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pISSN: 2251-6085
eISSN: 2251-6093
Chairman & Editor-in-Chief:
Dariush D. Farhud, MD, Ph.D., MG.
This journal is a member of, and subscribes to the principles of, the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). 
Vol 29 No 1-4 (2000)
Articles
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Examination of faecal samples of 6,430 school children aged between 2 and 20 years, for gastrointestinal parasites using sedimentation and Kato smear techniques was carried out in Benin City, Nigeria between January 1997 and December 1998. Four thousand two hundred and thirty six (65.8%) were infected. Three species of protozoa and 8 species of helminths were recorded as follows: Entamoeba histolytica (6%), Entomoeba coli (4.8%), Giardia lamblia (5.2%), Schistosoma mansoni (2.4%), Fasciola gigantica (2.3%), Taenia sp. (1.3%), Ascaris lumbricoides (17.0%), Enterobius vemicularis (1.5%), Trichuris trichiura (6.8%), Necator americanus (13.9%), and Strongyloides stercoralis (3.9%). Prevalence of infection increased with increase in age to a maximum value of 8.15% among the 6-9 years age group (junior primary pupils) and thereafter decreased with increase in age, to the least value of 28.6% among the 17-20 years old (senior secondary). The nursery pupils recorded the highest prevalence for protozoa and the nematode Ascaris lumbricoides infections while the senior primary pupils had the highest infection rates for the fluke Schistosoma mansoni and for all other nematode parasites recorded (apart from Ascaris). The junior secondary pupils recorded the highest prevalence for the liver fluke, Fasicola gigantica while the senior secondary pupils recorded the least prevalence for all the parasitic infections. Infections were significantly high (P<0.05) in the rainy season (April-October) and low in the dry season (November-March). The high infection rate is considered to be due to general poor sanitation in the environment and the poor sanitary habits of children.
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In order to determine the exact birth rate and also percent of birth - orders in all births in the province of west Azerbaijan, all centres of birth registration in the province were asked to fill a questionnaire at the time of issuing identity document for children. In the questionnaire, parents were asked to mention the place of birth, sex and birth order of the children and also the occupation and education of the mother and the father. This study was carried out in 1996. During this year the population of the province was 2495343. The number of all registered birth was 43833. This study showed that the birth rate in the province has declined from 40.8 per thousand in 1986 to 17.6 per thousand in 1996. Male/Female ratio varied from 100 to 111 in different districts, the average was 108. The birth order of 401 male was higher in Kurds as compared to Azaris. This may be secondary to the effect of education because the study showed that the higher the education of mother or even father, the less is the probability of birth order of more than 3. The main recommendation is more emphasis on the female education to reduce the birth rate to the optimum level.
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Susceptibility status of Ph.papatasi to DDT 4% has been evaluated in Arsanjan country, the new focus of cutaneous Leishmaniasis, in Fars province in 1999. Sandflies were collected from human habitations. Tests revealed that this species was sensitive to DDT. Results from data analysis showed that LT50 and LT90 can be measured as 30 (fiducially limit; 23, 36) and 55 minutes (fiducially limit: 44, 84), respectively. The mortality rate at the diagnostic dose of DDT with an exposure time of one hour followed by 24 hour recovery period exhibited 97±2% mortality.
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In order to investigate the microbiological safety of sanitary tissues made of recycled scrap papers in Iran, random samples were taken for one year with the cooperation of the Iranian Standard and Industrial Research Institute (Karaj unit), of 44 types of sanitary tissues, two samples of each type including tissues, toilet papers and dippers as well as a control sample and their probable contamination with microbiological elements (bacterial & fungal) were assessed using proper ordinary and specific culture environments while also performing confirmation tests. Considering all aspects of this study including easy identification, high precision, simplicity of application, economic justification and observation of better results, the method which applies ringer 1/4 solution as the thinner environment was preferable to the saline peptone water solution. No contamination with Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus faecalis, Pseudomonas aeroginosa and E.coli bacteria was observed, but the excessive contamination with the mesophillic bacteria was confirmed. Among the 27 samples tested with the ringer 1/4 method, 8 cases (29.6%) were excessively contaminated with the mesophillic bacteria and one case (3.7%) with fungi. Meanwhile, out of the 43 samples that were tested with the saline peptone water solution, there was no excessive contamination with mesophillic bacteria and only one case (2.3%) of fungal contamination was observed.
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Chemical oxidation is one of the most suitable treatment methods for reducing organic pollutants and the number of pathogens remaining in secondary effluents. Ozone is the most powerful oxidizing agent commonly used because of it's many advantages over chlorination. In this study the efficiency of ozonation in advanced wastewater treatment of Sahebgharanieh Plant has been determined. Ozone generation has been performed by irradiation of compressed air with 4 special UV lamps. The total output of these lamps was determined to be 0.74 mg ozone per minute at established conditions. Considering 3 periods of ozonation of effluent samples (30, 60 and 120 min) and ozone transfer coefficient of 95%, the concentrations of applied ozone for wastewater treatment were specified to be 10.5, 21 and 42 mg/l, respectively. Ozonation of secondary effluents at these periods has resulted in 17, 24 and 30 percent reduction in average COD and about 20, 18 and 32 percent decrease in BOD5. It is believed that the 2 percent increase observed in BOD after 30 minutes is caused by changing some amount of COD to BOD5 by applied ozone. According to the prescribed reduction values it could be concluded that the final effluent of a typical treatment plant would become better qualified for water reuse in irrigation. But it should be declared that the effluent might not be completely disinfected irrespective of about 99.0% decrease determined in MPN of total coliforms. Also it must be noted that this degree of disinfection was accomplished only for 62.5% of samples. Ozonation of effluent samples has caused an increase in pH value which was at least 0.4 of a pH unit.
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To assess the pollution trend of southwest ground water aquifer of Tehran by nitrite and nitrate, in February 1999, out of 300 wells within this area, 99 wells were selected according to simple random sampling without replacement, analysed by colorimetric and ultraviolet spectrophotometric screening standard methods, respectively. The conclusion asserted is that with a confidence limit of 95%, standard error of 2, and permissible error of ± 2.21, the average concentration of nitrate in southwest Tehran ground water aquifer is 48 to 56 mg/l as No-3. Comparison the results of this survey with the data collected in 1993, it was concluded that the nitrate concentration in aquifer has increased 2.4 fold whereas the nitrite has reduced about 4 fold. One of the reasons for these changes is the process of denitrification occurred under the recently made hydrochemical conditions of layers, and finally there was a significant decrease in No-3 levels with depth. Concentration appraisal of the sum of the ratio of the concentration of each parameter (nitrate & nitrite) to its respective guide line value showed that 52.5 percent of wells under the study exceed the number one recommended guide line and health significance in drinking water by W.H.O.
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Sera from ninety one patients clinically suspected to extra intestinal amoebiasis (ex-am) were collected and examined for presence of anti Entamoeba histolytica (E.h) antibody. The tests were Indirect Immunofluorescence antibody, (IFA or IIF), Gel Diffusion (GD) and counter Immuno Electrophoresis (CIEP). Thirty one patients (34%) had anti E.h. antibody titres of >1:80. Among them eight patients (9%) had acute infection. IFA titres of > 1:640 were found to be significant for differentiation of present infection from past. The sensitivity, specificity, negative and positive predictive value of this test was 100%, 98%, 100% and 89%, respectively. In GD or CIEP tests 13 positive cases (12%) were detected.
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Toxocariasis or Visceral Larva Migrans (VLM) is a parasitic infection resulting from the invasion of human visceral organs by Nematode larvae of genus Toxocara (dog Ascaris). Using gathered information of clinical manifestations, past history, biochemical and haematological tests, Indirect Fluorescence Antibody test (IFA) and follow up of patients, totally 10 human cases (6 males and 4 females) from 1993 to 1995 were diagnosed. The age of patients was between 3 to 52 years, but the most common age was in age group of 0-9 years old. Most of the patients (7 cases) had a previous history of contact with dog. A history of geophagy and contact with cat were noted in patients 4 & 3, respectively. The residential areas of the patients were Guilan, Tehran, Hamadan, Khuzestan, Zanjan and Mazandaran. All patients showed high peripheral eosinophilia. Leukocytosis, high SGOT, SGPT and serum globulin were observed in 6, 3, 2 and 6 cases, respectively. Clinical findings were pain, fever, anorexia, dizziness, dyspnea, weight loss, cough, hepatomegaly, splenomegaly and lymphadenopathy.
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A new reservoir host of Trichinella was identified as: Herpestes auropunctatus, (Mangoose) in province of Khuzestan, south west of Iran. Wild swine, brown bear jackal and wild cat have been reported as natural host for Trichinella so far. The larvae obtained from the mongoose was infective for rat and white mouse, but the latter was more sensitive comparatively (This study was carried out in the Ahwaz Health Research Station).
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In this study 100 cases of advanced periodontitis were compared with a control group of 100 persons. The parameters were the depth of the periodontal pockets, radiographic images, presence of inflammatory cells and different types of anaerobic bacteria in the pockets. The depth of pocket was measured by a sterile probe and the presence of inflammatory cells was determined through sterile curettage. The smears were stained by Gimsa and Gram methods. For the purpose of microbiological studies, subgingival plaque samples were taken on paper points and were plated on brucella agar medium supplemented with rabbit blood, haemin and vitamin K1. The results indicated that with increasing depth of the pocket, the number of mixed anaerobic infections increases, and the presence of inflammatory cells especially polymorphonuclears is more prominent in comparison to the control group. As the pocket depth increases the conditions become more favourable for anaerobic bacteria and in consequence the incidence of isolation of these bacteria increases. On the other hand as the number of anaerobic bacteria and inflammatory cells and the secretion of destructive enzymes increases, the resultant injury to periodontal tissue increases.
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There are many freshwater snails involved in the life cycle of parasitic flukes. Some of these animals, such as Bulinus spp and Lymnaea spp are very important in public health and veterinary medicine. For example, Bulinus trucatus and Lymnaeid snails transmit Human Bilharziosis and zoonotic Fascioliosis, respectively. For this reason most freshwater bodies of northern Iran, were searched for potential intermediate host snails of medical parasites. Thirteen mollusc taxa, i.e. 5 operculated shell-bearing versus 8 pulmonated snails were found during a snail survey, in the summer of 1992. Two taxa, viz. Anisus leucostoma and Bulinus truncatus were found to be new species for Iran and northern Iran, respectively.
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Statistical data from 1966 till 1995 showed that Neural tube defects, in the American continent, Venezuela had the highest prevalence of 38.9 and some Latin American countries showed the low of 7.7. In Europe, Norway had the highest prevalence of 68, and Denmark the lowest, 5.8. In Asia, India had the highest of 181.8 and Japan the lowest of 10. In Africa, Nigeria had the highest of 70 and Negroes of South Africa had the lowest of 9.9. In Australia the figure was 20.05. According to the statistics available of the years 1967 till 1996, anencephaly in China had the highest prevalence of 87. In the American continent, state of Michigan in the USA had the highest of 10.5 and Jamaica, in Central America, had the lowest of 2.6. In Europe, Turkey with 16.4 and Italy with 2.73; in Asia, China with 87 and Iran with 0.8 had the highest and the lowest prevalence, respectively. In Africa, Nigeria with 3.5, and in Oceania, Newzeland with 7.8 in 10000, were reported. Data available on spina bifida, from the years 1968 till 1991 showed the highest prevalence in China with 36, and the lowest in the Alps Mountains with 0.55 in 10000 individuals. In the American continent, state of Arkansas with 7.8 and California with 3.87; in Europe, England with 23.1 and Rhein-Alp with 0.55 in 10000 had the highest and the lowest prevalence. Finally, in China this rate was 36, in Australia 10, in Newzeland 9.4, and in Nigeria 7/10000. In a study carried out in Tehran, from 1969 till 1978 by the authors, out of 13037 births, (17.6 in 10000) newborns had neural tube defects, with anencephaly 0.8 and spina bifida 3.8/10000. In a new study on 8585 deliveries (1991-1997) in Hamadan (a North West province of Iran), Prevalence of total NTDs was 50.1/10000, anencephaly 15.6 and spin bifida 6.98.
