Background: Rotavirus infection is one of the most common gastroenteritis in the world, and a million cases are registered to enter hospital every year. PMLs are IFN-up-regulated proteins, and one of their critical functions is working as antiviral proteins. Recently, PML-II has been depicted as an isoform responsible for the antiviral function. Methods: Rotavirus prevalence determination was achieved by PCR and Rapid Adeno/Rota Virus test, while the relative expression assay was carried out by real-time PCR technique. Blood and stool samples were collected from 34 children under five years admitted to the hospital with acute gastroenteritis showing signs of dehydration. RNA samples were extracted from blood specimens and converted to cDNA to be used in gene expression analysis of PML, PML-II, and IFN-γ in rotavirus positive or negative samples. Results: Rapid Adeno/Rota Virus Antigen Combo Test and PCR assay could detect the virus in stool samples in 45% and 17.6% of cases, respectively. PML in positive samples decreased to 10 4 fold less than the level in negative ones. The same trend was noticed in the level of IFN-γ and PML-II expression as their expression reduced to 10 4 or 13fold in rotavirusinfected samples compared to the control, respectively. Conclusion: Altogether, our data showed that the gene expression of PML, PML-II, and type II IFN considerably diminished in rotavirus-infected samples compared to the negative control.

A prospective study was carried out to evaluate the frequency of toxoplasmosis in children with glucose-6phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency at Basrah General Hospital and Basrah Maternity and Children Hospital for 1 year (from October 2004-October 2005). One hundred ten children (6 months-60 months) of age were screened for both toxoplasmosis antibodies and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency; fifty (45.5%) children had glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency, 48% of them had toxoplasmosis. The reminder sixty children (54.5%) had normal glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity; among them fifteen (25%) had toxoplasmosis. From this study it was concluded that acquired toxoplasmosis was significantly higher among children with G6PD deficiency compared to those of normal G6PD activity.

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