Saber Esmaeili1, Mohammad Mehdi Gooya2, Mohammad Reza Shirzadi2, Behzad Esfandiari1, Fahimeh Bagheri Amiri3, Manijeh Yousefi Behzadi1, Omid Banafshi4, Ehsan Mostafavi5. 1. Department of Epidemiology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, No. 69, Pasteur Ave., Postal Code 1316943551, Tehran, Iran. 2. Center of Disease Control (CDC), Ministry of Health, Tehran, Iran. 3. Department of Epidemiology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, No. 69, Pasteur Ave., Postal Code 1316943551, Tehran, Iran; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran. 4. Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran. 5. Department of Epidemiology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, No. 69, Pasteur Ave., Postal Code 1316943551, Tehran, Iran. Electronic address: mostafavi@pasteur.ac.ir.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The first human case of tularemia in Iran was reported in 1980 and there have been no subsequent reports of tularemia in the country. The aim of this study was to carry out a survey of tularemia among different groups in the province of Kurdistan in western Iran. METHODS: The following information was collected by means of an in-house questionnaire: participant demographic characteristics, exposure to risks, and use of appropriate personal protective equipment and disinfectant in their occupation. A blood sample was collected from each participant. Sera were tested using an ELISA kit (Virion\Serion) to detect specific IgG antibodies against Francisella tularensis. RESULTS: Of a total of 250 serum samples, 14.40% had anti-tularemia IgG antibodies. The highest seroprevalence was found in hunters (18%) and the lowest in health care workers (12%). Age had a significant positive association with tularemia seroprevalence (p<0.001). The seroprevalence of tularemia in people exposed to foxes (hunting or eating the meat) (25%) was significantly higher than in others (8.65%) (p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: According to the findings of this study, it is highly recommended that physicians and health care workers are informed about bacteria circulating in this area. By sensitizing the health system, it is expected that some cases of the clinical disease will be reported in the near future. Similar studies in other parts of the country and on domestic and wild animals will clarify the epidemiology of tularemia in Iran.
BACKGROUND: The first human case of tularemia in Iran was reported in 1980 and there have been no subsequent reports of tularemia in the country. The aim of this study was to carry out a survey of tularemia among different groups in the province of Kurdistan in western Iran. METHODS: The following information was collected by means of an in-house questionnaire: participant demographic characteristics, exposure to risks, and use of appropriate personal protective equipment and disinfectant in their occupation. A blood sample was collected from each participant. Sera were tested using an ELISA kit (Virion\Serion) to detect specific IgG antibodies against Francisella tularensis. RESULTS: Of a total of 250 serum samples, 14.40% had anti-tularemia IgG antibodies. The highest seroprevalence was found in hunters (18%) and the lowest in health care workers (12%). Age had a significant positive association with tularemia seroprevalence (p<0.001). The seroprevalence of tularemia in people exposed to foxes (hunting or eating the meat) (25%) was significantly higher than in others (8.65%) (p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: According to the findings of this study, it is highly recommended that physicians and health care workers are informed about bacteria circulating in this area. By sensitizing the health system, it is expected that some cases of the clinical disease will be reported in the near future. Similar studies in other parts of the country and on domestic and wild animals will clarify the epidemiology of tularemia in Iran.
Authors: Mohammad M Obaidat; Lile Malania; Alaa E Bani Salman; Ryan J Arner; Amira A Roess Journal: Am J Trop Med Hyg Date: 2020-06-04 Impact factor: 2.345
Authors: N Akhvlediani; I Burjanadze; D Baliashvili; T Tushishvili; M Broladze; A Navdarashvili; S Dolbadze; N Chitadze; M Topuridze; P Imnadze; N Kazakhashvili; T Tsertsvadze; T Kuchuloria; T Akhvlediani; L-A McNutt; G Chanturia Journal: Epidemiol Infect Date: 2018-09-25 Impact factor: 4.434