Esmaeel Fallah , Mahmoud Mahami-Oskouei , Abdolrasoul Safaiyan , Nasrin Mirsamadi , Fatemeh Hamzavi , Leila Mahami-Oskouei ,
Volume 13, Issue 4 (3-2012)
Abstract
Background : Toxocariasis is a zoonotic disease caused by the migration or presence of Toxocara canis or Toxocara cati larva in human tissues or organs. Human become infected by ingestion of soil or contaminated raw or half-cooked meat (Paratenic hosts) containing Toxocara larva. The present study was conducted to determine Toxocara infection in the dog and cat owners and compare the results with infection in individuals who do not have the history of keeping these pets.
Materials and Methods: In this descriptive-analytical study, by random sampling, 558 (405 individuals who do not have dog and cat and 153 dog and cat owners) of 2-20 years old persons were selected in Tabriz during 2009-2010. Serum samples were investigated using ELISA method for the presence of anti-toxocara antibodies and data were analyzed using Chi-square test.
Results: Totally, 162 samples (94 from people in contact and 68 from people without any contact with dog and cat) had anti-toxocara IgG. Total of 558 individual samples (235 men and 323 female) 396(70.96%) were negative and 162(29.03%) were positive. There were no significant association between Toxocara infection and gender (P=0.275).
Conclusion: According to the results of this study, much of the dogs and cats owners were exposed to parasite. Training of dogs and cats owners, promotion of their awareness about various ways of transmission and examination of the infections in dogs and cats and prevention of these infections are recommended.
Soodabeh Aliashrafi , Mehrangiz Ebrahimi-Mameghani , Pardis Irandoost , Fatemeh Hamzavi,
Volume 15, Issue 5 (3-2014)
Abstract
Background : Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) is the most common liver disease. NAFLD is characterized by elevated liver enzymes and serum ferritin concentration due to damage and abnormal function of liver cells. Increased level of serum ferritin as a parameter of liver function is commonly observed .The aim of this study was to determine the agreement between serum liver with liver and ferritin echogenicity in NAFLD patients.
Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out on 60 NAFLD patients confirmed by ultrasonography in Tabriz. Fasting blood samples were taken for assessment of Alanin aminotransferase, Aspartat aminotransferase and ferritin level. Weight and height were measured. Liver enzymes ratio were estimated and classified into tertile.
Results: The mean of serum ferritin was126.34±108.25 ng/ml and was significantly associated with severity of liver echogenisity (p=0.016). Significant relationship was observed between fatty liver severity and ALT/AST ratio (p=0.004) with good agreement (Kappa value= 68.3%) while the ratio of ferritin to liver enzymes was not significantly associated with the severity of NAFLD.
Conclusion: This study suggests significant agreement between severity of fatty liver and ferritin and liver enzymes ratio in NAFLD patients but not with the ratio of ferritin to liver enzymes.
