BACKGROUND HTLV-1 infection is endemic in Mashhad, Northeast of Iran. This study was designed to assess the epidemiology of HTLV-1 and potential risk factors in Neyshabour, Northeastern Iran. METHODS All those who referred to Iranian Academic Center for Education, Culture and Research (ACECR)- Mashhad Laboratory in Neyshabour for evaluation of HTLV-I by ELISA, were tested using WB if the ELIS...

BACKGROUND We attempted to determine the prevalence of Hepatozoon spp. infection in Mashhad, northeast of Iran, via blood smear parasitology. METHODS The prevalence was investigated by examination of blood smear parasitology, using blood samples collected from 254 dogs (51 strays and 203 privately owned-dogs). RESULTS Two stray dogs (2/51; 3.92%) and two privately-owned dogs (2/203; 0.98%) ...

BACKGROUND The etiology of morphea is still unknown. Borrelia spp. as a causative agent of morphea has been discussed since 1985, but the relationship remains uncertain. OBJECTIVES We aimed to find the frequency of Borrelia in morphea lesions by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in northeast of Iran. PATIENTS AND METHODS Sixty six patients with morphea were prospectively included in the prese...

BACKGROUND Hepatitis C is a disease with significant global impact. The distribution of hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotypes in Mashhad (the Northeast and the biggest city after the capital of Iran) is unknown. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of HCV genotypes among HCV seropositive patients, and to study the relationship between types, virologic and demographic features o...

Fascioliasis is a zoonotic disease caused by a leaf-like worm (fluke) called Fasciola. Herein, we present a case of human hepatic fascioliasis. A 57-year-old man was referred to the hospital for ambiguous gastrointestinal symptoms with suspected hemangioma. Hepatic fascioliasis was diagnosed using abdominal computed tomography and serology. He tested positive for the IgG antibody against Fascio...

BACKGROUND The aim of the study was to determine the helminthic species occurring in great gerbil Rhombomys opimus collected from Maraveh Tappeh, Golestan Province, northeast Iran. METHODS During 2010-2011, a total of 77 R. opimus were captured from rural areas of Maraveh Tappeh, Golestan Province, using Sherman live traps and examined for infectivity with any larva or adult stages of helmint...

BACKGROUND Breast tuberculosis (breast TB) is an extremely rare disease, so case reviews are also rare. METHODS This study is a retrospective review of patients with breast TB who were treated between 2002 and 2012 at the Health Center of Gorgan City. RESULTS All 22 patients were females, their mean age was 32.4 years, and all were new cases. Patients presented with swelling of the breast (...

Background: The northeast of Iran is one the endemic regions human T-cell lymphotropic virus type-1 (HTLV-1). This study aimed to evaluate relationship between nasopharyngeal carcinoma and HTLV-1 infection in Iran, an area for HTLV-1. Methods: In this case-control study, paraffin-embedded tissue samples patients with definitive were evaluated presence genome by polymerase chain reaction retrosp...

BACKGROUND Gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD) is the most common gastrointestinal disease in the west that has shown increasing incidence in Iran and Asian countries. The main presentations, described for GERD, are heartburn and acid regurgitation. METHODS In this cross-sectional study in 2006, all personnel of Golestan Medical University (Northeast of Iran) were enrolled. A questionnair...

OBJECTIVE To rapidly detect rifampin resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates causing meningitis in northeast Iran. METHODS This study presents the results of a polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) analysis for the evaluation of rifampin resistance directly from the CSF of 47 patients strongly suspicious to have tuberculosis meningitis in Emam ...