Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Disease

257-265

Authors: Mohsen Ahmadkhani, Ali Asghar Alesheikh

Objective: To investigate the associations between the brucellosis and four climatic factors including temperature, precipitation, wind speed and greenness for better understanding the epidemiology of the disease in Iran during April 2009 to March 2012. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was performed on 39 359 recorded cases during the study period. Pearson’s correlation coefficient was used to investigate statistically meaningful temporal and spatial relevance between the disease and parameters. Besides, multiple linear regression was applied to estimate the best combination of the variables for predicting brucellosis incidence. Results: Pearson’s analysis revealed that there are positive temporal correlations between incidence and temperature, wind speed and greenness. Besides, a strong negative temporal association was observed with precipitation. Although a remarkable negative spatial association was observed between aggregated incidence rates and vegetation cover of corresponding counties in winter, this correlation was strongly positive for spring and summer. Conclusions: The prevalence of brucellosis is considerably affected by climatic conditions. Locations with higher greenness, temperature and wind speed are more susceptible to the disease. In contrast, areas with lower rainfall tend to face surpassing rates. Additionally, greater rates are expected for counties having green springs and summers, with dry winters.

270-275

Authors: Wakjira Kebede, Alemseged Abdissa, Yesuf Seid, Zeleke Mekonnen

Objective: To determine the prevalence and risk factors of hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV) and HIV infections among prisoners in Jimma Town, Southwest Ethiopia. Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted among 156 prisoners from January to June 2016. Socio-demographic and other data were collected using structured questionnaire. Antibodies against HCV and HIV, and hepatitis B surface antigens were determined in serum using ELISA techniques with commercial kits. Logistic regression analysis was employed to assess possible risk factors for the infections. Results: From the totally 156 participants, 145 (93.0%) were males and 11 (7.0%) were females. The seroprevalence of HBV, HCV and HIV was 5.8% (9), 2.6% (4), and 2.6% (4), respectively. None of the study subjects had co-infections. History of sexually transmitted diseases (AOR = 26.1, 95% CI: 1.17–58.3, P = 0.039) and tattooing (AOR = 9.3, 95% CI: 0.8–10.9, P = 0.05) was predictor of HIV seropositivity. Having multiple heterosexual partners was significantly associated with HBV infection (AOR = 0.056, 95% CI: 0.03–0.9, P = 0.044). None of the interviewed participants had practiced homosexuality. However, they heard that homosexuality was practiced in the prison. Conclusions: Intermediate prevalence of HBV and HCV was detected among prisoners in Jimma Town. However, HIV prevalence was higher than that of the national report. It is crucial to build a system for monitoring, surveillance and preventive public health strategies to minimize the risk factors and block transmission of these infections among prisoners.

280-285

Authors: Nagwa Mostafa El-Sayed, Manar Ezzelarab Ramadan

Objective: To evaluate the hepatoprotective activity of Thymus vulgaris (T. vulgaris) extract against Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) infection in experimentally infected mice. Methods: Sixty mice were divided into six groups (Group I–Group VI). Group I was normal control (non-infected, non-treated); Group II was non-infected and treated with T. vulgaris extract (500 mg/kg); Group III was T. gondii infected-non-immunosuppressed control; Group IV consisted of infected immunosuppressed mice; Group V was infected and treated with T. vulgaris extract; Group VI consisted of infected immunosuppressed mice treated with T. vulgaris extract. Hepatoprotective effect of T. vulgaris extract was evaluated by histopathological examination of tissue sections stained with hematoxylin and eosin, determination of liver function parameters (alanine aminotransaminase, aspartate aminotransaminase and alkaline phosphates, total bilirubin, total protein concentrations) and assessment of hepatocytes genotoxicity by comet assay.Antigenotoxic effect of T. vulgaris was assessed by several comet assay parameters that were provided by the image analysis software, including % tailed cells, % of DNA in the tail, tail length, and tail moment. Results: Treatment with T. vulgaris in both Groups V and VI improved T. gondii induced pathological lesions in the infected liver that regressed to near the normal picture especially in Group V. Also, it restored the altered values of liver function parameters near to the normal levels significantly (P < 0.05) compared with Groups III and IV respectively. Regarding comet assay parameters, all of them were significantly increased (P < 0.05) after T. gondii infection (Group III) and reached the greatest values in infected immunosuppressed group (Group IV) compared to the normal controls (Group I). With treatment by T. vulgaris in Groups V and VI, there was a significant decrease (P < 0.05) in all values compared to Groups III and V respectively. The results indicated that T. vulgaris reduced DNA damage induced by T. gondii infection in liver cells. Conclusions: T. vulgaris ethanol extract exhibited notable hepatoprotective activity against T. gondii infection.

293-298

Authors: Lesley-Anne Caine, Uchechukwu Uchechukwu Nwodo, Anthony Ifeanyin Okoh, Ezekiel Green

Objective: To detect Brucella spp. isolated from raw milk, blood and lymph nodes samples of cattle, sheep and goats. Methods: A total of 1 955 samples comprising raw milk, blood and lymph nodes were collected from 880 cattle, 555 sheep and 520 goats from four municipalities in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. Brucella isolates were recovered from theraw milk, lymph nodes and blood samples using Brucella selective media. Results: Detection of the Bru gene was observed in 130 isolates ranging from 81 (62.3%) in cattle to 16 (12.3%) in sheep. In cattle, the highest number of isolates was observed in the lymph node samples (24.6%), while the lowest was inraw milk (13.8%). In sheep, the highest number was observed in the blood samples (7.7%) and the lowest (0.8%) in the sheep’s lymph nodes (0.8%), while in goats we detected the highest number of isolates in the blood samples (20%) and the lowest inraw milk (2.3%). Brucella abortus (B. abortus) (56.9%), Brucella melitensis (37.7%) and B. abortus vaccine strain S19 (5.4%) were confirmed from the isolates. Conclusions: The present study adds to the data available regarding B. abortus and Brucella melitensis infections in cattle, goats and sheep populations and highlights the effectiveness and advantages of AMOS-PCR over culture. The results also indicate the need for effective control measures to be implemented.

304-308

Authors: Oscar Herrera-Calderon, Johnny Aldo Tinco-Jayo, Cesar Franco-Quino, Víctor Chumpitaz- Cerrate3, Wendy Castro-Pari, Bertha Pari-Olarte, Patricia Castillo-Romero, Jorge Luis Arroyo-Acevedo

Objective: To determine the phytochemical content, antioxidant activity in vitro and cytotoxicity of crude ethanol extract (CEE), n-hexane fraction (NHF), petroleum ether fraction (PEF), chloroform fraction (CLF) and ethyl acetate fraction (EAF) of aerial parts of Chuquiraga spinosa (C. spinosa) Lessing. Methods: Phytochemical screening was developed by color and precipitated formation. The evaluation of antioxidant activity was assessed using hydroxyl and nitric oxide radical. Total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoids content (TFC) were measured by using standard methods by spectrophotometry. The cytotoxic effect was determined on human tumor cell lines including MCF-7, H-460, HT-29, M-14, HUTU-80, K-562 and DU-145. Results: Phytochemical analysis confirmed the presence of phenols, flavonoids in crude extract and its all fractions. The CEE showed the highest antioxidant activity, for OH and NO radical scavenging tests (IC50 = 15.16 ± 3.45 μg/mL and IC50 = 18.91 ± 1.13 μg/mL, respectively). TPC was found to be the highest in the CEE (121.36 mg of gallic acid equivalent/g of dried extract) compared to other fractions. The ranking order of NHF, PEF, CLF, EAF and CEE for TFC was 21.17 < 35.20 < 62.19 < 70.25 < 78.25 mg quercetin equivalent/g of dried extract. The crude ethanolic extract (μg/mL) showed a high cytotoxicity on MCF-7 (IC50 = 9.25 ± 0.81), K-562 (IC50 = 7.34 ± 1.00), HT-29 (IC50 = 8.52 ± 2.69), H-460 (IC50 = 5.32 ± 1.05), M-14 (IC50 = 8.30 ± 0.60), DU-145 (IC50 = 7.09 ± 0.09), HUTU-80 (IC50 = 6.20 ± 0.50). Conclusions: The study showed that CEE of the aerial parts of C. spinosa can be measured as a natural source of antioxidant which might be effective towards preventing or slowing oxidative stress related to chronic diseases as well as cytotoxic agent.

315

Authors: Lok Yin Chan, Pui Hong Chung

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