Q fever is an infectious disease of animals and humans, caused by globally distributed C. burnetii. In Iraq, there are no previous studies associated with the detection of the organism in cattle. An overall of 130 lactating cows were submitted to direct collection of milk samples. Initially, the samples of milk were tested using the molecular polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay targeting three genes (16S rRNA, IS1111a transposase, and htpB). However, positive results (18.46%; 24/130) were detected only with the 16s rRNA gene. Concerning risk factors, the highest prevalence of C. burnetii was showed in the district of Badra (42.86%), whereas the lowest - in Al-Numaniyah and Al-Suwaira districts (P=0.025). There was no significant variation in positivity between the months of sampling period (P=0.082) and between age groups (P=0.076). Crossbred cows (20.69%) showed a higher positivity than local and pure breeds (P=0.043). Milk of positive samples (n=24) was used for cultivation of C. burnetii into specific pathogen free-embryonated chicken eggs (SPF-ECEs). After three passages into SPF-ECEs, contents of yolk sac were collected, subjected for DNA extraction, and re-tested by PCR assay using the primer of 16s rRNA gene only. Of 24 cultivated milk samples, 12.5% (3/24) were positive for C. burnetii. Finally, the positive local isolates were analysed phylogenetically and reported in NCBI-Genbank under the accession numbers of MN121700.1, MN121701.1, and MN121702.1. In conclusion, this is a unique study as it detected C. burnetii in Iraqi lactating cows, and confirmed that organism was shed actively through milk, suggesting that these animals can play a role as a reservoir for organism with potential risk for transmission of infection from these animals to humans as well as to other animal species.
An infant incubator in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) is a medical instrument of care that provides oxygen, warmth and moisture to a newborn baby. Due to environmental conditions affecting the infants foster babies may experience discomfort and pain at some point. Thus, this study aimed to assess ambient air quality in neonatal incubators to improve the environmental quality of neonatal intensive care units and safety. Air pollutants concentrations consisting of particulate matter (pm2.5, pm10), hydrocarbons (HOCH), volatile organic compounds (VOC), air quality index (AQI), humidity and temperature, were measured at four selected Baghdad hospitals (Al-Karkh and Rusafa) . The results showed that the increase in rela
... Show MoreProstate cancer is the commonest male cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related death in men. Over many decades, prostate cancer detection represented a continuous challenge to urologists. Although all urologists and pathologists agree that tissue diagnosis is essential especially before commencing active surgical or radiation treatment, the best way to obtain the biopsy was always the big hurdle. The heterogenicity of the tumor pathology is very well seen in its radiological appearance. Ultrasound has been proven to be of limited sensitivity and specificity in detecting prostate cancer. However, it was the only available targeting technique for years and was used to guide biopsy needle passed transrectally or transperineally
... Show MoreRates of zinc consumption during cathodic protection of a copper pipeline carrying saline water were measured by the loss in weight technique. The study of sacrificial anode cathodic protection of short copper tube using zinc strip extended axially in the pipe revealed that : (i) The increase of zinc consumption with time of exposure (1-3 h's) at different flow rates (turbulent flow) (300-600 l/hr) while the temperature , solution concentration and the pH were fixed at 20ºC, 3.5%wt NaCl, and pH=8 respectively in absence and presence of bacteria.(ii)Increase of zinc consumption with flow rates (300-600 l/hr) at different temperatures (10-40ºC) while solution concentration and time of exposure were fixed at 3.5 %wt NaCl and 3hr's respect
... Show MoreTo determine the relationship between Helicobacter pylori infection and reproduction disorder (recurrent spontaneous abortion), twenty women patients who undergo spontaneous abortion during first trimester of pregnancy (20-38) years and have been investigated from 2015/12/1 -2016/3/1 and compared to fifteen healthy individuals. All subjects were carried out to measure anti-H. pylori IgA and anti- H. pylori IgG antibodies by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). There was significant elevation (p≤ 0.05) in concentration of anti- H. pylori IgG Abs (6.30± 0.99) compared to control group (4.48± 0.61) and IgA Abs (5.42 ± 0.90 U /ml) as compared to control group (3.92 ± 0.41 U/ml). The percentage of H. pylori IgG and IgA was 20% and 25
... Show MoreThis study aims mainly to identify the role of the use of blockchain technology in improving the quality of digital financial reports, answering questions and testing the hypothesis of the study, the researchers relied on the descriptive analytical approach, and to obtain the necessary data a questionnaire was distributed after evaluation to the study community.
The results of the study have shown that the use of blockchain technology helps to provide a high degree of reliability in digital financial reports published to banks over the Internet, ensure the speed of completion and completion, and maintain the privacy and confidentiality of the information contained in the digital financial reports of banks
... Show MoreGeotechnical characterization of the sites has been investigated with the collection of borehole data from different sources. Using the data, grain size distribution curves have been developed to understand the particle size distribution of the alluvium present. These curves were further used for preliminary assessment of liquefiable areas. From geotechnical characterization, it has been observed that the soil profile in the two sites is dominated by sand and silty sand.Seed and Idriss (1971) approachhas been usedevaluatethe liquefaction potentialbydeterminationof the relation between the maximum ground acceleration (a max/g) valuesdue to an earthquake and the relative density of a sand deposit in the field. The results reveal that
... Show MoreIn this research study the effect of fish in alternating electrical properties at room temperature copper oxide membranes and fish prepared in a manner different thermal spraying chemical on a thin glass bases and heated