Background:The roles of group C and F streptococci in causing endemic pharyngitis are still controversial, although group C streptococci are implicated in the outbreaks of pharyngitis and associated disorders.Aim:The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and the role of these groups of β-hemolytic streptococci in acute pharyngitis with emphasis on the Streptococcus anginosus group. The antimicrobial susceptibility profile of these bacterial isolates and their ability to produce some virulence factors was also determined.Materials and Methods:Throat swab specimens were collected from 177 patients suffering from acute pharyngitis who had been admitted to the Hilla Teaching Hospital, Hilla, Iraq, during October 2009 to January 2010. The necessary biochemical tests were conducted and the organisms identified using standard procedures. Susceptibility of isolates pathogens to several antibiotics was examined using standard susceptibility testing. Virulence factors of these isolates were also determined using standard methods.Results:Results revealed that a total of 67 isolates belonged to β-hemolytic streptococci, of which 11(16.4%) isolates belonged to anginosus group streptococci, which possessed Lancefield group C and F antigens. Most of these bacterial isolates have the ability to produce more than one virulence factor such as capsule, hemolysin, CFA III, and lipase enzyme. The bacterial isolates were highly resistant to ampicillin, cefotaxime, and cefepime while they exhibited moderate resistance to tetracycline, ceftriaxone, and ciprofloxacin. On the other hand, they showed a high sensitivity to vancomycin, ofloxacin, and clindamycin.Conclusion:This study concluded that groups C and F Streptococci were implicated as a cause of acute pharyngitis in 6.2% of the specimens among other groups of streptococci. Most of these isolates have the ability to produce more than one virulence factor. There was a high rate of resistance among isolates for β-lactam antibiotics; however, they were highly susceptible to vancomycin, ofloxacin, and clindamycin.

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Aims: The study aimed to know the effects of the purified M-protein on immune system to produce protection against Streptococcus pyogenes in rabbits. Study Design: Case-control study. Place and Duration of Study: In this study, collection samples and bacterial identification were carried out in two hospitals; Child Protection Hospital and Central Child Hospital in Baghdad city, and experimental work was done in Department of Medical Microbiology, College of Medicine-Babylon university, Iraq. The study was done during the period between January to July 2014. Methodology: A total of 260 samples were collected from tonsillitis and pharyngitis cases. Three main parts involved in this study: the first part is bacterial diagnosis based on relied diagnostic procedures. The second part is detection of serogroup of GAS and antistreptolysin O (ASO) antibodies by using latex agglutination test, and the third part is experimental study conducted on the protective immune response against the group A streptococci using rabbit model. M-protein was purified by using Ion exchange chromatography. The rabbit models were immunized with purified M protein according to standard method. The immune response generated against the M protein was Original Research Article

Objective Diagnostic tests devoted to the rapid, sensitive, and specific identification of the causative agent are key components of successful wellness plans directed at tuberculosis control. This study focusses on rapid and accurate detection of tuberculosis cases among Babylon population. Methods The sputum samples were collected from 60 patients suspected have suffering from tuberculosis infection, in the Specialized Chest and Respiratory Center, Hilla City and Department of Medical Microbiology, College of Medicine, Babylon University, Hilla-Iraq during the period from February to June 2015. Molecular detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in patients' sputum samples using real-time PCR, and gene X-pert for suspected TB-infected patients. The clinical signs were recorded for each patient, including night sweating, fever, loss of weight, and history of cough. Results Gene X-pert MTB/RIF technique, real-time PCR recording the high sensitivity for AFB positive smear (100%) for both, AFB negative smear (66%, and 58%), respectively. AFB sensitivity was (16.6%), and the specificity was (100%) for all in the present study. Conclusion The comparison between advance technique (Gene X-pert and real-time PCR) and classical technique (AFB) for the diagnosis of MTB, shows that genetic technique is the best with high sensitivity and specificity.