Journal of Current Medical Research and Opinion

Seroprevalence of Rotavirus Antibodies in Human, Bovine, and Ovine Populations in Diyala Province, Iraq: A Comparative ELISA-Based Study

Sirwan Qadir Ghulam — 2026-07-06

Rotavirus A (RVA) is a leading cause of acute gastroenteritis in humans and Young animals around the world are getting sick. We need to know how many animals and people have rotavirus antibodies to understand how bad the problem is and what we can do to stop it. This study looked at how people, cows and sheep in Diyala Province Iraq have rotavirus A antibodies. We used tests to check for rotavirus A antibodies in blood samples from people, cows and sheep. We took 200 blood samples from three groups: 80 from kids who had stomach problems 60 from baby cows with diarrhea and 60 from baby sheep with diarrhea. We tested all the samples for rotavirus A antibodies. We found that 20 percent of all the samples had rotavirus A antibodies. The kids had the antibodies at 36 percent then the baby cows at 10 percent and the baby sheep at 8 percent. The difference between the groups was very big. The blood samples that had antibodies had higher levels than the ones that did not. We also found that there were differences between the groups. The kids had higher levels than the baby cows and sheep. The baby cows and sheep were similar. We used a test to see how well our tests were working and it showed that they were very good at finding rotavirus A antibodies in people, cows and sheep. Rotavirus A is a problem and we need to keep studying it to learn more, about rotavirus A and how it affects young animals and people. Rotavirus A antibodies are important to understand. We should keep looking at rotavirus A to see how it spreads. In this study we found that a lot of children in Diyala Province have Rotavirus A antibodies, which's about thirty six point two five percent. This shows that Rotavirus A is a problem in this area and it makes a lot of infants and young children very sick with gastroenteritis. This is similar to what happens around the world with kids. On the hand we found that the number of diarrheic calves and lambs with Rotavirus A antibodies is much lower at ten percent and eight point three three percent. This could be because people take care of their animals differently or because the antibodies that mothers pass to their babies wear off at times or maybe the animals just get sick in different ways. We also found that there is a difference in the number of Rotavirus A antibodies between humans and animals which is very significant. This tells us that Rotavirus A spreads differently in humans and animals. We used tests to check for Rotavirus A and they worked very well which means we can trust the results. This is news for people who take care of animals and for doctors who want to know if someone has Rotavirus A. Rotavirus A is a big deal and we need to keep an eye on it. The tests we used for Rotavirus A are very good, at finding out if someone or an animal has been infected with Rotavirus. Rotavirus A is something that a lot of people, cows and sheep in Diyala Province have antibodies for. This is a deal because it affects people and animals in different ways. What is really interesting is that a lot of kids in this area have these antibodies, which means that Rotavirus A is a cause of stomach problems, in children. While cows and sheep do not have many antibodies as people do they are still important to think about because they can carry Rotavirus A. We need to keep watching to see how Rotavirus A is spreading and to understand how it can jump from animals to people. This will help us figure out if the vaccines we use are working and what we can do to stop Rotavirus A from making people sick. Rotavirus A is an issue and we need to keep track of it to keep people and animals healthy.

Detection and Characterization of Virulence and Resistance Determinants (spa, lukS/F-PV, mecA) in Staphyllococus aureus from Mastitic Cow Milk

Anhar Adil Abdullah — 2026-07-12

Antibiotic resistance is one of the huge medical problems causes by which mastitis cuases the most economically important disease affecting dairy cattle worldwide. The current study aimed to molecular detection and characterization of selected virulence and antimicrobial resistance genes (spa, many lukS/F-PV, mecA) in Staphylococcus aureus isolates obtained from cow mastitis milk in Diyala Governorate. Hundred mastitis milk samples were collected from cows affected with clinical mastitis. Molecular positivity rate was 30.0%, total 30 positive isolates were identified from the tested 100 mastitis milk samples. Conventional PCR analysis showed that 30 (100 %), 19 (63.3 %) and 7 (23.3 %) isolates were positive for spa, mecA and lukS/F-PV respectively. The results obtained confirmed the circulation of virulence- and methicillin-resistance-genes among strains of Staphylococcus aureus isolated from bovine mastitis. Sequencing and sequence alignment of selected PCR positive amplicons at Macrogen Company showed 99% or more similarity with GenBank reference strains. By this study we can conclude that the impact of both molecular characterization and epidemiological surveillance for bovine mastitis-associated S. aureus isolates virulence gene and antibacterial susceptibility test through PCR and gene sequencing.

Virulence Factors of E-coli Isolates from Urogenital Tract Infections in Women: A Cross- Sectional Study from Hilla City, Iraq

Mohammed K. Salhi — 2026-07-12

Background: Urogenital tract infections (UTIs) represent a significant public health concern, particularly among women. Escherichia coli remains the predominant uropathogen, with various virulence factors contributing to pathogenesis and treatment complications.

Objective: To investigate the prevalence and characteristics of virulence factors among E. coli isolates from women with urogenital tract infections in Hilla City, Iraq.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 100 women presenting with UTI symptoms at hospitals and private clinics in Hilla City between January and August 2025. Bacterial isolates were identified using standard microbiological techniques. E. coli isolates (n=60) were analyzed for biofilm formation, capsule production, and serum resistance using standardized laboratory methods.

Results: Of 100 positive cultures, E. coli was the most prevalent pathogen (60%), followed by Klebsiella spp. (20%), Staphylococcus spp. (10%), Proteus spp. (5%), Pseudomonas spp. (2%), and other organisms (3%). Among 60. E. coli isolates, biofilm formation was observed in 90% of strains: moderate (50%), weak (25%), and strong (15%). All isolates (100%) demonstrated capsule production. Serum resistance was present in 92% of isolates: moderate (42%), strong (33%), and weak (25%). Strong positive correlation was found between biofilm formation strength and optical density readings (r=0.853, p<0.001).

Conclusions: The high prevalence of virulence factors among E. coli isolates in Hilla City indicates significant pathogenic potential. These findings highlight the urgent need for enhanced surveillance, antimicrobial stewardship, and targeted therapeutic approaches to improve UTI management.

Impact of a School-Based Educational Program on Knowledge and Self-Care Practices Related to menstruation among female students in Al-Kut City/ Iraq

Noor bader kutar — 2026-07-24

Objective: To identify the impact of an Educational Program on Knowledge and self-care Practices Related to Menstruation among adolescent girls in Al-Kut City/Iraq

Methods: A quasi-experimental pre-test–post-test control group design was conducted in governmental female secondary schools in Al-Kut city, Iraq, from November 2025 to April 2026. A purposive sample of 200 female students (4th and 5th) secondary grade assigned in to an intervention group (n=100) and a control group (n=100). The sample size was determined using G* power software (version 3.1.9.7). Data were collected using a structured questionnaire consisting of four parts; sociodemographic characteristics for students and sociodemographic characteristics for parents’, Knowledge regarding menstruation and Self-Care Practices During Menstruation. The data were analysed using (SPSS), version 26.0, with P value < 0.05 considered statistically significant.

Results: The study group showed significant improvement in knowledge levels in the post test, shifting from "Average"/ "Incorrect" responses to a good knowledge regarding to menstruation, symptoms of puberty, usual length of bleeding during menstrual period, and functions and illness related to menstrual cycle. In particular, the control group demonstrated a slight increase in knowledge on menarche and menstrual cycle; however less significant than the intervention group. In general, the intervention group had more knowledge than control group after engagement in an educational program. The findings showed The study group had significant high self-care practices scores at post-test in most of the items, and many of them were in "Good" category. The mean score rose from 21.05(±2.962) during the pre-test to 24.76 (±2.663) during the post-test after engagement in an educational program. In contrast, the students in the control group show no clear change in mean score during the pre-test (20.88±2.861) and post-test (20.68±2.860), 58% of students demonstrate average self-care practices during pre-test and post-test.

Conclusion: the education program significantly enhances knowledge and self-care practices among Female adolescents school students' compared to the control group.

Recommendations: Conducting regular school based educational sessions on menstruation and self-care practices, as well as integration menstrual health education into the secondary school curriculum.

Assessment of Nurses’ Knowledge Regarding Care for Patients Undergoing Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy

Shahad Abd Almalik dalaf Alrubaei — 2026-07-24

Background: Gallstone disease is a common gastrointestinal disorder in the world whose laparoscopic cholecystectomy is the gold standard in surgical management. The theoretical expertise of nursing personnel in dealing with perioperative needs is critical in the success of this minimally invasive procedure.

Objectives: The main purpose of this study was both to assess the theoretical understanding of nursing professionals regarding the management of patients who are undergoing laparoscopic surgery to remove their gallbladder and to determine the distribution of the knowledge levels among the surgical settings.

Methodology: The descriptive cross-sectional type of design was adopted, with a targeted sample of 60 nurses working in different surgical and recovery units. Data collection was done using a Structured Knowledge Interview Schedule that was specifically created to measure cognitive domains in preoperative and postoperative care. Mean scores (MS), frequencies and percentages were used to categorize the information levels of the participants based on statistical analysis.

Results: The analysis revealed that a huge percentage (93.3) of the participants displayed a fair level (1.75) of overall knowledge. Higher academic level and more clinical experience were linked to a higher score, but the overall cognitive baseline was at a moderate level throughout the study population.

Conclusions: The results indicate that over fifty percent of the nursing personnel have the intermediary range of theoretical consciousness. This average performance shows that more needs to be done to sustain the evidence-based base of knowledge to achieve safer transitions of patients throughout the surgery process.