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Background: Trichomonas vaginalis is, one of due to vaginitis, the most common non-viral sexually transmitted and treatable infection in the world. Co- infection of T. vaginalis along with other agents of vaginitis should always be considered in patients with chronic vulvovaginal symptoms.
Case: An Iranian woman with 32 years of age and signs of vaginitis infection referred to a midwifery clinic in Bandar Abbas. While she used antifungal and antibacterial medications many times during the past two years to treat her vaginitis infection, but since her husband did not do so, all the clinical signs of her infection reappeared again after a short time. A miscarriage, genital warts in the lower end of the uterus (cervix), yellowish-green foamy secretion, and vigorous redness of the lower end of the uterus were among the problems reported in her medical record. To diagnose the disease, sampling was done from the posterior fornix of vagina and using direct smear and Diamond culture medium, the specimen was examined for the presence of T. vaginalis by a specialist in parasitology. Based on the direct smear test results, the specimen was positive for yeast and bacteria and negative for T. vaginalis, while culture test result was positive for the presence of T. vaginalis. Therefore, the woman referred to a physician qualified in gynecology for her infection therapy, but this time with her husband. The duration of their treatment was three months, after which the culture test result (after 72 h) was negative for T. vaginalis, and the clinical signs of the infection ameliorated.
Conclusion: It is recommended that, in addition to careful examination of patients’ clinical symptoms, direct smear and culture methods be employed in midwifery centers to correctly diagnose vaginitis. In addition, the treatment of sexually transmitted diseases (STD) in people involved in a sexual relationship should be done simultaneously.

 

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Backgrounds: Plasmodium species are the causative agents of malaria, which is considered as a mosquito-borne infectious disease transmitted by anopheles mosquitoes. It is endemic in the southern and south-eastern areas of the country. This study aimed to report a case of imported malaria infection in a Pakistani man in Bandare Kong located in the central region of Bandar Lengeh County in Hormozgan province, Iran.
Case presentation: A Pakistani male fisherman aged 21 years referred to a general practitioner in Bandare kong with symptoms such as a long-lasting fever that worsened every 2 days. He underwent a malaria rapid diagnostic test (RDT), and the result of which was positive. Therefore, for further malaria testing, he was dispatched to Shohada hospital in Bandar Lengeh. All the laboratory tests findings were in an acceptable range, except for direct bilirubin titer, which was higher than the normal range (0.3 mg/dL) (< 0.2 mg/dL=normal). Blood smear test results also showed P. falciparum-associated malaria infection. According to the malaria therapy protocols followed in the hospital, 24 coartem pills at a dose of 4 pills per 12 hours were administered to the patient for 3 days, and then primaquine was administered simultaneously after three days, resulting in a rapid reduction in the parasitic load so that it could not be detected after 2 days.
Conclusion: In recent decades, most malaria patients diagnosed in Iran have been infected cases entered Iran from neighboring countries where malaria is endemic. Therefore, early diagnosis and therapy of imported malaria cases in endemic areas of Iran is essential and makes it possible to implement malaria preventive and control measures.
 

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Background: Many factors are involved in the development of SARS-CoV-2 infection in individuals in each region, such as physiological conditions, underlying diseases, and observance of personal protection and hygiene; therefore, this study aimed to investigate factors affecting the incidence of COVID-19 in Bandar Lengeh, Hormozgan province, southern Iran.
Materials & Methods: Blood samples and demographic information were collected from suspected COVID-19 patients referring to Shahid Rajaei governmental health centers in Bandar Lengeh city. Hematological, biochemical, and serological tests were performed on the samples. PCR experiment was conducted to confirm SARS-CoV-2 infection. The thorax computed tomography (CT) was performed for all patients.
Findings: According to the PCR test results, the prevalence rate of SARS-CoV-2 infection was 26.92% among 130 individuals enrolled in this study. SARS-CoV-2 infection was more prevalent among clerks than in other occupational groups (p=0.017). Increased ESR (erythrocyte sedimentation rate) and decreased WBC (white blood cell), lymphocyte, and platelet counts were evident in COVID-19 patients. Also, the prevalence of COVID-19 infection was higher in patients with blood group A (33.3%) than in patients with other blood groups. The CRP (C-reactive protein) test was positive for 31 patients whose PCR test was positive for SARS-CoV-2. In addition, LDH (lactate dehydrogenase) level was higher in infected individuals compared to other participants (p=0.018).
Conclusion: In addition to the PCR test result, the most effective factors for diagnosing COVID-19 patients best on blood tests were as follows: increased CRP, ESR, and LDH levels and decreased WBC, lymphocyte, and platelet counts.

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Introduction: Vibrio cholerae, the causative agent of cholera, has attracted a great deal of attention as one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide, especially in developing countries. In most laboratories, biochemical assays are primarily performed for possible detection of these strains, which are then followed by a PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test to verify their identity. This study aimed to optimize dot blot technique to detect Vibrio cholerae bacteria for V. cholera as an easy-to-use and beneficial method.
Methods:  A dot blot hybridization test was developed in this study to identify V. cholerae isolates as well as to assess the sensitivity and specificity of this test compared whit biochemical and PCR tests routinely performed for V. cholerae screening and detection in clinical specimens.
 Results: Herein, the dot blot hybridization test was optimized to detect V. cholerae. A combination of three biochemical assays and PCR test confirmed the results of dot blot hybridization test. This test was able to identify V. cholerae strains with a high sensitivity and specificity of 100%. Using the newly developed method, a set of 26 V. cholerae isolates collected from clinical samples were accurately identified.
Conclusion: This study optimized dot blot technique as a simple and useful assay that could be employed in V. cholerae monitoring programs and strategies to effectively detect V. cholerae strains in surface water and fecal specimens.