Background:Vaginitis, is an infectious inflammation of the vaginal mucosa, which sometimes involves the vulva. The balance of the vaginal flora is maintained by the Lactobacilli and its protective and probiotic role in treating and preventing vaginal infection by producing antagonizing compounds which are regarded as safe for humans.Aim:The aim of this study was to evaluate the protective role of Lactobacilli against common bacterial opportunistic pathogens in vaginitis and study the effects of some antibiotics on Lactobacilli isolates.Materials and Methods:In this study (110) vaginal swabs were obtained from women suffering from vaginitis who admitted to Babylon Hospital of Maternity and Paediatrics in Babylon province, Iraq. The study involved the role of intrauterine device among married women with vaginitis and also involved isolation of opportunistic bacterial isolates among pregnant and non pregnant women. This study also involved studying probiotic role of Lactobacilli by production of some defense factors like hydrogen peroxide, bacteriocin, and lactic acid.Results:Results revealed that a total of 130 bacterial isolates were obtained. Intrauterine device was a predisposing factor for vaginitis. The most common opportunistic bacterial isolates were Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Streptococcus agalactiae, and Klebsiella pneumoniae. All Lactobacilli were hydrogen peroxide producers while some isolates were bacteriocin producers that inhibited some of opportunistic pathogens (S. aureus, E. coli). Lactobacilli were sensitive to erythromycin while 93.3% of them were resistant to ciprofloxacin and (40%, 53.3%) of them were resistant to amoxicillin and gentamycin respectively. Results revealed that there was an inverse relationship between Lactobacilli presence and organisms causing vaginitis. This may be attributed to the production of defense factors by Lactobacilli.Conclusion:The types of antibiotics used to treat vaginitis must be very selective in order not to kill the beneficial bacteria (Lactobacilli) that help in preservation of vaginal health and ecosystem as being one of the probiotic bacteria.

Background:The roles of group C and F streptococci in causing endemic pharyngitis are still controversial, although group C streptococci are implicated in the outbreaks of pharyngitis and associated disorders.Aim:The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and the role of these groups of β-hemolytic streptococci in acute pharyngitis with emphasis on the Streptococcus anginosus group. The antimicrobial susceptibility profile of these bacterial isolates and their ability to produce some virulence factors was also determined.Materials and Methods:Throat swab specimens were collected from 177 patients suffering from acute pharyngitis who had been admitted to the Hilla Teaching Hospital, Hilla, Iraq, during October 2009 to January 2010. The necessary biochemical tests were conducted and the organisms identified using standard procedures. Susceptibility of isolates pathogens to several antibiotics was examined using standard susceptibility testing. Virulence factors of these isolates were also determined using standard methods.Results:Results revealed that a total of 67 isolates belonged to β-hemolytic streptococci, of which 11(16.4%) isolates belonged to anginosus group streptococci, which possessed Lancefield group C and F antigens. Most of these bacterial isolates have the ability to produce more than one virulence factor such as capsule, hemolysin, CFA III, and lipase enzyme. The bacterial isolates were highly resistant to ampicillin, cefotaxime, and cefepime while they exhibited moderate resistance to tetracycline, ceftriaxone, and ciprofloxacin. On the other hand, they showed a high sensitivity to vancomycin, ofloxacin, and clindamycin.Conclusion:This study concluded that groups C and F Streptococci were implicated as a cause of acute pharyngitis in 6.2% of the specimens among other groups of streptococci. Most of these isolates have the ability to produce more than one virulence factor. There was a high rate of resistance among isolates for β-lactam antibiotics; however, they were highly susceptible to vancomycin, ofloxacin, and clindamycin.

Abstract:Cryptosporidiosis is a parasitic disease caused by an apicomplexan protozoa of. Cryptosporidium parvum is the specific infective agent in human . The present study aimed to search for the presence of C. parvumand to determine the prevalence of this parasite among children in Kut city, Iraq. Six hundred stool samples were collected from children less than twelve years old from October 2011 to May 2012. Stool samples were inspected by modified Ziehl-Neelsen acid fast stain and ELISA. Results indicated that 203 cases gave positive results (33.83 %) and 397 cases gave negative results (66.17%) with Ziehl-Neelsen acid fast stain . The higher infection, 115 (19.17%) appeared in age (<1) year while the lower infection 37 (6.17%) appeared in age (1-6) years. There was association between anemia 66.01% (134/203), Packed Cell Volume (PCV) 66.01% (134/203), White Blood Cells Count (WBC's) 66.01% (134/203) that showed increase in number, and infection with cryptosporidiosis, respectively. The high percentage of positive cases (100%) was recorded in microscopic examination compared to 72.5% (129/178) of positive cases detected by ELISA assay. The present study is the first record of cryptosporidiosis among children in Wasit Province, Iraq. It demonstrated clearly a high prevalence rate of C. parvum among children of less than 12 years old in Iraq. ELISA technique will be of great value in the rapid and accurate diagnosis of C. parvum in human fecal materials.

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Two hundred and eighty six Staphylococcus aureus isolates were collected from separate places of the holy shrine in Najaf city, Iraq. Phenotypic and genotypic examination for community associated methicillin resistant S. aureus (CA-MRSA) isolates was carried out. Antibiotic and plasmid profiles of these isolates were also done. The CA-MRSA isolates were examined using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primers for Panton Valentine leukocidin (PVL) gene. 54 (18.8%) of all of the S. aureus examined were identified as community associated methicillin resistant S. aureus, of which 11 isolates were CA-MRSA. CA-MRSA isolates were examined and subdivided into two groups according to their antibiotic profiles. Eight of the 11 MDR CA-MRSA isolates were alike in their plasmid profiles. Results of PCR revealed that 3 (27.2%) of CA-MRSA isolates carried PVL genes and 9 (72.8%) carried none. The study also revealed that CA-MRSA isolates were resistant to all ß-lactam and many of the non ß-lactam antibiotics and the frequency of resistance was higher among CA-MRSA isolates than methicillin sensitive S. aureus (MSSA), with low ratio of carrying PVL gene among CA-MRSA isolates. Surveillance and researches on CA-MRSA that carry PVL gene should continue to provide a significant insight into the prevalence and epidemiology of these important resistant pathogens.

This study was conducted to determine the frequency of Staphylococcus lugdunensis in different clinical samples. Out of 690 clinical samples, a total of 178 coagulase negative staphylococci (CoNS) isolates were recovered. CoNS were identified as 10 different species; 22 isolates belonged to Staphylococcus lugdunensis. Two specific genes for S. lugdunensis were used ( tanA gene and fbl gene) to confirm identification. Both of these specific genes were detected in 15 (68.1%) of 22 isolates that were identified phenotypically. The results of oxacillin MIC showed that 7 of the 15 (46.6%) S. lugdunensis isolates were oxacillin resistant. The antibiotic susceptibility testing against 16 antibiotics showed that resistance rates were variable towards these antibiotics. Eight of fifteen S. lugdunensis isolates (53.3%) were β-lactamase producer. Results of molecular detection of mecA gene found that mecA gene was detected in 6 (40%) of 15 S. lugdunensis. All of these 6 isolates (S1, S2, S3, S4, S5, and S6) were resistant to oxacillin. One isolate (S7) was resistant to oxacillin but mecA was not detected in this isolate. This study is a first record of isolation and characterization of methicillin resistant S. lugdunensis (MRSL) from clinical samples in Iraq.

Antimicrobial activity of silver nanoparticles biosynthesized by Streptomyces spp.

The aim of this study was to determine the genotypic and antifungal susceptibility of C. albicans obtained from cancer patients. The study included fifty cancer patients treated with chemotherapy who exhibited evident oral lesions. Oral swabs from cancer patients and healthy persons screened for the occurrence of C. albicans. Isolates were identified by the conventional mycological methods. Genotypes were determined using 25S rDNA PCR analysis. Oral C. albicans was detected in 84.0% cancer patients and 52.0% healthy persons. PCR targeting 25S rDNA genotype analyses of C. albicans obtained from cancer patients, allowed isolates to be grouped into genotypes A, B, C and T, among which genotype A C. albicans constitutes the majority of this fungus. Genotype A C. albicans recognized the entirely isolates in healthy group. Isolates were most sensitive to amphotericin B. Isolates has shown high rate of resistance to fluconazole and ketoconazole. 25S rDNA have been shown to be a useful criterion for distinguishing among various isolates of C. albicans. Amphotericin B is effective antifungal agents that can be used against isolates. The study believes that description of active pathogens in Candida infections at the genotype level and research on antifungal sensitivity will be very useful in epidemiology, managing treatment, and preventing resistance development in hospitals.