Objective:To determine the prevalence and risk factors of Blastocystis among underprivileged communities living in rural Malaysia. Methods:This cross-sectional study was conducted among 253 participants aged between 1...Objective:To determine the prevalence and risk factors of Blastocystis among underprivileged communities living in rural Malaysia. Methods:This cross-sectional study was conducted among 253 participants aged between 1 and 85 years. Stool samples were examined using Wheatley's trichrome stain after in-vitro cultivation in Jones' medium to detect the presence of Blastocystis. Information pertaining to the demography,socioeconomic and environment were collected using pre-validated questionnaires. Results:The total prevalence of Blastocystis infection was 40.7%. The multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that age ≥15 years(OR = 2.72; 95%CI = 1.47-5.04) and presence of infected family members(OR = 8.56; 95%CI = 4.47-16.38) were the significant risk factors associated with blastocystosis in these communities. Conclusions:Blastocystosis is revealed through this study to be still prevalent among Orang Asli communities in rural Malaysia. The two main approaches that should be implemented by the public health authority in battling this infection would be the screening of other family members and giving treatment to the infected individuals. Moreover,it is imperative for health education on good personal and food hygiene practices are provided in order to reduce the morbidity and transmission of Blastocystis infection among the Orang Asli in their communities meaningfully.展开更多
Objective: To determine the prevalence and risk factors of Giardia(G.) lamblia infections among the aboriginal community during the wet and dry seasons. Methods: A total of 473 stool samples from the aborigines in Tem...Objective: To determine the prevalence and risk factors of Giardia(G.) lamblia infections among the aboriginal community during the wet and dry seasons. Methods: A total of 473 stool samples from the aborigines in Temerloh, Pahang, Malaysia were collected during wet(n=256) and dry seasons(n=217). Smear of all the PVA-preserved stool samples were subjected to Trichrome staining and microscopic examination under 1 000 伊magnification(Nikon eclipse E100) for the detection of G. lamblia. Positivity was recorded based on the presence of G. lamblia in trophozoite and/or cyst forms. Results: The prevalence of giardiasis was 12.10% and 8.29% during the wet and dry season, respectively. Age of less or equal to 15 years old and presence of other family members with G. lamblia infection were found to be the significant risk factors to acquire G. lamblia infections during both seasons. Untreated water supply was the significant risk factor of giardiasis during the dry season. This study highlighted the possibility of anthroponotic transmission of G. lamblia during both seasons and waterborne transmission during the dry season in the aboriginal community. Conclusions: This study suggests that seasonal variation plays an important role in the prevalence and risk factor of G. lamblia infection in the aboriginal community. Therefore, close contact with Giardia-infected family members and water-related activities or usage of untreated water must be avoided to reduce the burden of G. lamblia infection in this community.展开更多
Objective:To determine the morphological and molecular characterization of Acanthamoeba isolates from contact lens paraphernalia in Malaysia and to investigate their pathogenic potential based on the physiological tol...Objective:To determine the morphological and molecular characterization of Acanthamoeba isolates from contact lens paraphernalia in Malaysia and to investigate their pathogenic potential based on the physiological tolerance.Methods:One hundred and eighty contact lens wearers donated their contact lens,lens storage cases and lens solutions between2018 and 2019.The samples were inoculated onto 1.5%nonnutrient agar plates for 14 d.Polymerase chain reaction(PCR)was performed and the amplified PCR products were sequenced and compared with the published sequences in GenBank.The pathogenic potential of positive isolates was further tested using temperature-tolerance and osmo-tolerance assays.Acanthamoeba species were categorized into three distinct morphological groups established by Pussard and Pons.Results:Acanthamoeba was successfully isolated from 14(7.8%)culture-positive samples in which 11 belong to morphological groupⅡand 3 belong to morphological groupⅢ,respectively.The sequencing of 18 S ribosomal RNA gene led to the identification of the T4 genotype in all the isolated strains.In vitro assays revealed that 9(64.3%)Acanthamoeba isolates were able to grow at 42℃and 1 M mannitol and were thus considered to be highly pathogenic.Conclusions:To the best of our knowledge,this is the first report identifying the Acanthamoeba genotype and their pathogenic potential among contact lens wearers in Malaysia.The potentially pathogenic T4 genotype isolated in this study is the most predominant genotype responsible for human ocular infection worldwide.Hence,increasing attention should be aimed at the prevention of contamination by Acanthamoeba and the disinfection of contact lens paraphernalia.展开更多
基金funded by the Research Acculturation Grant Scheme(600-RMI/RAGS 5/3[52/2014])from the Universiti Teknologi MARA and Ministry of Education,Malaysia
文摘Objective:To determine the prevalence and risk factors of Blastocystis among underprivileged communities living in rural Malaysia. Methods:This cross-sectional study was conducted among 253 participants aged between 1 and 85 years. Stool samples were examined using Wheatley's trichrome stain after in-vitro cultivation in Jones' medium to detect the presence of Blastocystis. Information pertaining to the demography,socioeconomic and environment were collected using pre-validated questionnaires. Results:The total prevalence of Blastocystis infection was 40.7%. The multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that age ≥15 years(OR = 2.72; 95%CI = 1.47-5.04) and presence of infected family members(OR = 8.56; 95%CI = 4.47-16.38) were the significant risk factors associated with blastocystosis in these communities. Conclusions:Blastocystosis is revealed through this study to be still prevalent among Orang Asli communities in rural Malaysia. The two main approaches that should be implemented by the public health authority in battling this infection would be the screening of other family members and giving treatment to the infected individuals. Moreover,it is imperative for health education on good personal and food hygiene practices are provided in order to reduce the morbidity and transmission of Blastocystis infection among the Orang Asli in their communities meaningfully.
文摘Objective: To determine the prevalence and risk factors of Giardia(G.) lamblia infections among the aboriginal community during the wet and dry seasons. Methods: A total of 473 stool samples from the aborigines in Temerloh, Pahang, Malaysia were collected during wet(n=256) and dry seasons(n=217). Smear of all the PVA-preserved stool samples were subjected to Trichrome staining and microscopic examination under 1 000 伊magnification(Nikon eclipse E100) for the detection of G. lamblia. Positivity was recorded based on the presence of G. lamblia in trophozoite and/or cyst forms. Results: The prevalence of giardiasis was 12.10% and 8.29% during the wet and dry season, respectively. Age of less or equal to 15 years old and presence of other family members with G. lamblia infection were found to be the significant risk factors to acquire G. lamblia infections during both seasons. Untreated water supply was the significant risk factor of giardiasis during the dry season. This study highlighted the possibility of anthroponotic transmission of G. lamblia during both seasons and waterborne transmission during the dry season in the aboriginal community. Conclusions: This study suggests that seasonal variation plays an important role in the prevalence and risk factor of G. lamblia infection in the aboriginal community. Therefore, close contact with Giardia-infected family members and water-related activities or usage of untreated water must be avoided to reduce the burden of G. lamblia infection in this community.
基金supported by the Integrative Pharmacogenomics Institute(241910/2017/TSA/13)Geran Inisiatif Penyeliaan 600-IRMI 5/3/GIP(024/2019)Universiti Teknologi MARA,Malaysia
文摘Objective:To determine the morphological and molecular characterization of Acanthamoeba isolates from contact lens paraphernalia in Malaysia and to investigate their pathogenic potential based on the physiological tolerance.Methods:One hundred and eighty contact lens wearers donated their contact lens,lens storage cases and lens solutions between2018 and 2019.The samples were inoculated onto 1.5%nonnutrient agar plates for 14 d.Polymerase chain reaction(PCR)was performed and the amplified PCR products were sequenced and compared with the published sequences in GenBank.The pathogenic potential of positive isolates was further tested using temperature-tolerance and osmo-tolerance assays.Acanthamoeba species were categorized into three distinct morphological groups established by Pussard and Pons.Results:Acanthamoeba was successfully isolated from 14(7.8%)culture-positive samples in which 11 belong to morphological groupⅡand 3 belong to morphological groupⅢ,respectively.The sequencing of 18 S ribosomal RNA gene led to the identification of the T4 genotype in all the isolated strains.In vitro assays revealed that 9(64.3%)Acanthamoeba isolates were able to grow at 42℃and 1 M mannitol and were thus considered to be highly pathogenic.Conclusions:To the best of our knowledge,this is the first report identifying the Acanthamoeba genotype and their pathogenic potential among contact lens wearers in Malaysia.The potentially pathogenic T4 genotype isolated in this study is the most predominant genotype responsible for human ocular infection worldwide.Hence,increasing attention should be aimed at the prevention of contamination by Acanthamoeba and the disinfection of contact lens paraphernalia.
