Introduction: It is important to better understand the presence of neutralizing anti-SARS-CoV-2 a... more Introduction: It is important to better understand the presence of neutralizing anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in the population, as they potentially prevent (re)infection. Aim: To correlate the Cycle threshold (Ct value) of SARS-CoV-2 and its impact on specific Anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG titer, to reveal the effect of age and disease severity on antibodies titer. Methodology: A total of 153 infected participants laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases 4-11 months ago, aged 18-85 years old (mean = 43.58, SD ± 15.34) were enrolled in the study. They have not received any COVID-19 vaccine. A questionnaire was prepared including demographic data, age, gender, residence, and symptoms severity they suffered. Five mL of venous blood was taken from each participant to measure SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies against the receptor binding domain (RBD) by (VIDAS SARS-COV-2 IgG - Biomerieux kit). Ct values were measured by qRT-PCR (BIO-RAD-CFX96) kit which detected two virus genes, namely (RdRp-N genes). Results: L...
Background: SARS-CoV-2 is a single-stranded RNA virus and a member of a large family of Coronavir... more Background: SARS-CoV-2 is a single-stranded RNA virus and a member of a large family of Coronaviruses that are important human pathogens. This virus caused severe acute respiratory syndrome and was initially identified to be transmitted between humans on November 17, 2019. Objectives: To investigate the lineage, mutational patterns, variants, and serotypes of SARS-CoV-2 viruses circulating in the Duhok governorate population and to compare them with those identified in travelers crossing the border from Turkey in order to trace the epidemiological patterns. Methods: Nasopharyngeal swabs were collected from 700 individuals living in Duhok and 700 travelers crossing the border to Duhok-Iraq from Turkey. The subjects were recruited by random sampling and questioned about demographic features and symptoms of upper or lower respiratory tract infections. Exclusion criteria included vaccination with COVID-19 vaccines of any approved previous infection. Samples were subjected to RT-PCR, and...
Background: Hepatitis A virus infection is widespread in Iraq, therefore, assessing its seropreva... more Background: Hepatitis A virus infection is widespread in Iraq, therefore, assessing its seroprevalence is important for infection control at the community level. Aims: To determine hepatitis A virus seroprevalence in a representative sample in Duhok Governorate, northern Iraq; evaluate changes in the epidemiological pattern; and assess factors associated with its seropositivity. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted from July 2020 to November 2021. Random cluster sampling was used to select participants aged 5–74 years. Hepatitis A virus immunoglobulin G (IgG) was determined among the participants and demographic data were collected on sex, residency (urban or rural), age, history of jaundice, number of family members (≤ five or > five), and sources of drinking water. Results: A total of 1052 participants (625 males and 427 females) were enrolled. The overall seroprevalence of hepatitis A virus IgG was 68.3%: 24.4% in ages 5–10 years; 38.3% in ages 11–15; 86.9% in age...
Human Papilloma virus infection is the fundamental reason for the development of ano-genital mali... more Human Papilloma virus infection is the fundamental reason for the development of ano-genital malignancies and knowing the best tool for diagnostic purposes is mandatory. This study investigated the prevalence and genotype distribution of HPV genotypes in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) blocks from patients with different anogenital lesions. In this cross-sectional retrospective study, 125 blocks from patients with different anogenital lesions were collected. Three internal sections were taken for HPV detection and genotyping using the paraffin tissue processing kit and HPV Direct Flow CHIP. HPV positivity was detected in 90 (72.0%), with 77 (85.6%) females and 13 (14.4%) males as follows: SCC 64.0%, CINIII 66.7%, CINII 100.0%, CINI 83.3%, KA 83.7%, NILM 44.0%, Anus 66.6%. A total of 44% of histologically unremarkable (negative) cases were positive for HPV genotypes while in only 64% of SCC were HPV genotypes detected. Sixty-six (73.3%) cases were low-risk, and 16 (17.8%) cas...
Helicobacter pylori is a Gram negative bacteria that causes peptic ulceration and gastric adenoca... more Helicobacter pylori is a Gram negative bacteria that causes peptic ulceration and gastric adenocarcinoma. H pylori virulence factors, such as cagA and dupA, are important to study in populations as they contribute to disease risk. This study aimed to look at the distribution of the cagA and dupA genes in H pylori strains isolated from patients suffering from gastroduodenal diseases in Kurdistan region, Iraq. A cross-sectional study conducted between June 2011 and January 2012. Biopsies were collected from the Endoscopy Department in Duhok and Sulaimania hospitals, Kurdistan region, northern Iraq. Upper gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy examination was performed and 4 gastric biopsies (2 from the antrum and 2 from the corpus) were obtained from 204 patients. H pylori positivity was examined by CLO test; then the association between disease status and virulence factors was assessed by polymerase chain reaction. 154 (75%) of our samples were found to be H pylori + by CLO test. Endoscopic...
Infectious Bronchitis (IB) is one of the most important viral diseases of poultry and it causes m... more Infectious Bronchitis (IB) is one of the most important viral diseases of poultry and it causes major economic losses in poultry industry. The study was conducted to detect Infectious Bronchitis virus (IBV) in broilers chicken farms in Duhok Governorate. To achieve this goal two tests have been used throughout the study protocol Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) and Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR). One hundred and eighty Serum samples were collected from 11 chicken farms including (120) samples from 9 symptomatic non vaccinated chicken farms, (30) samples from one asymptomatic vaccinated chicken farm and another (30) samples from one asymptomatic non vaccinated chicken farm and screened for the presence of IBV antibodies by ELISA kit. The total RNAs were extracted from tracheal tissues using RNX TM-Plus reagent (Cinnagen,Iran). Eighty serum samples were positive: 50/120 (41.6%) sample were symptomatic non vaccinated, another 30/30 (100%) were asympto...
Introduction: It is important to better understand the presence of neutralizing anti-SARS-CoV-2 a... more Introduction: It is important to better understand the presence of neutralizing anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in the population, as they potentially prevent (re)infection. Aim: To correlate the Cycle threshold (Ct value) of SARS-CoV-2 and its impact on specific Anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG titer, to reveal the effect of age and disease severity on antibodies titer. Methodology: A total of 153 infected participants laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases 4-11 months ago, aged 18-85 years old (mean = 43.58, SD ± 15.34) were enrolled in the study. They have not received any COVID-19 vaccine. A questionnaire was prepared including demographic data, age, gender, residence, and symptoms severity they suffered. Five mL of venous blood was taken from each participant to measure SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies against the receptor binding domain (RBD) by (VIDAS SARS-COV-2 IgG - Biomerieux kit). Ct values were measured by qRT-PCR (BIO-RAD-CFX96) kit which detected two virus genes, namely (RdRp-N genes). Results: L...
Background: SARS-CoV-2 is a single-stranded RNA virus and a member of a large family of Coronavir... more Background: SARS-CoV-2 is a single-stranded RNA virus and a member of a large family of Coronaviruses that are important human pathogens. This virus caused severe acute respiratory syndrome and was initially identified to be transmitted between humans on November 17, 2019. Objectives: To investigate the lineage, mutational patterns, variants, and serotypes of SARS-CoV-2 viruses circulating in the Duhok governorate population and to compare them with those identified in travelers crossing the border from Turkey in order to trace the epidemiological patterns. Methods: Nasopharyngeal swabs were collected from 700 individuals living in Duhok and 700 travelers crossing the border to Duhok-Iraq from Turkey. The subjects were recruited by random sampling and questioned about demographic features and symptoms of upper or lower respiratory tract infections. Exclusion criteria included vaccination with COVID-19 vaccines of any approved previous infection. Samples were subjected to RT-PCR, and...
Background: Hepatitis A virus infection is widespread in Iraq, therefore, assessing its seropreva... more Background: Hepatitis A virus infection is widespread in Iraq, therefore, assessing its seroprevalence is important for infection control at the community level. Aims: To determine hepatitis A virus seroprevalence in a representative sample in Duhok Governorate, northern Iraq; evaluate changes in the epidemiological pattern; and assess factors associated with its seropositivity. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted from July 2020 to November 2021. Random cluster sampling was used to select participants aged 5–74 years. Hepatitis A virus immunoglobulin G (IgG) was determined among the participants and demographic data were collected on sex, residency (urban or rural), age, history of jaundice, number of family members (≤ five or > five), and sources of drinking water. Results: A total of 1052 participants (625 males and 427 females) were enrolled. The overall seroprevalence of hepatitis A virus IgG was 68.3%: 24.4% in ages 5–10 years; 38.3% in ages 11–15; 86.9% in age...
Human Papilloma virus infection is the fundamental reason for the development of ano-genital mali... more Human Papilloma virus infection is the fundamental reason for the development of ano-genital malignancies and knowing the best tool for diagnostic purposes is mandatory. This study investigated the prevalence and genotype distribution of HPV genotypes in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) blocks from patients with different anogenital lesions. In this cross-sectional retrospective study, 125 blocks from patients with different anogenital lesions were collected. Three internal sections were taken for HPV detection and genotyping using the paraffin tissue processing kit and HPV Direct Flow CHIP. HPV positivity was detected in 90 (72.0%), with 77 (85.6%) females and 13 (14.4%) males as follows: SCC 64.0%, CINIII 66.7%, CINII 100.0%, CINI 83.3%, KA 83.7%, NILM 44.0%, Anus 66.6%. A total of 44% of histologically unremarkable (negative) cases were positive for HPV genotypes while in only 64% of SCC were HPV genotypes detected. Sixty-six (73.3%) cases were low-risk, and 16 (17.8%) cas...
Helicobacter pylori is a Gram negative bacteria that causes peptic ulceration and gastric adenoca... more Helicobacter pylori is a Gram negative bacteria that causes peptic ulceration and gastric adenocarcinoma. H pylori virulence factors, such as cagA and dupA, are important to study in populations as they contribute to disease risk. This study aimed to look at the distribution of the cagA and dupA genes in H pylori strains isolated from patients suffering from gastroduodenal diseases in Kurdistan region, Iraq. A cross-sectional study conducted between June 2011 and January 2012. Biopsies were collected from the Endoscopy Department in Duhok and Sulaimania hospitals, Kurdistan region, northern Iraq. Upper gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy examination was performed and 4 gastric biopsies (2 from the antrum and 2 from the corpus) were obtained from 204 patients. H pylori positivity was examined by CLO test; then the association between disease status and virulence factors was assessed by polymerase chain reaction. 154 (75%) of our samples were found to be H pylori + by CLO test. Endoscopic...
Infectious Bronchitis (IB) is one of the most important viral diseases of poultry and it causes m... more Infectious Bronchitis (IB) is one of the most important viral diseases of poultry and it causes major economic losses in poultry industry. The study was conducted to detect Infectious Bronchitis virus (IBV) in broilers chicken farms in Duhok Governorate. To achieve this goal two tests have been used throughout the study protocol Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) and Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR). One hundred and eighty Serum samples were collected from 11 chicken farms including (120) samples from 9 symptomatic non vaccinated chicken farms, (30) samples from one asymptomatic vaccinated chicken farm and another (30) samples from one asymptomatic non vaccinated chicken farm and screened for the presence of IBV antibodies by ELISA kit. The total RNAs were extracted from tracheal tissues using RNX TM-Plus reagent (Cinnagen,Iran). Eighty serum samples were positive: 50/120 (41.6%) sample were symptomatic non vaccinated, another 30/30 (100%) were asympto...
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