Epidemiology of dermatophytosis in northeastern Iran; A subtropical region

Background and Purpose: Dermatophytes as the causative agents of dermatophytosis(ringworm) are widely spread around the world. Accurate identification ofdermatophytes in one area can be particularly important for epidemiological studies.Regarding this, the aim of the present study was to describe the species spectrum ofdermatophytes, isolated from patients in Mashhad city, Iran, using the molecular-basedmethod.Materials and Methods: This study was conducted on 79 dermatophyte isolatesobtained from the human skin, hair, and nail specimens. Species identification wasperformed by the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphismanalysis of ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer regions using MvaI restrictionenzyme.Results: The identified species included Trichophyton mentagrophytes/T. interdigitalespecies complex (n=37, 46.8%), Epidermophyton floccosum (n=12, 15.2%), T. rubrum(n=8, 10.1%), Microsporum canis (n=8, 10.1%), T. violaceum (n=5, 6.3%), T. tonsurans(n=4, 5.1%), Nannizzia gypsea (n=3, 3.8%), T. benhamiae (n=1, 1.3%), and T.verrucosum (n=1, 1.3%). The clinical forms of infection were tinea corporis (n=26,32.8%), tinea cruris (n=22, 27.8%), tinea capitis (n=10, 12.6%), tinea unguium (n=7,9%), tinea manuum (n=6, 8%), tinea pedis (n=5, 6.3%), and tinea faciei (n=3, 3.5%).Conclusion: As the findings indicated, T. mentagrophytes/T. interdigitale speciescomplex had the highest prevalence, and T. benhamiae appeared to be a new emergingagent of dermatophytosis in Mashhad, northeastern Iran.

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In Vitro Antifungal Activity of Hexahydropyrimidine Derivatives against the Causative Agents of Dermatomycosis

The Scientific World JOURNAL ◽

10.1155/2017/1207061 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 2017 ◽

pp. 1-8 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Francislene J. Martins ◽

César A. Caneschi ◽

Mônica P. Senra ◽

Gustavo S. G. Carvalho ◽

Adilson D. da Silva ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Antifungal Activity ◽

Morphological Changes ◽

Trichophyton Mentagrophytes ◽

Microsporum Canis ◽

Microsporum Gypseum ◽

Scanning Electron Micrographs ◽

Epidermophyton Floccosum ◽

Synthetic Drugs ◽

Causative Agents

Nitrogenated heterocyclic compounds are present in both natural and synthetic drugs, and hexahydropyrimidine derivatives may prove to be efficient in treating dermatomycosis causing fungi. This study evaluated the antifungal activity of four hexahydropyrimidine derivatives against the dermatomycosis causing fungi. These derivatives were synthesized, characterized, and assessed in terms of their activity against Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Microsporum canis, Microsporum gypseum, Trichophyton rubrum, Fusarium oxysporum, and Epidermophyton floccosum between concentrations 7.8 and 1,000 μg mL−1. Scanning electron micrographs were assessed for the active derivatives and reference drugs, and these micrographs revealed that new agents cause morphological changes in fungi. The derivatives HHP1, HHP3, and HHP4 revealed poor activity against the four fungal strains (MICs range 500–1000 μg mL−1). Compound HHP3 was found to be the best potential antifungal agent among those tested and was the most effective among all the active derivatives that caused morphological changes in the susceptible strains.

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Epidemiology of Dermatophytoses in Switzerland According to a Survey of Dermatophytes Isolated in Lausanne between 2001 and 2018

Journal of Fungi ◽

10.3390/jof6020095 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 6 (2) ◽

pp. 95 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Olympia Bontems ◽

Marina Fratti ◽

Karine Salamin ◽

Emmanuella Guenova ◽

Michel Monod

Keyword(s):

Prevalence Ratio ◽

Trichophyton Mentagrophytes ◽

Microsporum Canis ◽

Epidermophyton Floccosum ◽

Tinea Unguium ◽

Prophylactic Measures ◽

Trichophyton Soudanense ◽

Trichophyton Benhamiae ◽

Children And Young Adults ◽

Pathogenic Agents

Dermatophytes are the most common pathogenic agents of superficial mycoses in humans and animals. Knowledge of their epidemiology can facilitate the prevention of dermatophytosis and improve prophylactic measures. We sought to determine the incidence of the different dermatophyte species diagnosed in Lausanne (Switzerland) from 2001 to 2018. In total, 10,958 dermatophytes were isolated from patients and 459 from pets. Overall, 99% of tinea unguium and tinea pedis were caused by Trichophyton rubrum and Trichophyton interdigitale with a prevalence ratio of 3:1. Trichophyton violaceum and Trichophyton soudanense were mainly found in tinea capitis in patients of African and Mediterranean origin. Interestingly, while Epidermophyton floccosum and Trichophyton verrucosum were prevalent 50 years ago in an epidemiological analysis carried out in the same laboratory from 1967 to 1970, these two species were rarely detected from 2001 to 2018. Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Trichophyton benhamiae and Microsporum canis were the prevalent zoophilic pathogenic species in children and young adults. Our investigation of animal samples revealed the main reservoirs of these zoophilic species to be cats and dogs for T. mentagrophytes and M. canis, and Guinea pigs for T. benhamiae. This study provides an epidemiological overview of dermatophytoses in Switzerland to improve their surveillance.

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Seasonal pattern and genotype distribution of sapovirus infection in Japan, 2003–2009

Epidemiology and Infection ◽

10.1017/s0950268811000240 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 140 (1) ◽

pp. 74-77 ◽

Cited By ~ 20

Author(s):

S. K. DEY ◽

O. PHATHAMMAVONG ◽

T. D. NGUYEN ◽

A. THONGPRACHUM ◽

W. CHAN-IT ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Seasonal Pattern ◽

Age Groups ◽

Cold Season ◽

Viral Gastroenteritis ◽

Genotype Distribution ◽

Chain Reaction ◽

The Family ◽

Causative Agents ◽

Polymerase Chain ◽

Predominant Strain

SUMMARYSapovirus, a member of the family Caliciviridae, is one of the major causative agents of viral gastroenteritis affecting all age groups. A total of 3232 faecal specimens collected from infants and children with gastroenteritis in five different regions of Japan during 2003–2009 were examined for sapovirus by reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction. Sapoviruses were detected in 131 (4·05%) patients with the peak observed mainly in the cold season (November–March) in Japan during 2003–2009. During the last 6 years, sapovirus GI/1 was the predominant strain in Japan followed by GIV, GII/3, GII/6, GII/2, GII/12 and GI, respectively.

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Methods for identification of causative agents of dangerous and particularly dangerous infections based on the analysis of nucleic acids

Journal of NBC Protection Corps ◽

10.35825/2587-5728-2018-2-4-22-35 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 2 (4) ◽

pp. 22-35

Keyword(s):

Nucleic Acids ◽

Dna Amplification ◽

Rapid Identification ◽

Chain Reaction ◽

Biological Contamination ◽

Laboratory Facilities ◽

Trained Personnel ◽

Causative Agents ◽

Polymerase Chain ◽

Goals And Objectives

One of the main tasks of the NBC Protection Troops is accurate and rapid identification of infectious disease causative agents in case of establishing the fact of biological contamination. Different methods based on the analysis of nucleic acids are most preferred for this purpose. Most of them are based on DNA amplification by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The result is detected by electrophoretic separation of amplification products, as well as by registration of endpoint fluorescent signal (FLASH modification) or in real time (PCR-RT). Other methods of DNA amplification, such as ligase chain reaction (LCR) and isothermal amplification, are also applicable in practice. The article also describes some identification methods based on nucleic acid sequencing: multilocus sequence typing (MLST) method, sequencing of individual genes and complete genome sequencing. It is concluded that the choice of identification method should be based on the goals and objectives, laboratory facilities, availability of trained personnel and funding levels. Despite the fact that the most informative are methods based on sequencing nucleotide sequences, their implementation in the field is difficult so far due to technological requirements

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Optimization and Application of a Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction Assay to Detect Diaporthe Species in Soybean Plant Tissue

Plant Disease ◽

10.1094/pdis-10-15-1204-re ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 100 (8) ◽

pp. 1669-1676 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Brian Kontz ◽

Sajag Adhikari ◽

Senthil Subramanian ◽

Febina M. Mathew

Keyword(s):

Polymerase Chain Reaction ◽

Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction ◽

Stem Canker ◽

Taqman Probe ◽

Soybean Plant ◽

Chain Reaction ◽

Accurate Identification ◽

Field Samples ◽

Polymerase Chain ◽

Soybean Plants

Diaporthe caulivora and D. longicolla are the causal agents of stem canker of soybean (Glycine max L.). Accurate identification of stem canker pathogens upon isolation from infected soybean plants is difficult and unreliable based on morphology. In this study, two TaqMan probe-based quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assays were optimized for detection of D. caulivora and D. longicolla in soybean plants. The assays used previously reported D. caulivora-specific (DPC-3) and D. longicolla-specific (PL-3) probe/primer sets. The sensitivity limit of the two assays was determined to be over a range of 100 pg to 10 fg of pure D. caulivora and D. longicolla genomic DNA. The qPCR assays were validated with plant samples collected from commercial soybean fields. The PL-3 set detected D. longicolla in soybean plants collected from the fields (quantification cycle value <35), which was confirmed by isolation on potato dextrose agar (PDA). D. caulivora was detected only in low levels (quantification cycle value <40) by DPC-3 set in a few of the symptomatic field samples, although the pathogen was not isolated on PDA. The qPCR assays were also useful in quantitatively phenotyping soybean plants for resistance to D. caulivora and D. longicolla under greenhouse conditions.

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The Prevalence of Shiga toxin-1 in Shigella spp. Isolates Collected from Diarrhea Patients, Ahvaz, Iran

10.21203/rs.2.11096/v3 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Nahid Mahdian ◽

Ali Gheysarzadeh ◽

Hassan Valadbeigi ◽

Sobhan Ghafourian ◽

Abbas Maleki ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Infectious Disease ◽

Shiga Toxin ◽

Clinical Symptoms ◽

Chain Reaction ◽

Shigella Species ◽

Shigella Spp ◽

Causative Agents ◽

Life Threatening ◽

Polymerase Chain ◽

Tropical Infectious Diseases

Abstract Objective Shigellosis is one of the substantial causative agents of microbial dysentery and still has a remarkable prevalence particularly in areas with poor hygienic infrastructures. The probable existence of the deadly Shiga toxin-1(Stx1) protein in some Shigella strains would manifest life-threatening clinical symptoms of the infection. The aim of this study was to determine the presence of Stx1 in isolated from patients with diarrhea. Results Totally, 227 Shigella species including 60 S. flexneri, 157 S. sonnei, and 10 S. boydii were collected from diarrheal patients in tropical infectious diseases research center of Ahvaz, Iran, from 2013 till 2015. The isolates were collected mostly from the intensive care unit, infectious disease, and surgery settings. The isolates were identified and the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed to detect the stx gene. The results indicated that none of them encode the stx gene. In conclusion isolates of this study were not capable of stx1 encoding.

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Genotyping of Acanthamoeba spp. Isolated from the Caspian Sea in Iran

Environmental Sciences Proceedings ◽

10.3390/environsciproc2020002009 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 2 (1) ◽

pp. 9

Author(s):

Mahmoudi M.R. ◽

Karanis P.

Keyword(s):

Water Samples ◽

Caspian Sea ◽

Nucleotide Sequencing ◽

Chain Reaction ◽

The Caspian Sea ◽

Free Living ◽

Public Health Professionals ◽

Causative Agents ◽

Polymerase Chain ◽

Seawater Samples

Acanthamoeba spp. are widely distributed in the environment and have been reported to be causative agents of lethal encephalitis and keratitis. In this study, thirty water samples from the Caspian Sea were collected during 2018. Water samples were filtrated and the filtrate used for culture. The positive samples were subjected to Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and nucleotide sequencing. Free-living amoebae were identified in 50% (15/30) of the seawater samples. DNA sequencing revealed the presence of T2 and T4 genotypes. The results of the present study confirmed the presence of potentially pathogenic strains in seawater in this area. This awareness should be raised among environmental and public health professionals.

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Evaluation of a rapid polymerase chain reaction based identification technique for Vibrio cholerae isolates

Water Science & Technology ◽

10.2166/wst.2004.0059 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 50 (1) ◽

pp. 229-232 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

W.J. le Roux ◽

D. Masoabi ◽

C.M.E. de Wet ◽

S.N. Venter

Keyword(s):

Polymerase Chain Reaction ◽

Vibrio Cholerae ◽

Molecular Techniques ◽

Chain Reaction ◽

Accurate Identification ◽

Rapid Pcr ◽

Rapid Polymerase Chain Reaction ◽

Identification Technique ◽

Polymerase Chain ◽

Public Health Protection

Rapid and accurate identification of waterborne pathogens, such as Vibrio cholerae, in drinking-water sources is important to enable effective resource management and public health protection. Phenotypic systems currently being used for the identification of Vibrio cholerae isolates are time-consuming and the need exists for the development of suitable molecular techniques that can offer both fast and reliable identification. During this study, isolates identified as Vibrio cholerae by means of two different biochemical test systems (API 20E and VITEK 32) were analysed with the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to compare the reliability of the various identification systems. The selected PCR technique amplified a sequence within the outer membrane protein of Vibrio cholerae, a gene specific for V. cholerae. It was found that out of 243 isolates biochemically identified as V. cholerae with either the API or VITEK system, 21 isolates did not give a positive result with the PCR detection method. Sequencing the 16S rDNA of more than half of these isolates and comparison of the sequences with Internet databases indicated that most of the isolates belonged to the genus Aeromonas. The results indicated that the rapid PCR procedure was more accurate than the API or VITEK systems currently being used for the phenotypic identification of Vibrio cholerae isolates.

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Molecular identification and genotyping of Acinetobacter baumannii isolated from burn patients by PCR and ERIC-PCR

Scars Burns & Healing ◽

10.1177/2059513119831369 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 5 ◽

pp. 205951311983136 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Faezeh Falah ◽

Leili Shokoohizadeh ◽

Maryam Adabi

Keyword(s):

Acinetobacter Baumannii ◽

Epidemiological Studies ◽

Burn Patients ◽

Chain Reaction ◽

Burn Wound ◽

Accurate Identification ◽

Microbiological Test ◽

Major Burn ◽

Screening And Identification ◽

Polymerase Chain

Background: Acinetobacter baumannii is one of the most important agents of hospital infections. Rapid and accurate identification and genotyping of A. baumannii is very important, especially in burn hospitals in order to prevent the spread of related nosocomial infections and to further epidemiological studies. Material and methods: For two months, 82 A. baumannii isolates were collected from burn wound swabs of patients in a major burn hospital in Tehran. A. baumannii isolates were identified by conventional microbiological test and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using the primers of blaOXA-51 gene, while the genetic linkage of A. baumannii isolates was investigated by enterobacterial repetitive intragenic consensus (ERIC)-PCR technique. Similarity, a cut-off of ⩾ 95% was considered for classifying the genotypes. Results: The molecular test (PCR) confirmed 97.56% of phenotypic results for the detection of A. baumannii isolates. ERIC-PCR results revealed 14 different ERIC patterns (ERIC-types) including 11 common types and three unique types. Conclusion: Our findings show that we can simply and quickly detect A. baumannii isolates by PCR using blaOXA genes and genetic diversity by ERIC-PCR, respectively. These rapid and simple techniques for the routine screening and identification of clinical A. baumannii isolates could be useful with epidemic potential.

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Bronchiectasis Exacerbations: The Role of Atypical Bacteria and Respiratory Syncytial Virus

Canadian Respiratory Journal ◽

10.1155/2015/783682 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 22 (3) ◽

pp. 163-166 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Eugenios I Metaxas ◽

Evangelos Balis ◽

Joseph Papaparaskevas ◽

Nicholas E Spanakis ◽

Georgios Tatsis ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Polymerase Chain Reaction ◽

Respiratory Syncytial Virus ◽

Bronchoalveolar Lavage ◽

Chain Reaction ◽

Antibody Titres ◽

Causative Agents ◽

Polymerase Chain ◽

Syncytial Virus ◽

Atypical Bacteria

BACKGROUND: Aside from the known role of common bacteria, there is a paucity of data regarding the possible role of atypical bacteria and viruses in exacerbations of non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis.OBJECTIVE: To explore the possible role of atypical bacteria (namely,Mycoplasma pneumoniaeandChlamydophila pneumoniae) and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) as causative agents of bronchiectasis exacerbations.METHODS: A cohort of 33 patients was studied over a two-year period (one year follow-up for each patient). Polymerase chain reaction for the detection ofM pneumoniae,C pneumoniaeand RSV in bronchoalveolar lavage samples were performed during all visits. Antibody titres (immunoglobulin [Ig]M and IgG) against the aforementioned pathogens were also measured. In addition, cultures for common bacteria and mycobacteria were performed from the bronchoalveolar lavage samples.RESULTS: Fifteen patients experienced a total of 19 exacerbations during the study period. Although RSV was detected by polymerase chain reaction during stable visits in four patients, it was never detected during an exacerbation.M pneumoniaeandC pneumoniaewere never detected at stable visits or during exacerbations. IgM antibody titres for these three pathogens were negative in all patient visits.CONCLUSIONS: Atypical pathogens and RSV did not appear to be causative agents of bronchiectasis exacerbations.

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