Azadirachta indica (neem) has been used for a long time in agricultural and alternative medicine. Neem had been proved effective against certain fungi that could infect human body. This pilot study aims to demonstrate the antifungal effect of Malaysian neem leaf extracts on the pathogenic fungi in otomycosis, Aspergillus niger and Candida albicans. This is a laboratory-controlled prospective study conducted at Universiti Sains Malaysia. The powder form of Malaysian neem leaf was prepared. Ethanol and aqueous extracts of the neem leaf was diluted with sterile water to establish five different concentrations of 50 g/ ml, 25 g/ml, 12.5 g/ml, 6.25 g/ml and 3.125g/ml. The extract was tested on Sabouraud Dextrose Agar suspended with Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger respectively. Well diffusion method was used and zone of inhibition was measured. Growth of the fungi was inhibited in both alcohol and aqueous extract concentrations. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of Malaysian neem aqueous extract against Candida albicans was 11.91 g/ml, neem ethanol extract against Candida albicans was 5.16 g/ ml, neem aqueous extract against Aspergillus niger was 7.73 g/ml and neem ethanol extract against Aspergillus niger was 9.25 g/ml. Statistical analysis showed that the antifungal activity of Candida albicans is better in alcohol neem than aqueous extract (p<0.001) but aqueous neem extract is better than alcohol extract (p<0.001) for Aspergillus niger.Malaysian neem has significant antifungal effect towards Aspergillus niger, best in aqueous extract and towards Candida albicans, was best in alcohol extract.
Azadirachta

Strongyloidiasis is an infection caused by the intestinal nematode Strongyloides stercoralis. Infected healthy individuals are usually asymptomatic, however it is potentially fatal in immunocompromised hosts due to its capacity to cause an overwhelming hyperinfection. Strongyloidiasis could be missed during routine screening because of low and intermittent larval output in stool and variable manifestations of the symptoms. We present two cases of strongyloidiasis occurring in children with solid organ malignancies suspected to have the infection based on their clinical conditions and treatment history for cancer. Both patients were diagnosed by molecular and serological tests and were successfully treated. Thus, strongyloidiasis in patients undergoing intensive treatment for malignancies should be suspected, properly investigated and treated accordingly.

Introduction: Amoebiasis is a parasitic disease caused by Entamoeba histolytica that may lead to death in developing countries. Few important risk factors have been identified in the development of amoebic liver abscess (ALA). There are limited reports that suggest an association between antigens of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) particularly class II antigens and ALA development. This present work aimed at studying the possible association of HLA antigens with ALA and disease severity. Results of the study may serve as a guide for further immunological studies dealing with E. histolytica. Methods: This preliminary study involved two groups of subjects: 20 ALA patients in the experimental group and 40 healthy individuals in the control group. Cases were selected from adult Malay patients confirmed with ALA based on clinical signs and symptoms, radiological findings, microbiological findings and who were admitted to the medical or surgical ward, Hospital USM, Kelantan. Venous blood was obtained from each patient and HLA typing was then conducted using polymerase chain reaction specific primer sequence. Results: HLA DR12 was most frequently found in the healthy control and ALA groups at 40% and 55% respectively. HLA DQ7 and DQ8 were found to have the highest percentage in the ALA group at 65%. In the control group, HLA DQ8 (57.5%) had the highest percentage. Conclusion: HLA antigens play a role in acquisition of ALA and provide understanding of the disease outcome.

INTRODUCTIONStrongyloidiasis is one of the most commonly neglected but clinically important parasitic infections worldwide, especially among immunocompromised patients. Evidence of infection among immunocompromised patients in Malaysia is, however, lacking. In this study, microscopy, real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) were used to detect Strongyloides stercoralis (S. stercoralis) infection among cancer patients in a Malaysian hospital.

METHODSA total of 192 stool and serum samples were collected from cancer patients who were receiving chemotherapy with or without steroid treatment at a hospital in northeastern Malaysia. Stool samples were examined for S. stercoralis using parasitological methods and real-time PCR. Serology by ELISA was performed to detect parasite-specific immunoglobulin G (IgG), IgG4 and immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies. For comparison, IgG4- and IgG-ELISAs were also performed on the sera of 150 healthy individuals from the same area.

RESULTSOf the 192 samples examined, 1 (0.5%) sample was positive for S. stercoralis by microscopy, 3 (1.6%) by real-time PCR, 8 (4.2%) by IgG-ELISA, 6 (3.1%) by IgG4-ELISA, and none was positive by IgE-ELISA. In comparison, healthy blood donors had significantly lower prevalence of parasite-specific IgG (2.67%, p < 0.05) and IgG4 (2.67%, p < 0.05) responses.

CONCLUSIONThis study showed that laboratory testing may be considered as a diagnostic investigation for S. stercoralis among immunocompromised cancer patients.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Animals ; Antibodies, Helminth ; blood ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Healthy Volunteers ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Immunocompromised Host ; Immunoglobulin E ; blood ; Immunoglobulin G ; blood ; Malaysia ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasms ; complications ; parasitology ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Strongyloides stercoralis ; Strongyloidiasis ; blood ; complications ; diagnosis ; Young Adult

Introduction: This preliminary cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the prevalence of toxoplasmosis among blood donors in Kelantan, Malaysia. Methods: A total of 56 blood donors were screened by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for anti-T. gondii Immunoglobulin G (IgG) and Immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibodies. Positive T. gondii IgG and IgM were further tested for IgG avidity ELISA. All extracted deoxyribonucleic acids (DNAs) from whole blood samples were analyzed for the presence of the Toxoplasma B1 gene and the ITS1 region by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The socio-demographic data of donors was assessed using a data collection form. Results: Out of 56 blood donors, 24 (42.86%) donors were IgG+/IgM-, and 2 (3.57%) donors were IgG+/IgM+ with one of them having a high avidity index indicating as past infection for more than 20 weeks and the other with a low avidity index indicating as recent infection within 20 weeks. None of the samples tested positive for the presence of the Toxoplasma B1 gene and the ITS1 region. A univariate analysis showed that only employment status was significantly associated with Toxoplasma seropositivity. Conclusion: The seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis among blood donors in Kelantan, Malaysia, was 46.43%. Nevertheless, direct detection by PCR showed that this parasite was absent in the blood. These results highlight that the blood donors in this study had previously been exposed to T. gondii infection. The parasite may still remain in certain tissues but does not freely circulate in the blood.

The flood disaster in Kelantan in 2014 had resulted in substantial health implications including increased cases of communicable diseases. There was a lack of community preparedness including customized health educations in the prevention and control of flood-related communicable diseases in the affected areas. The research was aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of community-based health education modules on flood-related communicable diseases among communities in Kelantan. Health education modules focusing on major food-related diseases were developed. A non-randomized community-controlled trial using the modules were conducted. Outcomes were assessed on knowledge, attitude and preventive practice scores to flood-related communicable diseases using a pre-validated questionnaire. Independent t test was used to compare mean scores between the intervention community (Tumpat) and the control community (Bachok) at 1-month post intervention. One-way independent ANOVA test was done to compare score differences at baseline (pre), post 1-month and post 2-month from repeated surveys among random samples within the intervention community. There were significant improvements in all knowledge components from 9.4% to 52.6% with 10% increment in attitude scores toward preventing behaviours on flood-related communicable diseases. When compared against the control community at one-month post-intervention, there were significantly higher knowledge on types of diseases, symptoms and risk factors as well as practice scores of drinking safe water and protective habits. This research demonstrated that community-based health education is effective in improving relevant knowledge, attitude and preventive practices among affected communities as part of their preparedness toward communicable diseases related to flood.