Mahdi Fakhar1,2, Maryam Nakhaei3, Ali Sharifpour4,5, Hamed Kalani6, Elham Sadat Banimostafavi7, Siavash Abedi8, Sepideh Safanavaei8, Masoud Aliyali8. 1. Toxoplasmosis Research Center, Iranian National Registry Center for Lophomoniasis (INRCL), Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, PO Box 48471-91971, Sari, Iran. mahdif53@yahoo.com. 2. Toxoplasmosis Research Center, School of Medicine, Department of Parasitology, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Farah-Abad Road, PO Box 48471-91971, Sari, Iran. mahdif53@yahoo.com. 3. Toxoplasmosis Research Center, Iranian National Registry Center for Lophomoniasis (INRCL), Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, PO Box 48471-91971, Sari, Iran. 4. Toxoplasmosis Research Center, Iranian National Registry Center for Lophomoniasis (INRCL), Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, PO Box 48471-91971, Sari, Iran. asharifpour0209@yahoo.com. 5. Pulmonary and Critical Care Division, Imam Khomeini Hospital, Iranian National Registry Center for Lophomoniasis (INRCL), Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran. asharifpour0209@yahoo.com. 6. Infectious Diseases Research Center, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran. 7. Department of Radiology, Imam Khomeini Hospital, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran. 8. Pulmonary and Critical Care Division, Imam Khomeini Hospital, Iranian National Registry Center for Lophomoniasis (INRCL), Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: We report a case of lophomoniasis in an immunocompetent patient with acute paranasal sinusitis from the north of Iran whose disease was diagnosed by both microscopic and molecular methods. CASE PRESENTATION: The patient, a 40-year-old woman, suffered from upper respiratory infection, was referred to the Iranian National Registry Center for Lophomoniasis (INRCL) at the Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran, for diagnosis. A direct wet mount of nasal discharge revealed the flagellate protozoa morphologically identified Lophomonas blattarum. Moreover, through a specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of nasal discharge, a 214-bp band was observed, confirming the genus Lophomonas spp. The patient was treated successfully with metronidazole 500 mg t.i.d for 1 week. CONCLUSION: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first molecular detection of lophomoniasis in the literature. According to our preliminary study, a reliable PCR test is available now for detecting the Lophomonas parasite.
INTRODUCTION: We report a case of lophomoniasis in an immunocompetent patient with acute paranasal sinusitis from the north of Iran whose disease was diagnosed by both microscopic and molecular methods. CASE PRESENTATION: The patient, a 40-year-old woman, suffered from upper respiratory infection, was referred to the Iranian National Registry Center for Lophomoniasis (INRCL) at the Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran, for diagnosis. A direct wet mount of nasal discharge revealed the flagellate protozoa morphologically identified Lophomonas blattarum. Moreover, through a specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of nasal discharge, a 214-bp band was observed, confirming the genus Lophomonas spp. The patient was treated successfully with metronidazole 500 mg t.i.d for 1 week. CONCLUSION: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first molecular detection of lophomoniasis in the literature. According to our preliminary study, a reliable PCR test is available now for detecting the Lophomonas parasite.