Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Disease

841-849

Authors: Aminodin Sumayyah, Nik Fadzly, Wan Fatma Zuharah

Objective: To evaluate the current knowledge level and information on Aedes mosquitoes and dengue among Penang resident in urban (Sungai Dua) and sub- urban areas (Batu Maung). Methods: The questionnaire comprises of twenty-three questions, surveyed on 202 respondents regarding socio-demographic, the observation of general Aedes’ mosquito behaviour, dengue infection threat, preventive measures against mosquitoes and lifestyle (on usage of artificial light) in changing the behaviour of Aedes mosquitoes. Results: The respondents in sub-urban Batu Maung showed less knowledge level regarding Aedes mosquitoes as compared to respondents in urban Sungai Dua. There was a positive association between biting frequency of mosquitoes with the lifestyle of respondents (in relation to the light use), the use of personal protection and fogging operations conducted by the Ministry of Health. There is a positive relationship between the knowledge of preferred mosquitoes resting place and the respondent aged between 17 to 24 (78.2%) in sub-urban Batu Maung. Urban Sungai Dua respondents showed a significant relation between the use of lights and the resting places for Aedes mosquitoes. The preventive measures chosen by both sub-distinct areas against mosquitobites were significantly affected by the biting time and the mosquitoes biting frequency (P < 0.05). Conclusions: In this study, we concluded that there is a direct link between the knowledge of the Aedes biting frequency with dengue infection, human lifestyle on the light use and preventive measures against mosquitoes. However, the level of knowledge is poor on the subject of Aedes mosquitoes and dengue for both urban and sub-urban respondents.

854-858

Authors: Mazyar Etemadzade, Ameneh Ghamarypour, Rezvan Zabihollahi, Gelare shabbak, Mozhgan Shirazi, Hassan Sahebjamee, Ali Zaman Vaziri, Artin Assadi, Mehdi Shafiee Ardestani, Seyed Ataollah Sadat Shandiz, Mohammad Reza Aghasadeghi

Objective: To evaluate the effect of novel sonochemical silver nanorods on HIV and herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) viruses in human cervical cancer HeLa cells. Methods: The formation of silver nanorods conjugated with sodium 2-mercaptoethane sulfonate (Ag-MES) was characterized by scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and thermal gravimetric analysis. The antiviral activity of this Ag-MES was examined against HIV and HSV-1 virus replication. Results: The characterizations of Ag-MES and physiochemical structure were determined by scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and thermal gravimetric analysis. Approximately entire viral replication was inhibited by Ag-MES at 10 μmol/mL concentration. About 90% of HSV virions failed to replicate in the present of this concentration of nanorods. However, HIV showed more sensitivity to Ag-MES than HSV-1. Conclusions: According to the obtained data, the synthesized sonochemical silver nanorod in this study is a promising candidate for further drug discovery investigation.

864-867

Authors: Lame Akhlaghi, Fatemeh Tabatabaie, Ramtin Hadighi, Fatemeh Maleki, Fateme Hajialiani, Mohammad Saaid Dayer, Abbas Ghasemi, Masoud Roudbari

Objective: To evaluate immunoglobulin G (IgG) avidity as a useful and reliable technique in diagnosing toxoplasmosis in pregnant women referring to therapeutic centers of Alborz Province (Iran) in 2014, against two other tests, IgG and immunoglobulin G (IgM) anti- Toxoplasma. Methods: Serum samples (468 in total) were obtained from different therapeutic centers in Karaj City. ELISA method was used to test the anti-Toxoplasma avidity of IgG, IgM and IgG. The data were analyzed by descriptive statistical methods and Chi-square test (P < 0.05) using SPSS 17.0. Results: Anti-Toxoplasma tests of IgM and IgG were positive in 9 and 86 samples respectively. Also, a borderline IgM was detected in 2 suspected samples. In addition, among all positive and suspected samples, 79 cases indicated high titers of IgG avidity, 7 cases were of low titers and 1 case was of a borderline titer. The prevalence of anti-Toxoplasma antibodies was 20%. The sera which showed high avidity index was obtained from patients at chronic phase of infection (92%) while those which showed low avidity levels were from patients at acute toxoplasmosis (77.7%). Conclusions: This study clearly showed that acute and chronic phases of toxoplasmosis could be differentiated with the aid of IgG avidity test. This test may also assist in recognizing old and newly acquired infections.

873-877

Authors: Saad Aissat, Moussa Ahmed, Noureddine Djebli

Objective: To evaluate the antibacterial effect of Sahara honeys (SHs) against bacterial biofilms formed on urinary catheters in combination with propolis-Sahara honeys (P-SHs). Methods: Three clinical isolates were subjected to biofilm detection methods. The antibacterial and anti-biofilm activity for SHs and P-SHs were determined using agar well diffusion and the percentage of biofilm inhibition (PBI) methods. Results: The PBI for Gram-positive bacteria [Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus)] was in the range of 0%–20%, while PBI for Gram-negative bacteria [Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli (E. coli)] were in range of 17%–57% and 16%–65%, respectively. The highest PBI (65%) was produced by SH2 only on E. coli. In agar well diffusion assay, zones of inhibition ranged from 11–20 mm (S. aureus), 9–19 mm (Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and 11–19 mm (E. coli). The highest inhibition (20 mm) was produced by SH1 only on S. aureus. In addition, the treatment of SHs and P-SHs catheters with a polymicrobial biofilms reduced biofilm formation after 48 h exposure period. Conclussions: SHs and P-SHs applied as a natural agent can be used as a prophylactic agent to prevent the formation of in vitro biofilm.

882-886

Authors: Mebarka Lamamra, Hocine Laouer, Abdenour Adjaoud, Farida Sahli,Smain Amira, Salah Akkal

Objective: To evaluate the essential oil composition and antimicrobial activity of an Algerian endemic plant, Daucus aristidis Coss. (Apiaceae) (D. aristidis) (synonym Ammiopsis aristidis Batt.) collected in pre-flowering stage in East of Algeria. Methods: The aerial parts of D. aristidis Coss were collected. Essential oil (in pre-flowering stage) obtained by hydrodistillation was investigated for the first time by gas chromatograph and gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer and evaluated for their in vitro antimicrobial activity by the disc diffusion method at various dilutions of the oil. Results: The main components of D. aristidis oil in pre-flowering stage were α-pinene (20.13%), cedrol (20.11%) and E-asarone (18.53%). D. aristidis oil exhibited an antibacterial activity against almost all the strains tested except for Klebsiella pneumoniae ATCC 700603 K6 and Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 49452 which exhibited a resistance against the oil with all dilutions. Also, the oil of D. aristidis had no activity against all fungi tested. Conclusions: This is the first report on the volatile constituents and antimicrobial activity of D. aristidis in pre-flowering stage. The studied essential oil possesses moderate antibacterial activity against almost all strains tested but no antifungal activity.

892-894

Authors: Rajeswari Shome, Kalleshamurthy Triveni, Padmashree Bengaluru Shankaranarayana, Swati Sahay, Narayana Rao, Bibek Ranjan Shome, Jyoti Misri, Habibur Rahman

Porcine brucellosis is a contagious and emerging zoonosis but neglected in most of the endemic countries including India. The disease in pigs is rarely reported due to non-availability of diagnostics or major focus is on bovine brucellosis. Hence, the necessity was felt to develop indirect ELISA for the detection of anti-Brucella antibodies and to record spatial seroprevalence of porcine brucellosis in the country. The relative diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of the developed indirect ELISA were 94.0% and 92.0%, respectively and kappa agreement with rose bengal plate test, serum agglutination test and commercial indirect ELISA kit was found to be 0.86 (95% confidence interval 0.78–0.93). A total of 2 576 random serum samples sourced from 10 states were screened by indirect ELISA and true prevalence of 7.2% (95% confidence interval 5.6–8.7) was recorded. The study concluded the prevalence of brucellosis in swine population in many states of the country and indirect ELISA as an alternate test to rose bengal plate test and serum agglutination tests.

909-917

Authors: Subramanyam Dasari, Suresh Karanam Anandan, Wudayagiri Rajendra, Lokanatha Valluru

The female genital tract is a complex of microbial colonization, which shows a prominent role in the development of either a healthy or diseased condition. The aim of the present review is to describe the diverse components of both the protective and defective mechanisms induced by microbial species present in the female genital tract. The protective mechanism was induced by indigenous microbial flora colonized in the female genital tract, which includes innate immunity, secretions containing cytokines, antimicrobial peptides and inhibitory substances like organic acids, H2O2, bacteriosin and toll-like receptors. On the other hand, abnormal microorganisms produce virulence factors and enzymes, which cause life-threatening infectious diseases including cancer. The review summarizes that depending upon the presence and/or absence of normal and abnormal microorganisms, the female genital tract shows either a healthy and/or infectious condition.