Afghanistan Journal of Infectious Diseases

Rapid Diagnosis of Acanthamoeba Keratitis by Iodine Staining of Corneal Scrapings

Abdolhossein Dalimi, Fariba Khoshzaban, Mahmoud Jabbarvand — Sun, 20 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0430

Background: Early and accurate diagnosis of Acanthamoeba keratitis is crucial for appropriate clinical management, preventing permanent corneal damage, scarring, or even perforation. We aimed to introduce a rapid diagnostic method for A. keratitis.

Methods: Corneal scrapings from 21 patients with culture- and PCR-confirmed A. keratitis were evaluated using Giemsa and iodine staining. All cases were referred to Farabi Eye Hospital, a tertiary care center in Tehran, Iran, for specialized evaluation and management.

Results: Acanthamoeba was detected in 42.33% of samples stained with Giemsa and 100% of samples stained with iodine.

Conclusion: Iodine staining is a simple, cost-effective, and rapid method for diagnosing A. keratitis.

Prevalence of Malaria Based on Blood Smear Examination: A Retrospective Study at FCVMLT Clinic, Vom, Plateau State, Nigeria

Hauwa Kinjir, Isegbe Emmanuel Onah — Sun, 20 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0430

Background: Malaria is a significant public health issue in Nigeria, contributing to high morbidity and mortality rates, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. The disease remains a persistent burden, occurring year-round and continuously exposing the population to the risk of infection.

Materials: A preliminary retrospective study was conducted at the clinic of the Federal College of Veterinary and Medical Laboratory Technology (FCVMLT), Vom, from Sep to Oct 2020. Four years of malaria data (2016–2020) were collected from laboratory registration books after obtaining permission from the head of the laboratory. Overall, 2020 patients were screened during this period.

Results: The slide positivity rate for malaria remained relatively stable throughout the four-year period, with only minor fluctuations. Malaria prevalence was consistently high, with seasonal peaks during the rainy season. Among the infected individuals, 827 (75.46%) were males and 269 (24.54%) were females. In 2018, the highest infection rate among adults (above 17 yr) was recorded at 578, while the lowest adult infection rate was in 2016, with 29 cases. For children (<17 yr), the highest infection rate was 639, and the lowest was 91, also in 2016.

Conclusion: The study demonstrates the persistent prevalence of malaria in the area, with notable seasonal variations. It is recommended that greater efforts be made to control the disease through public education on its dangers and the implementation of preventive measures.

Antimicrobial Resistance Patterns of Staphylococcus aureus in a Pediatric Population: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of Demographic, Clinical, and Laboratory Correlates in Qom, Iran (2019–2020)

Javad Tafaroji , Hosein Heydari — Sun, 20 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0430

Background: Staphylococcus aureu resistance poses a critical threat to pediatric care. We aimed to comprehensively evaluate S. aureus resistance patterns and their associations with demographic (age, sex, ethnicity), clinical (disease severity, sampling site), and laboratory parameters (WBC, CRP) in a pediatric referral center in Qom, Iran.

Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study (Mar 2019–Mar 2020) used medical records of patients under 15. Clinical samples were cultured on blood and mannitol salt agar; S. aureus was identified via catalase/coagulase tests. Antibiotic resistance was assessed by disk diffusion. Of 24,342 specimens from hospitalized and outpatient children, 216 tested positive for S. aureus.

Results: Among 216 isolates (120 males, 96 females; 167 Iranian, 37 Afghan, 12 Iraqi), 92 were from inpatients and 124 from outpatients. High resistance was seen to ampicillin (77.3%), erythromycin (65%), and cefixime (62.5%). Resistance to meropenem (43%) and vancomycin (12%; including 8.3% MRSA) was concerning. Multidrug resistance (≥3 classes) appeared in 22.7%. Lowest resistance was to imipenem (0%), co-amoxiclav (3%), and amikacin (6%). Complete resistance to cefepime, nalidixic acid, and nitrofurantoin was seen in a few samples (n≤10), possibly due to sampling bias.

Conclusion: The study reveals emerging resistance to newer antibiotics, including vancomycin and meropenem, highlighting the need for region-specific stewardship and better surveillance to combat antimicrobial-resistant S. aureus in pediatric populations.

Sero-Evidence Status of Toxoplasma gondii Infection in Mazandaran Province, Northern Iran: First Population-Based Regional Registry Analysis

Rabeeh Tabaripour, Mahdi Fakhar, Zakaria Zakariaei, Zahra Hosseininejad — Sun, 20 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0430

Background: Toxoplasma gondii is one of the most common parasitic infections in humans and other vertebrates worldwide. Regional seroprevalence data are critical for targeted interventions. Weaimed to investigate serological evidence of Toxoplasma infection among patients referred to the Iranian National Registry Center for Toxoplasmosis (INRCT) at the Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences (MAZUMS).

Methods: In this retrospective (descriptive-analytical) study, all patients referred to the INRCT, constitute the study population (underlying diseases/status) throughout 2021-2025. All data including demographic and some related characteristics were collected into a questionnaire and registered at the INRCT in Imam Khomeini Hospital, Sari, northern Iran. The existence of anti-Toxoplasma antibodies (IgG) was explored using a commercially available ELISA kit (PishtazTeb, Iran), based on the manufacturer’s protocol.

Results: Anti-Toxoplasma IgG were detected among 862/1691 patients (50.98%). The most positive anti-Toxoplasma antibodies were in infertile women and the least were in suicide. IgG seropositivity was more common in females (66.01%) than in males (33.99%) and in 31–40 yr old patients (33.41%) in urban populations (53.71%).

Conclusion: The findings highlight a high burden of T. gondii infection in northern Iran, with gender, age, and residency as key determinants. Targeted screening and preventive measures are recommended for high-risk groups, including women of reproductive age and immunocompromised populations.

Clinical Presentation, Laboratory Findings, Complications, and Mortality of Influenza during the Epidemic of October 2019-February 2020 in Iran

Javad Tafaroji , Hosein Heydari , Zahra Movahedi , Hadi Bakhshandeh — Sun, 20 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0430

Background: Influenza remains a major cause of pediatric morbidity worldwide. We evaluated clinical characteristics, complications, and outcomes of influenza infection in children during Iran's 2019-2020 epidemic.

Methods: This cross-sectional study analyzed 357 hospitalized children (<15 yr) with PCR-confirmed influenza at a tertiary center in Qom, Iran (Oct 2019-Feb 2020), representing 375 total PCR-positive cases after excluding 18 with incomplete data.

Results: Among 357 patients (mean age 3.2±2.1 yr; 61.3% male), fever (89.6%) and cough (76.8%) were most common. Laboratory findings included lymphopenia (26.3%) and leukopenia (21.8%). Complications occurred in 70 patients (19.6%), including pneumonia (4.8%), otitis media (4.5%), myositis (4.5%), sinusitis (2.8%), and seizures (2.8%). No mortality was observed.

Conclusions: Nearly 20% of hospitalized children with influenza developed complications, primarily respiratory and musculoskeletal. While no deaths occurred, the substantial complication rate underscores the importance of early detection and management in high-risk pediatric populations.

Visceral Leishmaniasis in Afghanistan: Analysis of Cases from 2018 to 2022

Sat, 20 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0430

Background: Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a neglected but typically fatal vector-borne protozoan disease. It leads to substantial health problems and/or death for up to 400,000 people per year. Afghanistan is an endemic country for VL. We aimed to analyze VL cases from 2018 to 2022 and enlighten the epidemiological profile of the disease in the country.

Methods: A descriptive analysis of VL cases from 2018 to 2022 was conducted during July to September 2022. Secondary data of the VL surveillance were retrieved from Malaria and other Vector Borne Disease Control Program (MVDP) of Ministry of Public Health, Kabul, Afghanistan. while the outcome of registered cases were confirmed through phone calls. Data were managed and analyzed using MS Excel, Epi Info V.7.2.1, and GIS.

Results: Overall, 77 cases were registered and reported from 2018 to 2022. Most of the cases 48 (62%) were male, and 68 (88.3%) were aged 0-5 yr with a mean of 3.6 ± 2.1. Geographically, 28 cases (36%) were reported from Faryab Province followed by Baghlan 9 (12%) and Ghazni 1 (1.2%) provinces. Only Four (5%) and 7 (9%) cases reported family members with Cutaneous Leishmaniasis and VL respectively. Common clinical manifestations among patients were fever (96%), weight loss (96%), and splenomegaly (91%). Upon follow up, 35 (45.5%) of the cases were lost, 31 (40.2%) were cured, and 11 (14.3%) deceased. The outcome of treatment was significantly associated with treatment type, Glucantime.

Conclusion: We found higher proportion of VL among under-five males. Most of the cases were reported from the northern region and the family history of VL was reported by patients. Fever and weight loss were the frequent clinical manifestations. Early diagnosis and Glucantime had good outcome compared to late diagnosis and SSG. Awareness activities, access to diagnosis, health education and interventions are recommended in high-risk provinces. In addition, further studies are encouraged to determine the prevalence of the disease among the general population.

Knowledge and Practices Regarding Pet Ownership and Parasitic Zoonoses among Medical Students and Faculty in Kabul, Afghanistan: A Focus on Toxocariasis

Sun, 20 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0430

Background: Toxocariasis is a common but often neglected parasitic zoonosis, transmitted mainly through contact with contaminated animals or soil. Despite its public health significance, awareness remains limited, particularly in Afghanistan. We aimed to assess the awareness and practices related to pet ownership and the risk of Toxocara infection among medical students and faculty members at two major private medical universities in Kabul.

Methods: This cross-sectional study surveyed 347 medical students and faculty members at Ghalib University and Cheragh Medical Educational Institute in Kabul between Oct and Dec 2023. A semi-structured questionnaire assessed sociodemographic factors, behaviors related to animal contact, and knowledge of zoonotic parasites, with a focus on Toxocara. Associations between pet ownership and knowledge or practices were examined using chi-square tests.

Results: Overall, 38.8% of participants reported owning pets. While 41.5% indicated high knowledge of zoonotic parasites, only 8.1% could name Toxocara specifically. Veterinary visits were common among pet owners. Pet ownership was significantly associated with sex, frequency of contact with stray animals, daily interactions with animals, knowledge of parasitic zoonoses, and awareness of the clinical spectrum (P<0.05). Hygiene practices after animal contact did not differ significantly between groups, although handwashing with water alone was most commonly reported. Knowledge regarding transmission routes, the ability to name parasites in general, zoonotic parasites, and Toxocara was similarly limited among both pet owners and non-owners.

Conclusion: Substantial gaps in knowledge about parasitic zoonoses, including Toxocara, were identified. Pet ownership influenced certain behaviors but did not consistently predict higher awareness. These findings underscore the need for targeted educational interventions to strengthen understanding and promote preventive measures among future healthcare professionals.

Dynamics-Informed Neural Network Modeling of COVID-19 Transmission in Afghanistan Using the SEIR-V Framework

Zabihullah Movaheedi, Ahmad Khosrow Sharifi, Nasiba Safi — Sun, 20 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0430

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic posed significant challenges for public health systems globally, particularly in resource-limited settings such as Afghanistan. Limitations in diagnostic capacity, inconsistent data reporting, and low vaccination coverage hindered timely public health responses. To support real-time decision-making, accurate and adaptive modeling frameworks are essential.

Methods: This study presents a hybrid modeling approach that integrates the classical SEIR-V (Susceptible–Exposed–Infectious–Recovered–Vaccinated) compartmental model with Dynamics-Informed Neural Networks (DINNs). The model embeds the SEIR-V system of differential equations into the loss function of a deep neural network to enable dynamic estimation of time-varying parameters. Epidemiological data from Feb 2020 to Apr 2024 were collected from multiple publicly available sources, including Worldometer, Our World in Data, the World Health Organization and the Johns Hopkins University COVID-19 repository.

Results: The proposed DINNs-SEIRV model effectively reconstructed multiple epidemic waves and generated accurate forecasts of COVID-19 transmission dynamics in Afghanistan. The model achieved high predictive performance, particularly for the infectious (I) compartment, with a coefficient of determination R² = 0.9973. It also demonstrated strong capacity in capturing vaccination trends and maintaining robustness in the presence of incomplete or noisy data.

Conclusion: The DINNs-SEIRV framework offers a powerful and flexible tool for modeling infectious disease dynamics in low-resource settings. Its ability to learn and update time-varying parameters in response to real-world data makes it valuable for informing public health strategy, forecasting outbreaks, and evaluating vaccination efforts in environments like Afghanistan

Orbital Hydatid Cyst in Pediatric Patients: Report of Two Rare Cases from Afghanistan

Sun, 20 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0430

Orbital hydatid cyst is a rare manifestation of echinococcosis, comprising less than 1% of cystic echinococcosis. It most frequently affects the pediatric population and typically presents as a slowly enlarging orbital mass, causing progressive proptosis, restricted ocular motility, diplopia, and occasionally visual impairment. Hereby, we present two pediatric orbital cases from Afghanistan between 2021 and 2022, with one patient had right eye proptosis and diplopia: the other presented with left upper eyelid swelling and ptosis. Imaging revealed medial intraconal cystic lesions in both cases. Surgical excision via medial orbitotomy was performed; one cyst ruptured intraoperatively and was managed with scolicidal irrigation, while the other was removed intact. Parasitology and postoperative serology confirmed the diagnosis. Albendazole therapy was administered, and no recurrence was observed during 12- and 24-months follow-up. These cases underscore the importance of considering hydatid cysts in the differential diagnosis of orbital masses in endemic regions and highlight the role of early imaging and careful surgical management, and is particularly uncommon in children.

Elizabethkingia meningoseptica in a Female Neonate: A Case Report from Afghanistan

Abdullah Sahar — Sun, 20 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0430

Elizabethkingia meningoseptica is a rare and Gram-negative bacterium that can cause severe complications in neonates. Here a case of meningitis in an 18-day-old female is reported from Afghanistan. CSF analysis and culture confirmed E. meningoseptica as the causative agent. The isolate was resistant to the most antibiotics, with susceptibility only to tigecycline. This case highlights the clinical importance of early detection and the challenge of treating infections caused by this pathogen, especially in resource limited countries like Afghanistan.

Application of Nanotechnology in Treatment of Nematodes Diseases: A Review Article

Roghayeh Norouzi, Abolghasem Siyadatpanah — Sun, 20 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0430

Background: Nematodes were among the first known human pathogens, and many efforts have been made to develop treatments for them. These infections impose a heavy burden on human populations, especially the poor. Nowadays, intervention and treatment programs have been initiated to control and treat onchocerciasis, lymphatic filariasis, gastrointestinal nematodes, and soil-transmitted helminths. Nanotechnology is being used as a dynamic and dynamic tool in research for the treatment of diseases. Here, we review the application of nanotechnology in treatment of nematode diseases.

Methods: This narrative review was conducted using scientific sites such as Medline, Pubmed Science Direct, and Springer Link databases covering 2000 to 2025 to investigate the application of nanotechnology in nematodes diseases treatment. The terms used included: nanotechnology, nanoparticles, nematodes, nematodes treatment, and nanodrug.

Results: Twenty-eight full-text articles were assessed for eligibility, and from them, 23 selected studies on the application of nanotechnology in the treatment of nematode diseases were selected.

Conclusion: The nanodrugs and nanomedicines are future sources for the development of new drugs with therapeutic applications. Nanotechnology has the potential to be used as antinematodal drugs by modifying the biodistribution of drugs and improving bioavailability.

Artificial Intelligence in Infectious Disease Detection and Control: A Systematic Literature Review of Advancements, Challenges, and Future Directions

Abdul wajid Fazil — Sun, 20 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0430

Background: Artificial Intelligence (AI) plays a critical role in combating infectious diseases by enabling early detection, outbreak prediction, and real-time surveillance. This study explores how AI improves prediction accuracy, responsiveness, and overall public health outcomes.

Method: A systematic review of literature from 2019 to 2025 was conducted across databases including PubMed, Scopus, IEEE Xplore, and Google Scholar. Selected studies focused on machine learning, deep learning, and neural networks applied to infectious disease management, particularly in predicting outbreaks and guiding real-time responses.

Results: A total of 30 peer-reviewed studies were reviewed. The findings indicate that AI models significantly enhance the early detection and forecasting of infectious diseases, including COVID-19, malaria, and Ebola. Compared to traditional methods, AI demonstrated greater predictive accuracy and faster response capabilities. Real-time AI-powered surveillance also supported better resource allocation and outbreak management. The effectiveness of these models varied based on disease type, data quality, and local health infrastructure.

Conclusion: AI has proven effective in enhancing infectious disease control through improved prediction, faster response, and better-informed decision-making. These findings underscore the importance of integrating AI tools into public health infrastructure while addressing persistent challenges such as data standardization, ethical concerns, and technological access disparities.