---

Streptococcal pharyngitis and rheumatic fever/rheumatic heart disease are among the major public health problems in children. In this study we assay the frequency of group A Beta hemolytic Streptococcus in nasopharynex of 1588 healthy 6-12 years children in Gorgan in north of Iran. The sample obtained during February to March 1998, using sterile soap. The prevalence of this bacteria were 11% (175 strains) the rate of colonization in girls and boys were 10.8 and 11.2% respectively. Our study shows that the carrier of this bacteria in Town’s school children are more than the villages.

---

Meningitis is one of the urgent medical ceases, and in spit of tramendous efforts. There is a high prevalency in various part of the world, still has got a high mortality. Rapid diagnosis is one of the best way to control the disease, and the basis for the present study is to find out the rate of occurrence of meningitis in suspicious cases. During nine-month study (Sep 1999-June 2000), 100 children with suspicious sings of meningitis referring to Taleghani children hospital were taken under medical surveillance, and LP has been carried out by the pediatrician. The samples were transferred to the laboratory and various tests has been done on the samples. On the ground of clinical and paraclinical findings 15 meningitis patients (7 bacterial, and 8 viral were diagnosed). The most abundant isolated bacteria from the CSF was Pneumococci (42.8%) and the most significant clinical finding was fever, vomiting, stiffness of neck. In all bacterial meningitis the CSF’s appearance was deeply turbid, and the average WBC in CSF was about 3200, the rate of PMN was 92%, these results had significant meaning with comparison to the viral and non-meningitis sample (P<0.001). CFS’s protein level was much more higher in bacterial meningitis, than other cases (P<0.001), and this can be used as diagnostic tool, but in spit of reduction in CSF glucose concentration, and CSF/blood glucose ratio (48% in bacterial, 70% viral, and 74% in non-meningitis), these ratios didn’t have significant meaning (P<0.4). The results of this research indicate the clinical manifestation such as fever, convulsion, vomiting turbidity of CSF, WBC count more than 500, and positive CRP, could help effectively in the diagnosis of bacterial meningitis.

---

Gastro-enteritis due to Vibrio Cholera was increased suddenly in summer of 1998 in our country. In this research we studied epidemiological and clinical features of Cholerae patients. Vibrio Cholera isolated from 189 (3.3%) patients from 56II stool samples. 182 (96.2%) Vibrio Cholera O1 isolated. 46 (24%) patients with positive stool cultures for Vibrio Cholera were hospitalized. 50% patients were 15-45 yrs. No sex predominency was seen. The important observations in this study including: Fever in 28.1% (13) of patients, sever leukocytosis in 15% (7) of patients, RBC in stool in 33% (15) of patients. Fever and neutrophilia and RBC in stool probably shows co-infection with order intestinal pathogens or different serotypes of Vibrio Cholera with new characteristics. So we are recommending extensive research to be done on serotyping of all of the isolates of Vibrio cholera and other intestinal pathogens simultaneously.

---

Toxoplasmosis is a disease caused by a ubiquitous, obligate intra cellular protozoan Toxoplasma Gondii. Based on serological evidences, Toxoplasmosis infection is a widespread disease with regard to this fact and because to the occurrence of congenital Toxoplasmosis infections due to asymptomatic infections in pregnant women, determination of the rate of Toxoplasma antibodies (IgG, IgM) before pregnancy and finding the involved factors in increasing Toxoplasmosis prevalence seems to be necessary. This study was a cross-sectional and descriptive study and sample population was the women referred to marriage consultation the prevalence of Toxoplasma antibodies (IgG, IgM) was determined by ELISA method. Blood sample were collected randomly from 300 women referred to the center for consultation in 2001 and they was transferred to the laboratory for antibodies determination. The results showed that the general prevalence to the positive cases based on high titer of IgG was 48.3% and of IgM was 11.7%. There was not any relation between positive cases and age, education, place for residence, job, keeping domestic animals (Except cat) vegetable consumption and wash-up, but there was a relation between positive cases of IgM and keeping cat at home (P?0.025). More over 51.7% of pregnant women in Gorgan were seronegative and the were prone to acute Toxoplasmosis during their pregnancy. The results of this study confirm that the determination of the diagnostic Toxoplasmosis is an necessary test during pregnancy.

---

All the different kind of Mycobacterium species except Tuberculosis Leprae and Bovis are considered as environmental Mycobacterium, which usually can be isolated from sand, water and dusts. In addition to the role of their pathogenesis, they can stimulate the immune systems. The immune mechanisms following Mycobacterium environmental contamination can be either protect or destroy the immune system when facing the disease related to the Mycobacterium. The Golestan province has got 2 regions from the point of view of TB epidemy, it is higher in the east. The aim of this project is determine the prevalency of various types and strains of environmental Mycobacterium in the east and west of the region. The samples were collected from both regions from the wet sand, and muddes covered with grass and following their preparation they were cultured on the Lowen Stein Jenson. The total of samples were 220 from these 120 samples were from the region with epidemy of TB out of these we had 25 samples with positive culture (20.8%) and 47 type of mycobacterium were isolated, the most common forms of them were Mycobacterium Fortuitum (34%), Mycobacterium Flavesens (21.2%), Mycobacterium Chelonae (12.8%). From 100 samples taken from the region with low epidemy of TB 66 samples were with positive culture (66%) which 114 strains of Mycobacterium were diagnosed. The most common forms of these microorganisms were Mycobacterium Flavesens (20.1%), Mycobacterium Chelonae (18.4%) and Mycobacterium (16.6%). In conclusion in all the Golestan province without taking notice the TB epidemy form 220 samples 91% were positive culture (41.2%) which 161 different strains were diagnosed out of these the most common were Mycobacterium Fortuitum (21.8%), Mycobacterium Flavesens (20.5%) and Mycobacterium Chelonae (16.8%). The epidemy and variousity of environmental Mycobacterium in the region with low epidemy were much higher than the region with high epidemy and in regard to that these differences are due to the bioenvironmental factors. So therefore this can indicate that the possibility of higher contact between the immune systems and the environmental Mycobacterium. These Mycobacteriums can act as Booster of BCG vaccine which can continuously stimulate the immune systems and this can help the body’s proper responses when facing with the TB Mycobacterium.

---

Mycobacterial diseases are among the oldest disease known to human beings. There are a lot of bitter memories of Mycobacterial invasion especially Tuberculosis and leprosy in human mind, even now after discovery of etiology, diagnostic tool, prevention, and treatment, still, the recalling the above diseases are frightening to human being. Although leprosy isn’t an serious disease nowadays but the TB after a long period of quietness, is going to be an serious risk factor for mankind, especially in third world countries, after cooperating with HIV. Some atypical Mycobacteria, which have weak pathogenicity now, adapt themselves to the new condition and present as a dangerous cause of disease. The researcher that have made themselves familiar with such Mycobacterial features, trying hard to discus carefully the specifities and weak points of these bacteria, to fight them back. The aim of this review article is to highlight one of Mycobacterial characteristic, which is bacteruosis slow growth rate.