The findings of this study suggest a first step in the search of new antidermatophytic drugs and aid the use of N. sativa seeds in the traditional medicine for dermatophytic infections.
Parasitic infection is one of the problems that affect human health,
especially in developing countries. In this study, all of the fast food shops,
restaurants, and roast meat outlets of Khorramabad (Western Iran) and all the
staff employed by them, some 210 people, were selected through a census and
their stools were examined for the presence of parasites. The parasitological
tests of direct wet-mount, Lugol's iodine staining, formaldehyde-ether
sedimentation and Trichrome staining techniques were performed on the samples.
The data was analyzed with a chi-square test and logistic regression was
selected as the analytical model. The results showed 19 (9%) stool specimens
were positive for different intestinal parasites. These intestinal parasites
included Giardia lamblia 2.9%, Entamoeba coli
4.3%, Blastocystis sp. 1.4%, and Hymenolepis
nana 0.5%. There was a significant difference between the presence
of a valid health card, awareness of transmission of intestinal parasites,
participation in training courses in environmental health with intestinal
parasites (p < 0.05). No statistically significant
difference was found between the rate of literacy and gender among patients
infected with intestinal parasites (p > 0.05). To control
parasitic infection in food handlers, several strategies are recommended such as
stool examinations every three months, public education, application of health
regulations, controlling the validity of health cards and training on parasitic
infection transmission. In this regard, the findings of the present study can be
used as a basis to develop preventive programs targeting food handlers because
the spread of disease via them is a common problem worldwide.
This prospective cross-sectional study was aimed to evaluate the prevalence of IgM and IgG anti-T. gondii antibodies and the associated risk factors among healthy blood donors in Kerman province, south-eastern Iran. Structured questionnaires (before the donors gave blood) were used to obtain information on risk factors for infection. Totally, 500 serum samples from healthy blood donors of Kerman Blood Transfusion Organization (KBTO) at Kerman, Iran, were screened for IgG and IgM anti-T. gondii antibodies by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Roche Elecsys Toxo IgM assay. Real-time PCR was used to detect DNA of T. gondii in the IgM-positive samples. Seroprevalence of IgG and IgM anti-T. gondii antibodies was 28.8% and 3.2%, respectively. In the multiple logistic regression, it could be observed that living in rural regions, having B blood type, being in contact with cats, consuming raw vegetables and raw milk/egg and doing agricultural activities were independent risk factors for Toxoplasma seropositivity. T. gondii DNA was also found in one (9.0%) of IgM-positive samples. In this study, it was found that T. gondii infection was present among healthy blood donors in south-east of Iran. Therefore, it is suggested to design screening programmes for preventing transfusion-transmitted toxoplasmosis.
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