Objective: To report presence of Leishmania major in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa of Pakistan, where cutaneous leishmaniasis(CL) is endemic and was thought to be caused by Leishmania tropica only. Methods: Biopsy samples from 4...Objective: To report presence of Leishmania major in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa of Pakistan, where cutaneous leishmaniasis(CL) is endemic and was thought to be caused by Leishmania tropica only. Methods: Biopsy samples from 432 CL suspected patients were collected from 3 southern districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa during years 2011–2016. Microscopy on Giemsa stained slides were done followed by amplification of the ribosomal internal transcribed spacer 1 gene. Results: Leishmania amastigotes were detected by microscopy in 308 of 432 samples(71.3%) while 374 out of 432 samples(86.6%) were positive by ribosomal internal transcribed spacer 1 PCR. Subsequent restriction fragment length polymorphism confirmed Leishmania tropica in 351 and Leishmania major in 6 biopsy samples. Conclusions: This study is the first molecular characterization of Leishmania species in southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. It confirmed the previous assumptions that anthroponotic CL is the major CL form present in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Furthermore, this is the first report of Leishmania major from a classical anthroponotic CL endemic focus identified in rural areas of Kohat district in southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.展开更多
Forest soils have high carbon densities compared to other land-uses.Soil carbon sequestration is important to reduce CO 2 concentrations in the atmosphere.An eff ective climate change mitigation strategy involves limi...Forest soils have high carbon densities compared to other land-uses.Soil carbon sequestration is important to reduce CO 2 concentrations in the atmosphere.An eff ective climate change mitigation strategy involves limiting the emissions of greenhouse gases from soils.Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is the most forested province of Pakistan,hosting about one-third of the country’s 4.5×106 ha forest area.Soil organic carbon in the province’s forests was estimated through a fi eld-based study carried out during 2014–17 covering the whole province.Data was collected from 373 sample plots laid out in diff erent forest types using a stratifi ed cluster sampling technique.The total quantity of soil organic carbon was estimated at 59.4×106 t with an average of 52.4±5.3 t/ha.About 69%of the total soil carbon is present in temperate forests.Subtropical broad-leaved and subtropical pine forests constitute 11.4%and 8.8%of the soil carbon stock respectively.Similarly,subalpine and oak forests have respective shares of 5.1%and 5.7%in the soil carbon pool.The lowest carbon stock(0.1%)was found in dry-tropical thorn forests.The highest soil carbon density was found in subalpine forests(69.5±7.2 t/ha)followed by moist temperate forests(68.5±6.7 t/ha)and dry temperate forests(60.7±6.5 t/ha).Oak forests have carbon density of 43.4±7.1 t/ha.Subtropical pine,subtropical broad-leaved and dry tropical thorn forests have soil carbon densities of 36.3±3.7,32.8±6.2 and 31.5±3.5 t/ha,respectively.The forests of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province have substantial amounts of soil carbon which must be conserved for climate change mitigation and maintenance of sound forest health.展开更多
Objective:To High light some epidemiological,clinical and diagnostic features of dengue fever during an outbreak and the role of different diagnostic techniques to achieve the highest level of accuracy in results.Meth...Objective:To High light some epidemiological,clinical and diagnostic features of dengue fever during an outbreak and the role of different diagnostic techniques to achieve the highest level of accuracy in results.Methods:Blood samples(n=323) were collected along with epidemiological and clinical data from suspected dengue patients who visited different hospitals in Swat and Mansehra district of Pakistan between May-November 2013 during a dengue outbreak.Samples were tested for the detection of viral nucleic acid by real-lime PCR.non structural protein-1(NS1antigen and IgM antibodies by ELISA.Results:Out of 323 cases with clinical dengue infection,304 were positive by one or more diagnostic parameter:201 samples were positive by real-time PCR,209 were positive by NS1 ELISA and 190 were positive by IgM antibodies.Sensitivities of real-time PCR and NS1 F.LISA were comparable for early diagnosis of dengue virus infection.IgM antibody detection assay was found useful for the diagnosis in the samples collected later than day 5 of onset.Conclusions:The use of real-lime PCR or detection of non stnictural protein NS 1 by ELISA followed by IgM antibodies detection can be recommended for early diagnosis of dengue virus infection with a high level of accuracy.展开更多
基金grateful to Higher Education Commission Government of Pakistan for providing fund Grant No: 1384 to Kohat university of Science and technology Kohat,Pakistangrateful to French Embassy,Islamabad for funding under their split Ph D fellowship programs,a 6 months Ph D fellowship to Dr. Mubbashir Hussain at ANSES,Animal Health Laboratory,Maisons-Alfort,France
文摘Objective: To report presence of Leishmania major in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa of Pakistan, where cutaneous leishmaniasis(CL) is endemic and was thought to be caused by Leishmania tropica only. Methods: Biopsy samples from 432 CL suspected patients were collected from 3 southern districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa during years 2011–2016. Microscopy on Giemsa stained slides were done followed by amplification of the ribosomal internal transcribed spacer 1 gene. Results: Leishmania amastigotes were detected by microscopy in 308 of 432 samples(71.3%) while 374 out of 432 samples(86.6%) were positive by ribosomal internal transcribed spacer 1 PCR. Subsequent restriction fragment length polymorphism confirmed Leishmania tropica in 351 and Leishmania major in 6 biopsy samples. Conclusions: This study is the first molecular characterization of Leishmania species in southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. It confirmed the previous assumptions that anthroponotic CL is the major CL form present in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Furthermore, this is the first report of Leishmania major from a classical anthroponotic CL endemic focus identified in rural areas of Kohat district in southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
基金This research is part of the doctoral dissertation of the fi rst author at PMAS Arid Agriculture University,Rawalpindi,Pakistan(AAUR).The authors are extremely grateful to Prof.Dr.Sarwat N.Mirza,former Vice-Chancellor of PMAS Arid Agriculture University,Rawalpindi,for his valuable inputs and support during the study period.Thanks are also extended to the staff of Forest Mensuration Branch,Pakistan Forest Institute,Peshawar for their help in data collection in the fi eld.
文摘Forest soils have high carbon densities compared to other land-uses.Soil carbon sequestration is important to reduce CO 2 concentrations in the atmosphere.An eff ective climate change mitigation strategy involves limiting the emissions of greenhouse gases from soils.Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is the most forested province of Pakistan,hosting about one-third of the country’s 4.5×106 ha forest area.Soil organic carbon in the province’s forests was estimated through a fi eld-based study carried out during 2014–17 covering the whole province.Data was collected from 373 sample plots laid out in diff erent forest types using a stratifi ed cluster sampling technique.The total quantity of soil organic carbon was estimated at 59.4×106 t with an average of 52.4±5.3 t/ha.About 69%of the total soil carbon is present in temperate forests.Subtropical broad-leaved and subtropical pine forests constitute 11.4%and 8.8%of the soil carbon stock respectively.Similarly,subalpine and oak forests have respective shares of 5.1%and 5.7%in the soil carbon pool.The lowest carbon stock(0.1%)was found in dry-tropical thorn forests.The highest soil carbon density was found in subalpine forests(69.5±7.2 t/ha)followed by moist temperate forests(68.5±6.7 t/ha)and dry temperate forests(60.7±6.5 t/ha).Oak forests have carbon density of 43.4±7.1 t/ha.Subtropical pine,subtropical broad-leaved and dry tropical thorn forests have soil carbon densities of 36.3±3.7,32.8±6.2 and 31.5±3.5 t/ha,respectively.The forests of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province have substantial amounts of soil carbon which must be conserved for climate change mitigation and maintenance of sound forest health.
文摘Objective:To High light some epidemiological,clinical and diagnostic features of dengue fever during an outbreak and the role of different diagnostic techniques to achieve the highest level of accuracy in results.Methods:Blood samples(n=323) were collected along with epidemiological and clinical data from suspected dengue patients who visited different hospitals in Swat and Mansehra district of Pakistan between May-November 2013 during a dengue outbreak.Samples were tested for the detection of viral nucleic acid by real-lime PCR.non structural protein-1(NS1antigen and IgM antibodies by ELISA.Results:Out of 323 cases with clinical dengue infection,304 were positive by one or more diagnostic parameter:201 samples were positive by real-time PCR,209 were positive by NS1 ELISA and 190 were positive by IgM antibodies.Sensitivities of real-time PCR and NS1 F.LISA were comparable for early diagnosis of dengue virus infection.IgM antibody detection assay was found useful for the diagnosis in the samples collected later than day 5 of onset.Conclusions:The use of real-lime PCR or detection of non stnictural protein NS 1 by ELISA followed by IgM antibodies detection can be recommended for early diagnosis of dengue virus infection with a high level of accuracy.
