antibody, and hepatitis B core antibody by using immunochromatographic and ELISA methods. Cases were positive for one or more of the HBV markers and controls were negative for all HBV markers. All study subjects were asked to complete a questionnaire to identify the associations between variables. We used logistic regression model to evaluate the associations between demographic and behavioral variables and HIV/HBV co-infection. Results: A total of 41 cases and 83 controls were suitable to analyze in the study. Among them, 15.0% were males, 40.3% were 30–39 years old, 62.9% were married, 18.6% were illiterate and 89.5% were employed. Besides, 26 cases (23.4%) had a history of a blood transfusion, 12.9% had a history of jaundice, 29.0% had a CD4 cell count ≤ 200 cells/mm3, 0.8% were intravenous drug user, 29.8% tattooed, 64.5% had a body piercing, 12.1% were commercial sex workers, 11.3% had first sexual intercourse at age ≤ 15 years old, 6.5% were homosexual, and no one had a history of HBV vaccination. After controlling for all possible confounder factors in the multiple logistic regression model, we found two factors associated with HIV/ HBV co-infection: number of years in school and CD4 cell count. Subjects with no education were more likely to have HIV/HBV co-infection, which was 7.07 times (odds ratio = 7.07, 95% confidence interval = 1.77–28.24) greater than those with 7 years of education group. Subjects with CD4 count ≤ 200 cells/mm3 were less likely to have HIV/HBV co-infection than those with a CD count ≥ 200 cells/mm3 (odds ratio = 0.35, 95% confidence interval = 0.13–0.94). Conclusions: Our findings suggest that having a good education and having a good immune status are a protective factor of HIV/HBV co-infection. A practical approach would be a provision of wide access to general and sex education on the risk and prevention of HIV, HBV, and a promotion of HBV immunization.

184-187

Authors: Samia Kirmani, Haris Manzoor Khan, Urfi, Mohd. Khalid

Objectives: To study the seroprevalence of cysticercosis and compare immunological, radiological and clinical features in patients of cysticercosis in high risk group of community. Methods: The study was conducted in the Department of Microbiology and concerning departments of Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College Hospital, Aligarh from January 2012 to June 2013. The study population included 27 participants from high risk group in community like those involved in pig rearing, slaughtering of pigs and consumption of pork in and around Aligarh. The kit used to detect antibodies against Taenia solium (T. solium) was NovaTec T. solium IgG-ELISA. Results: Majority of participants [12 (44.4%)] belonged to age-group 30–44 years. Majority of participants [25 (92.6%)] were males. Maximum number of participants [16 (59.3%)] belonged to socio-economic Class IV, followed by Class V. Only 2 (7.4%) participants showed positive for immunoglobulin G antibodies against T. solium. Conclusions: Cysticercosis is a health problem in and around Aligarh with higher risk in males. Seroprevalence of cysticercosis in high risk community of Aligarh is 7.4%.

193-198

Authors: Ivonne Beatriz Hernández-Cortazar, Karla Yolanda Acosta-Viana, Eugenia Guzman-Marin, José Candelario Segura-Correa, Antonio Ortega- Pacheco, Jorge Ramiro Carrillo-Martínez, María del Refugio González-Losa, Laura Conde-Ferraez, Matilde Jimenez-Coello

Objective: To estimate the presence, parasite burden, percentage of avidity and risk factors to seropositivity for Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) in women with recent abortion attended at the two main hospitals from Merida, Yucatan, Mexico. Methods: Seroprevalence and IgG avidity were estimated from 161 blood samples from aborting women and risk factors associated with serological status were determined. Only 130 from 161 samples were analyzed by quantitative PCR (qPCR) and a nested-PCR (nPCR) to detect T. gondii-DNA. Results: Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma IgM and IgG was 3.72% (6/161) and 59.00% (95/161), respectively; 98.94% (94/95) of the women showed high-avidity index and only 1.05% (1/95) demonstrated low-avidity. For qPCR, 3.84% (5/130) of the samples were detected with T. gondii-DNA and all positive samples showed a low parasite load (< 1 parasite/mL). For nPCR, 6.92% (9/130) of positivity was found. Logistic regression analysis showed a positive association between IgG-seropositivity and potable-drinking-water intake in households (P < 0.020, odds ratio = 11.62, 95% confidence interval = 0.011–0.683). Conclusions: In this study, the detection of T. gondii-DNA in IgG-positive women suggests in some cases active parasitemia, even when they demonstrated high-avidity index. Reinfection cases could be presented due to the high circulation of the parasite in the study region. T. gondii could play an important role as cause of abortion and municipal potable-water could be an important risk factor of infection.

204-207

Authors: Maryam Rassouli

Objective: To understand the prevalence of the hemotropic mycoplasmosis among stray cats. Methods: In this research, 52 cats (30 queens and 22 toms) of different municipal regions of Tehran, the capital of Iran, were restrained and injected with tranquilizer. Peripheral blood samples were taken in order to detect blood parasites and taken blood smears were transferred to the parasitology laboratory, fixed by methanol and stained by Giemsa. Results: About 32.7% of samples were positive for Mycoplasma spp. and some abnormalities were observed in leukocyte numbers. Conclusions: There are some unclear aspects of hemotropic mycoplasmosis in Iran. This disease also has zoonotic importance. Therefore, some further researches are necessary to clarify the importance of the disease in different parts of Iran and its potential vectors.

212-217

Authors: Siddhar Selvam Gandhi, Saranya Vidyasagar, Karthikeyan Krishnasamy

Objective: To find the efficacy of administering insulin orally with Desmodium gangeticum (DG) extract in diabetes induced rats. Methods: Diabetes was induced in Wistar male rats by streptozotocin and subsequently treated with the mixture of DG/insulin/DG + insulin and compared with diabetic rats. Standard glucose estimation assay described elsewhere was used to determine the diabetic levels. The effects of homeostatic factors (the effect of temperature, gastric juices, pH, trypsin, and mercaptoethanol) on insulin and insulin-DG were analyzed. Results: The test results proved that the reported combination of insulin-DG was effective in maintaining glucose homeostasis. More interestingly, insulin-DG was stable against all the degrading parameters while insulin without DG suffered degradation. A molecular interaction was suggested between DG and insulin through nuclear magnetic resonance and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis. Conclusions: Insulin-DG mix is a potent anti-diabetic agent and importantly, DG extract is protective to insulin when used in prescribed combination and delivered orally. This could be a possible solution for painful subcutaneous injections.

223-226

Authors: Anu Kumar, Rita Singh Mazumdar, Tejpal Dhewa

Objective: To formulate a biological approach for the biological synthesis of silver nanoparticles using aqueous extracts of leaves of Viola serpens which is considered as a ecofriendly method as it does not include any harmful chemicals. Methods: The synthesized silver nanoparticles were characterized by using UV-vis spectroscopy analysis, scanning electron microscopy analysis and X-ray diffraction analysis. Results: Scanning electron microscopy analysis study revealed that synthesized silver nanoparticles were of an average size of 80–90 nm. Crystalline nature of synthesized silver nanoparticles was confirmed by X-ray diffraction analysis. Conclusions: The leaves of Viola serpens can be a potent source for the biological synthesis of silver nanoparticles. The outcome of the study can lead to the development of a novel drug for biomedical field.

232-234

Authors: Sriram Sridharan, Sasikumar Chinna Gounder

Objective: To investigate the pharmacognostic features and physiochemical properties of the leaves of Barleria montana Wight & Nees. Methods: The leaf samples were subjected to organoleptic, microscopic and macroscopic analysis. Physiochemical properties and fluorescence analysis of the sample under UV and daylight were studied as per World Health Organization norms. Results: Microscopic analysis showed that the plant possessed dorsiventral leaves, lamina, glandular trichomes, calcium carbonate cystoliths and adaxial epidermis. Physiochemical characters like ash and moisture content, extractive values, foreign matter and fluorescent characteristics of the leaf samples were determined and reported. Conclusions: Results obtained from these studies can be used as reliable markers in the identification and standardization of this plant as a herbal remedy

236-238

Authors: Wasan Katip, Narut Muangsiri

The aim of this study was to evaluate the reaction of the use of para-aminosalicylic acid (PAS). We reported the cases of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis treated with anti-tuberculosis therapy and PAS to develop drug rash with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS syndrome). Therefore, the findings may enable readers to be aware of the extreme possibility of severe hypersensitivity reaction from the use of PAS. This is especially relevant as an alarming increase that has been found worldwide in the incidence of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis.

243-247

Authors: Anthony D Harries, Ajay MV Kumar, Nang Thu Thu Kyaw, Nguyen Binh Hoa, Kudakwashe C Takarinda, Rony Zachariah

With the adoption of the new Sustainable Development Goals in 2016, all countries have committed to end the tuberculosis (TB) epidemic by 2030, defined as dramatic reductions in TB incidence and mortality combined with zero TB-induced catastrophic costs for families. This paper explores how antiretroviral therapy (ART) in high HIV-TB burden countries may help in reducing TB incidence and mortality and thus contribute to the ambitious goal of ending TB. ART in people living with HIV has a potent TB preventive effect, with this being most apparent in those with the most advanced immunodeficiency. Early ART also significantly reduces the risk of TB, and with new World Health Organization guidance released in 2015 about initiating ART in all persons living with HIV irrespective of CD4 count, there is the potential for enormous benefit at the population level. Already, several countries with high HIVTB burdens have seen dramatic declines in TB case notification rates since ART scale up started in 2004. In patients already diagnosed with HIV-associated TB, mortality can be significantly decreased by ART, especially if started within 2–8 weeks of anti-TB treatment. The benefits of ART on TB incidence and TB mortality can be further augmented respectively by the addition of isoniazid preventive therapy and cotrimoxazole preventive therapy. These interventions must be effectively implemented and scaled up in order to end the TB epidemic by 2030.