NTU Journal of Pure Sciences

The unusual virus, now known as Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), spread fast throughout China and other regions of the world due to its remarkable ability for human-to-human transmission. Patients with COVID-19 commonly experience significant morbidity and mortality from subsequent bacterial infections. Aim: To determine the incidence of typical bacterial infections in COVID-19 pneumonia, including Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aerogenusa, Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus. Hundred sputum sampleswere taken from individuals who had been identified as having the developing Coronavirus and were dwelling in intensive care units in Hospitals (Al Shifa hospital) in Kirkuk city/Iraq. The BDph Phoenix m50 procedure was used to test the antibiotic sensitivity of samples collected on various culture mediums, then transferred to pure cultures and diagnosed.The total of 100 patients, 60% of them had a secondary bacterial infection, whereas 40% of them did not. The most common isolated species was Staphylococcus aureus identification at (40%) followed by K. pneumoniae (33%), Pseud. aeruginosa (22%), and E. coli (5%). The majority of the identified strains were resistant to the study's antibiotics. This study demonstrates that SARS-CoV-2 infected critically sick individuals had a very high frequency of subsequent bacterial infection. The pathogenic bacteria that were identified for this investigation were resistant to the majority of the antibiotics that were utilizedز

Trichomoniasis has emerged as the most common sexually transmitted disease, and limited data is available on the effective screening technique for the diagnosis of Trichomonas vaginalis (T. vaginalis).This study aimed to compare the ability of two culture media (InPouch TVand Diamond's) to support the growth of clinical isolates of Trichomonasvaginalisand their relative sensitivity for detection of the organism. A total of 343 patients complaining of vaginal discharge of 293 women and urine sample of 50 men were included in the study. From December 2021 to May 2022, from Azadi Teaching Hospital, Private clinics, and Midwifery and Childbearing Hospital in Kirkuk. Three vaginal swabs and a urine sample were screened for trichomoniasis by wet mount microscopy. Diamond Media Culture and Pouch TV were used.The 343 cases studied, 6 women and 1 man were positive by wet mount microscopy, which means 7 (2%) and 336 (98%) were negative. Sterile vaginal swab with centrifugation and urine samples had the highest rate of specificity (85%) to detect TVcompared to vaginal swab without centrifugation and Amies Gel Transport Media (AGT) media, which had a lower sensitivity (33% and 16%), respectively. Inpouch TVmedia was the best culture to growTVand remained for 10 days, but Local Diamond Modified Media (LDMM) had a poor result for growth of trichomonasvaginalisand only remained alive for 2 days.According to our experiment, the most successful routes of detection are urine and vaginal swab with centrifugation, and Inpouch TVis the unique culture for growth and better than LDMM.

Type II Diabetic Mellitus (TIIDM) is a group of metabolic syndrome described by decline sensitivity of target organs to insulin and confirm or relative insufficiency of insulin excretion followed by electrolytes, water, protein, fat and other metabolic disorders, these defect result in diabetic patient to be susceptible to infect with intestinal parasites. The current study is conducted on 106 Iraqi participants,(67 with TIIDM patients and infected with parasite and 39 TIIDM without parasitic infection as control),aged (25 – 75) years, whom diagnosed by Consultant physician, according to the clinical signs and laboratory diagnosis HbA1c and hematological test (WBC, NEU, LYM, Hb ), during the period between November 2021 to March 2022. The practical part conducted at Kirkuk city in laboratories of Azadi Teaching
Hospital (ATH). Two ml of blood sample were taken by intravenous injection and put in sterile tubes that contain anticoagulant EDTA and performed the following tests: HbA1c, Complete Blood Count (CBC). One hundred and six (106) participates (67 diabetic patients infected with parasite and 39 diabetic patients without parasitic infection (control) after the laboratory6 diagnosis, the result was: the ratio of white blood cell (WBC) and lymphocyte (LYM) increased, but depletion occurred in the ratio of Hb in TIIDM patient infected with parasite. This study proved that Blastocystis hominis is the most common type of parasite that has an effect on type II diabetic patients that affect hematological parameters, and Schistosoma mansoni has the least effect.

Chemotherapy with drugs such as Metronidazole (MTZ) derivative products is currently the preferred treatment for giardiasis. However, these agents have been linked to a variety of negative side effects, varying from nausea to probable geno toxicity. Aim of this study to conduct an in vitro study on the efficiency of silver (Ag) and zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles (NPs) biosynthesized by green ecofriendly method using Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli against Giardia trophozoites. Methods Silver and Zinc oxide NPs formation was confirmed based on ability of selected bacteria to biosynthesized these NPs. The particle size arranges of (29.5 nm) for Ag P. aeruginosa and (32 nm) for Ag E. coli. Particle size of ZnO for P. aeruginosa was (25 nm) and (29.7nm) for E. coli. Giardia trophozoites cultivated on HSP-1 media were subjected to different concentration of biosynthesized NPs at (0.025, 0.050, 0.075 mg/ml) for (24, 48, 72 hrs.). Significant reduction (P<0.05) introphozoite number was recorded by the two groups of Ag and ZnO nanoparticles for both bacteria and was 91% for Ag NPs for both E. coliand P.aeruginosaand 73% for ZnO for both bacteria at concentration of 0.075mg/ml after 72 hrs. Morphological difference appeared as destructive with the release of the cytoplasm outside.The cytotoxic effects of Ag and ZnO NPs on Giardia lambliatrophozoite exceeded that of metronidazole, these particles can be recommended for use, especially at higher concentrations that lead to total death rates.

Proteus mirabilisis one of the most infectious organisms that inhabits the environment and causes a various infections involving those of the skin, respiratory tract, wounds and urinary tract. One of the main virulence features in P. mirabilisthat plays a role in the pathogenesis and antibiotic resistance is the ability to form biofilm. The aim of study was to determine the relation between the antibiotic resistance and the biofilm formation by P. mirabilis. Atotal of (205) samples were collected from different clinical samples (urine, wound and burn swabs) in Kirkuk city hospitals. (32) Isolates were identified as P. mirabilis. Eight antibiotic discs were used for the antibiotic sensitivity test by disc diffusion method. Also, a micro titter plate method used for the detection of biofilm. The results of the antibiotic sensitivity showed variation in the rates of antibiotic resistance, doxycycline 29(90.6%), Trimethoprim-sulfamethaxole 27(84.37%), Ampicillin 22(68.75%) and amoxicillin/clavulanic 21(65.62%) resistance were found in the majority of the isolates. Gentamicin and cefotaxim (37.5%, 40.6%) respectively were moderate resistance, while Imipenem and Ciprofloxacin have low resistance and consider the most effective medication against P. mirabilis.The results showed 8(25%)of P. mirabilisstrong biofilm producer, 13 (41.6%) moderate biofilm producer, 8 (25%) weak biofilm producer and3 (9.37%) non-biofilm producer. The study concluded that there is a link among biofilm production and antibiotic resistance.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a chronic functional gastrointestinal disorder with an estimated prevalence of 10% around the globe. Humans and animals contain intestinal parasites live in guts, and the intestinal wall is preferred for most of these parasites. Human intestine contaminated by many parasites, the most common of them are intestinal worms, Giardia, blastocyst and others. The current study was conducted on 76 Iraqi participants suffering from IBS, during the period from November 2021 to March 2022.We have noticed the presence of different types of parasites in 54 samples with IBS, the most prominent of them Blastocyst hominisand Entamoeba histolyticaand 22 samples that do not contain parasites. This study proved that the highest rate of parasite infection was for Blastocystis hominisand the lowest percentage for Teania saginata which also affects the hematological parameters in patients with irritable bowel syndrome.