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We investigated the prevalence of intestinal protozoan parasites in patients with gastrointestinal complaints in medical centers in Zahedan, Iran. A total of 1562 stool samples was examined from July 2004 to January 2006 using microscopy (direct smear, formalin-ether concentration), xenic culture and PCR techniques. Four hundred and twenty-seven (27.3%) of the patients were infected with one or more intestinal parasites. Giardia lamblia (10.1%), Entamoeba coli (10%), E. hartmanni (1.7%), Blastocystis hominis (2.2%), Chilomastix mesnili (1.7%), Trichomonas hominis (0.7%), E. histolytica/E. dispar (0.51%) and Iodamoeba butschlii (0.45%) were the most prevalent protozoa detected with microscopy. Of the eight microscopy-positive E. histolytica/E. dispar samples, six were identified as E. dispar by PCR/gel electrophoresis, whereas E. histolytica was not detected at all. Although Zahedan is an area with poor hygiene located in a tropical area near the border of Pakistan and Afghanistan, the prevalence of E. histolytica and E. dispar here compared with other parasites and infectious diseases is unexpectedly low.

Although much is known about the mechanisms affecting cholera spread, cholera outbreaks occur annually in Iran. The aim of this study was to characterize and assess the clonal correlation of strains obtained from an outbreak in 2013 in Iran. Thirty-three strains of Vibrio cholerae were isolated from stool sample of patients majority of them belonged to Afghan nationality. PCR and sequencing analysis was performed to characterize virulence and resistance associates genes and cassettes. Clonality of isolates was assessed by Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) method. The ctx, zot, and tcp genes were present in 100 % of isolates. The wbeT gene was absent in all V. cholerae outbreak isolates, integrity of which is essential for Ogawa phenotype. This correlates with Inaba phenotype of all isolates under study. Sequencing of the ctxB (+) strains revealed that all isolates (El Tor strains) possessed the ctxB sequence of classical biotype allele known as El Tor variant strains. No class 1 or 2 integrons were detected among the isolates which indicate that in spite of high rate of resistance, integrons do not play an important role in V. cholerae resistance. All isolates were chloramphenicol sensitive all of which showed resistance to tetracycline and harbored the tetB resistance gene. PFGE analysis showed identical pulsotypes indicative of clonal dissemination of a single V. cholerae strain among the patients under study. Clonal cholera outbreak in boarder cities is alarming due to fear of import and spread of V. cholerae strains from out of the country which may lead to more spreading epidemics.

Background: Malaria, as a parasitic disease, is one of the most important public health problems in Iran. Malaria is mainly diagnosed by peripheral blood smear, stained by Giemsa; in Iran it is also diagnosed by blood smear that is highly depends on technician's skills and laboratory properties. Objectives: Correct diagnosis of malaria and identification of human malaria species in spite of the measures taken to eliminate the disease in Iran, have made the complete understanding of malaria epidemiology critical. Therefore, the current study aimed at investigating the epidemiology of 2 species of human Plasmodium in Sistan and Baluchistan province using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method. Methods: The present descriptive study was conducted on 100 patients suspected to malaria infection who referred to health centers of Chabahar, Iranshahr, Nikshahr, and Sarbaz districts. DNAs were extracted from blood samples using the specific kit, and nested-PCR reaction was performed to identify the Plasmodium species according to NP-2013 protocol. Results: Molecular analysis was performed on 100 samples suspected of malaria; 84 negative and 16 positive samples were detected including 8 Plasmodium vivax, 2 P. falciparum, and 6 mixed infections (P. vivax and P. falciparum). No P. ovale or P. malariae was observed. Conclusions:The results showed that malaria had a decreasing trend in Sistan and Baluchistan province. Therefore, the malaria elimination program is applicable and attainable in this region as a goal.