Background: Complete SARS-CoV-2 genome sequencing in the early phase of the outbreak in Iran showed two independent viral entries. Subsequently, as part of a genome surveillance project, we aimed to characterize the genetic diversity of SARS-CoV-2 in Iran over one year after emerging. Methods: We provided 319 SARS-CoV-2 whole-genome sequences used to monitor circulating lineages in March 2020-May 2021 time interval. Results: The temporal dynamics of major SARS-CoV-2 clades/lineages circulating in Iran is comparable to the global perspective and represent the 19A clade (B.4) dominating the first disease wave, followed by 20A (B.1.36), 20B (B.1.1.413), 20I (B.1.1.7), leading the second, third and fourth waves, respectively. We observed a mixture of circulating B.1.36, B.1.1.413, B.1.1.7 lineages in winter 2021, paralleled in a fading manner for B.1.36/B.1.1.413 and a growing rise for B.1.1.7, prompting the fourth outbreak. Entry of the Delta variant, leading to the fifth disease wave in summer 2021, was detected in April 2021. This study highlights three lineages as hallmarks of the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak in Iran; B4, dominating early periods of the epidemic, B.1.1.413 (B.1.1 with the combination of [D138Y-S477N-D614G] spike mutations) as a characterizing lineage in Iran, and the co-occurrence of [I100T-L699I] spike mutations in half of B.1.1.7 sequences mediating the fourth peak. It also designates the renowned combination of G and GR clades’ mutations as the top recurrent mutations. Conclusion: In brief, we provided a real-time and comprehensive picture of the SARS-CoV-2 genetic diversity in Iran and shed light on the SARS-CoV-2 transmission and circulation on the regional scale.

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Background: Diarrheagenic Escherichia coli (DEC) are major causes of diarrhea in the world particularly among infants and young children. Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of DEC strains in stool samples from children under 5 years old. Patients and Methods: Stool specimens were collected from 200 children under 5 years visiting hospital due to gastroenteritis. E. coli pathotypes were detected by using conventional culture techniques and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results: Sixty-eight (34%) out of 200 specimens were positive for DEC. Different pathotypes would show the following profiles: 43 (21.5%) for enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC); 18 (9%) for enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC) including 10 (55.5%) st positive, 6 (33.3%) lt positive and 2 (11.1%) st and lt both positive; 6 (3%) for enteroaggregative E. coli (EAEC) and 1 (0.5%) for enteroinvasive E. coli (EIEC). Enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) was not isolated from any of the E. coli strains tested. Conclusions: This study shows that DEC is a common cause of childhood diarrhea in Babol. EPEC and ETEC were the most frequent pathotypes in the population under study.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in children typically results in similar symptoms with other viral respiratory agents including human adenoviruses (HAdVs). Mixed HAdV and SARS-CoV-2 infection (co-infection) in children might result in enhanced or reduced disease severity compared with single infections. The present study aims to investigate the rate of SARS-CoV2 and HAdV infection and also their coinfection and compare the two infections regarding their laboratory and clinical characteristics at hospital admission. A total of 360 combined oropharyngeal and nasopharyngeal swab samples from hospitalized children were examined by real-time PCR for the existence of the SARS-CoV-2 and HAdVs. The symptoms, the clinical characteristics and laboratory findings were retrieved and compared in SARS-CoV-2 and HAdVs positive cases. Of the total 360 suspected COVID-19 hospitalized children, 45 (12.5%) and 19 (5.3%) specimens were PCR-positive for SARS-CoV-2 and HAdV respectively. SARS-CoV-2 and HAdV co-infection was detected in 4 cases (1.1%). Regarding symptoms at hospital admission, fever in SARS-CoV-2 positive group was significantly higher than that in HAdV positive group [34 (85%) vs. 7 (46.7%), p = 0.012]. However, percentages of cases with sore throat, headache, fatigue, lymphadenopathy and conjunctivitis in HAdV positive group were significantly higher than those in SARS-CoV-2 positive group. SARS-CoV-2 and HAdV co-infected children showed mild respiratory symptoms. The present study revealed that SARS-CoV-2 positive children often appear to have a milder clinical course than children with respiratory HAdV infection and children co-infected with SARSCoV-2 and HAdV had less-severe disease on presentation.

Background and Aims: Medical students are exposed to various infectious diseases during their clinical training period, including measles and rubella. In Iran, to control the outbreaks of measles and rubella a mass vaccination campaign was conducted on 2003. The present investigation evaluates Immunity to measles and rubella in a group of Babol medical students and determines the prevalence of medical students susceptible to these infections. Materials and Methods: A total of 191 medical students (preclinical and clinical) from

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Background: Vibrio (v.) vulnificus strains are a human pathogenic bacteria that reside innately in coastal seawaters and shellfish. The bacteria can cause severe skin infections and quickly develop a lethal septicemia in immunocompromised individuals, who have eaten raw shellfish. Objectives: The goal of this investigation was to define the prevalence of V. vulnificus in seawater samples collected from coastal seawaters. Methods: Three hundred seawater specimens were prepared during spring and summer. Isolated bacteria were confirmed by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique and by sequencing of PCR products. Results: The PCR technique of 276 presumptive V. vulnificus isolates showed two (0.72%) positive amplifications of the gyrB gene. Vibrio vulnificus was isolated from specimens collected during the summer months. Conclusions: In the present investigation, the presence of V. vulnificus was confirmed in the coastal waters of Babolsar. Owing to the existence of the bacteria in the coastal water of Babolsar, it appears that swimming with an open wound during summer can result in skin infection and sepsis.

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