Parasitological and molecular detection of Babesia canis vogeli in dogs of Recife, Pernambuco and evaluation of risk factors associated

This work aims to detect the presence of Babesia canis vogeli in dogs from Recife, Pernambuco via molecular and parasitological detection methods, and to assess the risk factors associated with this parasite. A total of 146 dogs (male and female) of varying breeds and ages that presented clinical symptoms of babesiosis were assessed at a clinical care center in the Veterinary School Hospital. Blood was obtained via venopuncture for hemoparasite detection and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Using a commercial kit, DNA was extracted from blood samples. For the PCR reaction, an approximately 590 base pair long genetic sequence was used to detect the presence of B. canis vogeli. The forward primer, denoted as BAB1 (5’-GTG AAC CTT ATC ACT TAA AGG-3’), was specific for a conserved region on the 18S rRNA gene of Babesia spp., and the antisense primer was denoted as BAB4 (5’-CAA CTC CTC CAC GCA ATC G-3’). PCR results suggested that the percentage of Babesia canis vogeli infection was 4.8%. Through descriptive statistical analysis of the data, we observed that there was higher frequency of parasite infection associated with male dogs above two years of age, with a defined breed, from the countryside, are domiciled, and also suffer from tick infestation. We conclude that regardless of the type of risk factor, babesiosis can be found throughout Recife, Pernambuco, and its prevalence does not vary in most regions of Brazil. Our results indicate that PCR is a sensitive test for the detection of blood parasites, and should be performed as a clinical routine.

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Risk factors associated with birth defects at a tertiary care center in Pakistan

Italian Journal of Pediatrics ◽

10.1186/1824-7288-38-68 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 38 (1) ◽

pp. 68 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Mohammad Zeeshan Raza ◽

Asfandyar Sheikh ◽

Syed Salman Ahmed ◽

Sajid Ali ◽

Syed Mumtaz Ali Naqvi

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Birth Defects ◽

Care Center ◽

Tertiary Care ◽

Tertiary Care Center ◽

Factors Associated

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Prevalence and Risk Factors Associated with First-Line Anti-Tuberculosis Induced Hepatotoxicity in Suratthani Hospital, Thailand

Journal of the Medical Association of Thailand ◽

10.35755/jmedassocthai.2021.02.11550 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 104 (2) ◽

pp. 233-239

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Serum Albumin ◽

Clinical Symptoms ◽

Significant Risk ◽

Public Health Problem ◽

Major Public Health Problem ◽

First Line ◽

Drug Induced ◽

Factors Associated ◽

Drug Risk

ackground: Tuberculosis (TB) is a major public health problem, including Thailand. Anti-TB drugs are very effective treatment, but they can cause hepatotoxicity. Data on the prevalence of anti-TB drug-induced hepatotoxicity (DIH), as well as the contributing risk factors, are scarce in Thailand. Objective: To measure the prevalence and identify risk factors associated with first-line drugs (FLD) induced hepatoxicity in TB patients. Materials and Methods: The present study was a retrospective study design in TB clinic of Suratthani Hospital, in Southern Thailand. All patients diagnosed with TB and received FLD between January and December 2017, were eligible for the study. Hepatoxicity defined as the following criteria: serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) or alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels >5x upper limit of normal (ULN) without symptoms, or AST or ALT >3x ULN with clinical symptoms. Results: Of all the 198 TB cases, 18 were identified as DIH. Prevalence of DIH was 9.1%. Hepatitis after FLD was independently associated with age>60 years (adjusted OR [aOR] 28.49, 95% CI 2.68 to 302.95, p=0.005) and serum albumin <3.5 g/dL (aOR 20.97, 95% CI 2.11 to 208.51, p=0.009). Conclusion: Age of more than 60 years and low serum albumin of less than 3.5 g/dL were significant risk factors associated with first-line anti-TB drugs induced hepatoxicity. Keywords: Hepatoxicity, Anti-tuberculosis drug, Risk factor, Thailand

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PARK2 and PARK7 Gene Polymorphisms as Risk Factors Associated with Serum Element Concentrations and Clinical Symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease

Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology ◽

10.1007/s10571-019-00734-z ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 40 (3) ◽

pp. 357-367

Author(s):

Jaya Sanyal ◽

Athira Anirudhan ◽

Tapas Kumar Banerjee ◽

Gautam Guha ◽

Ramakrishnan Veerabathiran ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Parkinson’S Disease ◽

Parkinson's Disease ◽

Gene Polymorphisms ◽

Clinical Symptoms ◽

Factors Associated ◽

Element Concentrations

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Genetic Diversity of Bovine Hemoprotozoa in South Korea

Pathogens ◽

10.3390/pathogens9090768 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (9) ◽

pp. 768

Author(s):

Dongmi Kwak ◽

Min-Goo Seo

Keyword(s):

South Korea ◽

Clinical Symptoms ◽

Surface Protein ◽

18S Rrna Gene ◽

Rrna Gene ◽

Theileria Orientalis ◽

Bovine Theileriosis ◽

Major Piroplasm Surface Protein ◽

Theileria Spp ◽

Epidemiological Information

Tick-borne pathogens cause economically significant diseases in cattle. Theileria spp. are parasitic protozoa and the causative agent of bovine theileriosis. Here we report the distribution and risk factors of bovine Theileria using blood samples taken between 2018 and 2019. Of 737 tested cattle, nine animals (1.2%) were positive for Theileria orientalis infection by 18S rRNA gene amplification. Further analysis of the infected samples using the T. orientalis major piroplasm surface protein (MPSP) gene revealed five different genotypes circulating in the population: Types 1, 2, 3, 7, and N3. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first research to describe the existence of the T. orientalis MPSP genotype N3 in South Korea. Although the prevalence of bovine T. orientalis was low, our study offers data on the geographical distribution and prevalence of bovine Theileria spp. in South Korea. Further studies are warranted to determine the correlation of clinical symptoms with parasite MPSP genotypes. Our data provide epidemiological information to help control bovine theileriosis in South Korea.

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Rates and Risk Factors Associated with Surgical Site Infections in a Tertiary Care Center in South-Western Nigeria

International Journal of TROPICAL DISEASE & Health ◽

10.9734/ijtdh/2013/1769 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 3 (1) ◽

pp. 25-36 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

O. Amoran

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Care Center ◽

Tertiary Care ◽

Surgical Site Infections ◽

Tertiary Care Center ◽

Factors Associated

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Phylogenetic analysis based on 18S rRNA gene sequences ofSchellackiaparasites (Apicomplexa: Lankesterellidae) reveals their close relationship to the genusEimeria

Parasitology ◽

10.1017/s0031182013000553 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 140 (9) ◽

pp. 1149-1157 ◽

Cited By ~ 20

Author(s):

R. MEGÍA-PALMA ◽

J. MARTÍNEZ ◽

S. MERINO

Keyword(s):

Phylogenetic Analysis ◽

Blood Cells ◽

18S Rrna ◽

Taxonomic Status ◽

Refractile Body ◽

18S Rrna Gene ◽

Blood Parasites ◽

Recent Common Ancestor ◽

Rrna Gene ◽

Amphibian Species

SUMMARYIn the present study we detectedSchellackiahaemoparasites infecting the blood cells ofLacerta schreiberiandPodarcis hispanica, two species of lacertid lizards from central Spain. The parasite morphometry, the presence of a refractile body, the type of infected blood cells, the kind of host species, and the lack of oocysts in the fecal samples clearly indicated these blood parasites belong to the genusSchellackia. Until now, the species of this genus have never been genetically characterized and its taxonomic position under the Lankesterellidae family is based on the lack of the exogenous oocyst stage. However, the phylogenetic analysis performed on the basis of the 18S rRNA gene sequence revealed that species of the genusSchellackiaare clustered withEimeriaspecies isolated from a snake and an amphibian species but not withLankesterellaspecies. The phylogenetic analysis rejects that both genera share a recent common ancestor. Based on these results we suggest a revision of the taxonomic status of the family Lankesterellidae.

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Outcomes of Monochorionic, Diamniotic Twin Pregnancies with Prenatally Diagnosed Intertwin Weight Discordance

American Journal of Perinatology ◽

10.1055/s-0040-1721697 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Nasim C. Sobhani ◽

Teresa N. Sparks ◽

Kristen A. Gosnell ◽

Larry Rand ◽

Juan M. Gonzalez ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Pregnancy Outcome ◽

Care Center ◽

Tertiary Care ◽

Subsequent Development ◽

The United States ◽

Secondary Outcome ◽

Fetal Ultrasound ◽

Factors Associated ◽

Twin Pregnancies

Objective Monochorionic, diamniotic (MCDA) twin pairs are predisposed to various pregnancy complications due to the unique placental angioarchitecture of monochorionicity. Few studies have evaluated the outcomes of weight-discordant MCDA pairs without selective fetal growth restriction (SFGR) or the risk factors for development of SFGR. This study aims to describe the natural history of expectant, noninvasive management of weight-discordant MCDA twins and to evaluate risk factors associated with progression to SFGR. Study Design This was a retrospective cohort study at a single, tertiary care center in the United States. All MCDA twins with isolated intertwin weight discordance (ITWD) ≥ 20% diagnosed before 26 weeks' gestational age (GA) were included. The primary outcome of descriptive analyses was overall pregnancy outcome, incorporating both survival to delivery and GA at delivery, as defined by the North American Fetal Therapy Network. The secondary outcome was SFGR in one twin (defined as estimated fetal weight < 10% for GA) and factors associated with this progression. Only those with fetal ultrasound (US) within 4 weeks of delivery were included in this secondary analysis. Results Among 73 MCDA pairs with ITWD, 73% had a good pregnancy outcome, with dual live delivery at a median GA of 33 weeks. Among the 34 pairs with adequate US follow-up, 56% developed SFGR. There were no differences in GA at delivery or discordance at birth between those who did and those who did not develop SFGR. There was a nonsignificant association between increasing ITWD at diagnosis and subsequent development of SFGR. Conclusion Expectant, noninvasive management can be considered in MCDA twin pregnancies with ITWD ≥ 20% diagnosed before 26 weeks. This approach is associated with a good pregnancy outcome in the majority of cases, even after the development of SFGR in the smaller twin. Key Points

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High prevalence of Babesia microti in small mammals in Beijing

Infectious Diseases of Poverty ◽

10.1186/s40249-020-00775-3 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Chun-Yan Wei ◽

Xiao-Mei Wang ◽

Zhen-Sheng Wang ◽

Zhi-Hua Wang ◽

Zeng-Zhi Guan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Small Mammals ◽

18S Rrna Gene ◽

Host Population ◽

Pathogen Transmission ◽

Control Measures ◽

Babesia Microti ◽

Mammalian Host ◽

Rrna Gene ◽

Sequence Alignments

Abstract Background Babesiosis is an emerging tick-borne zoonotic infectious disease. Babesia microti is responsible for most cases of human babesiosis globally. It is important to investigate the prevalence of B. microti in the mammalian host population of a specific region in order to elucidate mechanisms of pathogen transmission and to define geographic areas where humans face the greatest risk of exposure. The aim of this study is to understand the prevalence and genotypes of B. microti in the small mammals that are found in Beijing, China. Methods We trapped small mammals from all of the 16 urban, suburban, and outer suburban districts of Beijing during the years 2014, 2017 and 2018. Genomic DNA was extracted from the heart tissues individually and the Babesia 18S rRNA gene was detected by PCR. The genotypes of B. microti were identified based on sequence alignments and phylogenetic analysis. The morphology of the parasites was observed under light microscopy. The risk factors were analyzed statistically based on both univariate analyses and multivariate logistic regression. Results A total of 1391 small mammals were collected. Positive infection of B. microti was detected in 12.1% (168/1391) of small mammals from 15 out of the 16 districts. Both Kobe-type and U.S.-type B. microti, accounting for 9.5% and 2.7%, respectively, were identified. Classic diverse morphologic forms of B. microti were observed. Specific types of ecological habitats including shrub areas, broad-leaved forest, and cropland were revealed to be risk factors associated with B. microti infection. Conclusions This study demonstrated the wide prevalence of B. microti infection in eight species of small mammals in Beijing, with Kobe-type more prevalent than U.S.-type. This study provides fundamental information for the development of informed prevention and control measures by public health authorities; the data gathered indicates a need for further monitoring of both clinical diseases in individuals presenting with babesiosis-like symptoms, as well as the infection status of ticks in high risk areas.

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