Southwestern Saudi Arabia Research Articles

Gastrointestinal basidiobolomycosis in pediatric age group: A single-center experience [Case Series

Basidiobolomycosis is a rare tropical fungal infection that affects mainly the skin. Gastrointestinal basidiobolomycosis (GIB) is extremely rare, especially in the pediatric age group with no history of immune deficiency diseases. Our patients have been diagnosed and managed between 2016 and 2019; diagnoses have been confirmed by histopathology. Six children were analyzed: 1 female and 5 males. Their age range was 15 months to 6 years of age. All patients came from Jazan governance, southwestern Saudi Arabia. None of the patients had a history of immune deficiency diseases. They all had a high level of eosinophil, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and C-reactive protein. Three of them were diagnosed initially with GIT mass, 2 with acute appendicitis, and one with intussusception. Most of them were subjected to surgical procedures before definitive diagnosis: 2 had mass resection and 4 had a stoma. Only one case was diagnosed by simple biopsy, with no laparotomy, which reflects the difficulty of direct diagnosis of disease. All patients were managed properly post definitive diagnoses with antifungal and recovered completely. GIB is generally a lethal fungal infection, which can affect even immunocompetent individuals. Patients with GIB can present with variant complaints: constipation, vomiting, abdominal distention, or simply a palpable mass. Proper investigation, including complete blood count, ESR, and radiological examination, can prevent unnecessary surgery and catastrophic surgical management. Pediatric patients can recover completely after receiving antifungals if diagnosed early. • Voriconazole has a quick and good effect on disease. Early diagnosis helps avoid unnecessary operative management. • Before resecting intestinal mass in pediatric age group, a biopsy is mandatory to roll out other causes such as fungal mass. • Restoration of complete health in Gastrointestinal basidiobolomycosis can be achieved if treatment is initiated early. • Tihama plains has the highest rate of cases all over the world, needs more awareness of the disease among health professionals.

Faunistic and taxonomic notes on eleven recently recorded species of Spilomelinae Guinée, 1854 (Lepidoptera, Crambidae) from the Arabian Peninsula with an updated checklist

Updates on the taxonomy and distribution of eleven species of the subfamily Spilomelinae Guinée, 1854 (Lepidoptera, Crambidae) are presented on the basis of samples collected in Oman (province Dhofar) and in south-western Saudi-Arabia (provinces Mekka and Asir) by the author. Three species are reported as new to the entomofauna of the Arabian Peninsula - Hydriris ornatalis (Duponchel, 1832), Dysallacta negatalis (Walker, 1859) and Arnia nervosalis Guinée, 1849. The presence of Leucinodes laisalis (Walker, 1859) on the Arabian Peninsula is re-confirmed. The species is furthermore reported as new to the entomofauna of Oman. Two further species are reported for the first time from Oman - Marasmia poeyalis (Boisduval, 1833) and Herpetogramma licarsisalis (Walker, 1859). Three species are reported as new to the entomofauna of Dhofar - Antigastra catalaunalis (Duponchel, 1833), Spoladea recurvalis (Fabricius, 1775), Duponchelia fovealis Zeller, 1847. The presence of Glyphodes onychinalis (Guenée, 1854) in Oman (Dhofar) and the presence of Nomophila noctuella (Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775) in Saudi-Arabia are re-confirmed. The male and female genitalia of Dysallacta negatalis (Walker, 1859) are described and figured for the first time. The male genitalia of Glyphodes onychinalis (Guenée, 1854) are redescribed and figured. The male and female genitalia of Leucinodes laisalis (Walker, 1859) and Nomophila noctuella (Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775), the male genitalia of Herpetogramma licarsisalis (Walker, 1859) and Arnia nervosalis Guinée, 1849, the female genitalia of Marasmia poeyalis (Boisduval, 1833) and Duponchelia fovealis Zeller, 1847 are figured for diagnostic purposes. An updated checklist of the Spilomelinae Guinée, 1854 known till date from the Arabian Peninsula is presented.

A survey of Carnivora Diversity in Bisha district, Southwestern Saudi Arabia

A survey of Carnivora Diversity in Bisha district, Southwestern Saudi Arabia

New Species of the Genera Gynecaptera Skorikov and Micatagla Argaman from the Arabian Peninsula (Hymenoptera: Bradynobaenidae)

Two new apterogynine species, Gynecaptera omanensis sp. nov. (male) and Micatagla neveenae sp. nov. (female), are described and illustrated from the Sultanate of Oman and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, respectively. The Afrotropical species, M. gestroi (Bischoff, 1920) (Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya) is recorded in the Arabian Peninsula for the first time from southwestern Saudi Arabia (Asir region).

Tropaeolaceae: A New Family Record for the Flora Of Saudi Arabia

The family Tropaeolaceae was reported for the first time in Saudi Arabia. The new record (Tropaeolum majus L.) from the Tropaeolaceae family was found in damp and exposed semi-shaded habitats between roughly 1800 and 2132 m elevation in southwestern Saudi Arabia. Illustrations, photos, taxonomic description, distribution map, key and information about the habitat of the plant were given. This study suggests that the new record is an introduced alien plant into Saudi Arabia. Bangladesh J. Plant Taxon. 29(1): 79-84, 2022 (June)

Comparison of Rapid Diagnostic Test, Microscopy, and Polymerase Chain Reaction for the Detection of Plasmodium falciparum Malaria in a Low-Transmission Area, Jazan Region, Southwestern Saudi Arabia.

This cross-sectional study aimed to assess the performances of a rapid diagnostic test (RDT)—the AllTest Malaria p.f./p.v., microscopy, and nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for diagnosing Plasmodium falciparum malaria in 400 febrile patients from a low-transmission region (Jazan) in southwestern Saudi Arabia. Diagnostic performance of all three methods was compared using microscopy and nested PCR as reference methods. Overall, 42 (10.5%), 48 (12.0%), and 57 (14.3%) samples were found positive by microscopy, RDT, and PCR, respectively. With PCR as reference method, the RDT showed higher sensitivity (79% vs. 71.9%), similar specificity (99.1% vs. 99.7%), and better NLR (0.20 vs. 0.27) and area under the curve (89.0% vs. 85.8%) than microscopy. The sensitivity of RDT and microscopy decreased as age increased, and false negatives were associated with low parasite density. In addition, the sensitivity of RDT and microscopy was higher in non-Saudi than in Saudi participants. Against microscopy, both RDT and PCR showed high sensitivity (83.3% vs. 97.6%), specificity (96.4% vs. 95.5%), and NPVs (98.0% vs. 99.7%), but reduced PPVs (72.9% vs. 71.9%), respectively. The results showed that the performance of the AllTest Malaria p.f./p.v RDT was better than that of microscopy in diagnosing P. falciparum malaria among febrile patients in the Jazan region when nested PCR was used as the reference. However, further studies are required to assess malaria diagnostic methods among asymptomatic individuals in the region.

Investigation of Dombrock Blood Group Alleles and Genotypes among Saudi Blood Donors in Southwestern Saudi Arabia.

The Dombrock (DO) blood group system has two primary antigens, Doa and Dob, which can cause delayed hemolytic transfusion reactions. The paucity of specific monospecific antibodies can hamper the typing based on these antigens. Thus, blood group genotyping (BGG) was investigated as a possible solution. Sequence-specific primers were designed to target a single nucleotide polymorphism (rs11276) on the ART4 gene encoding the DO*A and DO*B alleles. Blood samples (n = 150) from randomly selected volunteer donors were used. DNA was extracted and resulting PCR products were purified and sequenced. The allelic frequencies of DO*A and DO*B were (n = 122, 40.67%) and (n = 178, 59.33%), respectively. The distributions of DO genotypes were as follows: DO*A/DO*A (n = 20), 13.33%; DO*B/DO*B (n = 48), 32.00%; and DO*A/DO*B (n = 82), 54.67%. In conclusion, this study reports on the allelic frequencies of DO*A and DO*B of the DO blood group system in Jazan Province, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Furthermore, this study reports on the prevalence of each genotype, of which DO*A/DO*B was the most abundant. This study contributes significantly to build the current blood donor database in Southwestern Saudi Arabia. Moreover, it may assist in providing safe blood to polytransfused patients and reduce the risk of the red cell alloimmunization.

Prevalence and Correlates of Vitamin D Deficiency in Children Aged Less than Two Years: A Cross-Sectional Study from Aseer Region, Southwestern Saudi Arabia.

Background: Vitamin D is an essential nutrient for bone growth, mineralization, and other metabolic processes in the human body. Hence, insufficiency or deficiency of this vitamin can have long-term effects, particularly for children. Objectives: The aims of this study were to determine the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in children up to 2 years of age and investigate the independent predictors of vitamin D deficiency. Methodology: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 484 children aged up to two years who were admitted to the hospital for the treatment of any acute condition from January to November 2021. Serum 25(OH)D was used to determine the level of vitamin D. The serum 25(OH)D was categorized into 3 groups: Sufficiency (>30 ng/mL), insufficiency (20–30 ng/mL), and the deficiency (<20 ng/mL). Results: Overall, vitamin D deficiency was observed in 70.5% of the children, of whom 45.9% had insufficient levels, and one-fourth (24.6%) showed deficiency. The children aged 2–12 months (infants) were more likely to be vitamin deficient compared to children aged 12 months and above. The children who lived in urban areas had a threefold increased risk of vitamin D deficiency (aOR = 3.0, 95% CI 1.78–5.08). The children who were exposed to sunlight for less than 3 days per week experienced a higher risk of developing vitamin D deficiency (aOR = 4.17, 95% CI 2.04–10.88). Children who had received only breast milk were more than two times more likely to experience vitamin D deficiency (aOR = 2.42, 95% CI 1.12–5.23) compared to their counterparts. Conclusion: Our study reveals a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among children aged up to two years. Infants, urban dwellers, only breastfed, and exposure to sunlight for less than three days per week were identified to be the independent risk factors for vitamin D deficiency. The results of this work call for enhancing awareness to ensure adequate levels of vitamin D for better health of the children in this region of Saudi Arabia.

An integrated geoinformatics and hydrogeophysical approach to assess and characterize the alluvial aquifer of Wadi Dawqah, southwestern Saudi Arabia

An integrated geoinformatics and hydrogeophysical approach to assess and characterize the alluvial aquifer of Wadi Dawqah, southwestern Saudi Arabia

Tapinoma yacoubi, sp. nov., a new ant species (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from Saudi Arabia

We describe a new species, Tapinoma yacoubi sp. n., from the Al Sarawat Mountains in southwestern Saudi Arabia based on the worker caste. Tapinoma yacoubi looks similar to T. luridum Emery, 1908 from the Democratic Republic of Congo, but can be easily distinguished by its lack of setae on the frontal carinae, the convex posterior margin of the clypeus, the single pair of black based setae on the anterior clypeal margin, and the unsculptured body surface. We present an identification key to the Arabian Tapinoma based on the worker caste. http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:677ADF36-E8F1-4B2C-BFF2-306FFC94CB39

The association between sleep disturbance and coronaphobia among physicians in primary health care centers of Ministry of Health, Jazan Province

Background: Sleep disturbances are extremely common among doctors with profound effect on quality of life. Coronaphobia is the dread of COVID-19 that can affect physicians and their sleep quality. Aim of Study: Our study aimed to assess sleep disturbance and its association with coronaphobia among primary health care (PHC) physicians in Primary Health care Centers (PHCCs) of the Ministry of Health, Jazan Province, Saudi Arabia. Method: The study is a cross-sectional questionnaire-based observational investigation using a simple random sampling scheme. The sampling frame was all PHC physicians practicing in Jazan Province. We used the Fear-of-COVID and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) questionnaires. Poisson Regression modelling techniques were used to analyse the adjusted effect of sociodemographic factors on Fear-of-COVID and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality scores. Results: A total of 385 physicians participated in the study. The prevalence of poor quality of sleep among our physicians was 47.3%, while prevalence of coronaphobia was 56.2%. Coronaphobia had significant negative impact on sleep quality, even with adjustment for the effect of all other clinical and demographic variables. A rise by one point in the fear of COVID questionnaire is associated with a rise by 2.3% points in the PSQI score (indicative of poorer sleep quality, p = 0.00081). Conclusions: Coronaphobia is common and has detrimental effect of sleep quality among PHC physicians. Coronaphobia has negative impact on sleep quality. Higher burden of depressive symptoms worsens physicians’ sleep quality. Recommendations: Support for PHC physicians’ psychological and physical well-being is paramount during the current COVID-19 crisis. Keywords: Coronaphobia, sleep quality, risk factors, South-western Saudi Arabia

Temporal LiDAR scanning in quantifying cumulative rockfall volume and hazard assessment: A case study at southwestern Saudi Arabia

Rockfalls and unstable slopes pose a serious threat to people and property along roads/highways in the southwestern mountainous regions of Saudi Arabia. In this study, the application of terrestrial light detection and ranging (LiDAR) technology was applied aiming to propose a strategy to analyze and accurately depict the detection of rockfall changes, calculation of rockfall volume, and evaluate rockfall hazards along the Habs Road, Jazan Region, Saudi Arabia. A series of temporal LiDAR scans were acquired at three selected sites. Our results show that these three sites have different degrees of hazard due to their geological differences. The mean volume loss of sites A1, A2, and A3 is 327.1, 424.4, and 3.7 L, respectively. Statistical analysis confirms the significance of the influence of site type on rockfall volume, with a probability value of < 0.0105. The rockfall volume and change detection values are then correlated with precipitation, which is a triggering factor. The study also reveals that the use of terrestrial LiDAR could reduce time and effort, increase accessibility, and produce effective solutions. LiDAR could be an indispensable tool for disaster risk assessment, response and recovery process.

Floristic composition of Jandaf Mountain as biodiversity hotspot area in southwestern Saudi Arabia

Arid environments around the world are characterized by lower plant diversity. However, some specific locations have relatively high species richness and have significant importance in terms of vegetation structure and plant diversity. Jabal Al-Jandaf is located in an arid area within the eastern side of mountainous region in the southwest of Saudi Arabia. It consists of valleys, lower plain and upper plain habitats with unique and diverse vegetation. These habitats range from 1000 m above sea level near the Tarj valley to 1910 m at the summit. In this study, we conducted a first survey of the floristic diversity at Jandaf Mountain. Furthermore, we applied the criteria of the Important Plant Area (IPA) and the High Conservation Value (HCV) approaches to assess whether the plant community at Jandaf Mountain qualifies as a significant conservation area. We found that the study area has great plant diversity with plant composition varying among the different habitats (e.g., valleys, upper and lower elevations) within the study area. We recorded 118 species from 97 genera belonging to 42 families, including endemic (e.g. Aloe pseudorubroviolacea), near-endemic (e.g. Monolluma quadrangular), and endangered species (e.g. Dracaena serrulata, Combretum molle, and Moringa peregrine). The plant diversity at Jandaf Mountain achieves the criteria outlined in the IPA and HCV approaches. Therefore, we conclude that Jandaf Mountain has a unique vegetation structure, and the area qualifies for conservation as a high value area for biodiversity and conservation of global significance.

Description of a new species of Odontochrydium Brauns (Hymenoptera: Chrysididae) from the Arabian Peninsula.

Odontochrydium arabicum sp. nov., a new chrysidid species from Oman, southwestern Saudi Arabia, and Yemen is described, illustrated and compared with the African species, O. bicristatum Rosa from Kenya.

The association between leptin levels with glycemic control, body mass index, and progression of HbA1c values in type 1 diabetic children in Southwestern Saudi Arabia

The association between leptin levels with glycemic control, body mass index, and progression of HbA1c values in type 1 diabetic children in Southwestern Saudi Arabia

Genetic diversity of wild rodents and detection of Coxiella burnetii, the causative agent of Q fever, in Saudi Arabia.

Throughout history, wildlife has been regarded as a major source of infectious diseases. Rodentia, the most speciose order of mammals, whose members are recognised hosts of more than 60 zoonotic diseases, represent a potential threat to human health. Recently, epidemiological data from Saudi Arabia indicated an actual growth in the number of emerging and/or re-emerging cases of several zoonoses. However, there is a lack of studies focusing on the molecular taxonomy of rodents and the pathogens they may harbour in this region. In this study, the first molecular characterisation of six rodent taxa in this region is provided, based on partial Cyt B and 16S genes. The data confirm the spread of rodent-associated C. burnetii strains in Jazan, southwestern Saudi Arabia. The PCR targeting IS111, the multi-copy transposase gene, revealed 17.5% (36/205) positive samples, whereas the second nested PCR, targeting the single-copy Com1 gene, revealed 16.6% (34/205) positive samples. Phylogenetic and network analyses indicated the presence of four haplotypes of C. burnetii within the studied localities. One major haplotype (H-2) was observed in all rodent species and from 18 localities. The infection rates of C. burnetii among studied species, localities and habitats were not significantly different (>0.05). Our results facilitate the assessment of the health risk associated with rodents and the development of strategies to control the increasing impacts of Q fever.

Dentists' knowledge and practices about infective endocarditis antibiotics prophylaxis among children in aseer region, Southwestern Saudi Arabia.

Infective endocarditis (IE) is a disease endangering human lives. Therefore, several prophylactic measures are required to improve the protection of endocarditis-prone patients from bacteremia resulting from various dental actions. These measures range from developing the dental hygiene to trials of different antimicrobial agents. To examine the knowledge and practices of dentists in Aseer Region, Saudi Arabia, regarding antibiotic prophylaxis against IE. Cross-sectional study. Aseer Region, Saudi Arabia. The participants were interviewed at their workplaces and the data collection sheet was constructed based on the guidelines of the American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology (AHA/ACC, 2017). The examination of the data gathered was calculated using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS, version 25) such as to test the significance of variation in dentists' mean knowledge scores as per their personal characteristics. An output with P values <0.05 was statistically significant. 182 Dentists. Dentists' mean knowledge score was 17.5 ± 3.7 (out of 24). The least correct responses regarding dental procedures that require prophylactic antibiotics were "root canal treatment" (30.8%). Regarding cardiac conditions that require prophylactic antibiotics, dentists' least correct responses were "heart failure" (50%). Dentists' mean knowledge scores differed significantly according to their age groups (P = 0.032), nationality (P = 0.002), education/qualification (P = 0.002). Mean knowledge scores differed significantly according to dentists' years of experience (P = 0.018) and sources of information (P < 0.001). Amoxicillin was the most regularly recommended antibiotic (90.7%), while 86.8% correctly stated 30--60 min. before the procedure as the time for prophylactic antibiotic administration. The knowledge of dentists in Aseer Region regarding the use of preventive drugs for the control and prevention of IE is suboptimal. The inclusion of the latest AHA guidelines into the dentistry curricula is highly recommended. Outcome are simultaneously assessed.

Prospective Evaluation of Side-Effects Following the First Dose of Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 Vaccine among Healthcare Workers in Saudi Arabia.

Background: Several different types of vaccines have been developed for the prevention of coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Despite several local and systemic side-effects to COVID-19 vaccination reported, the vaccines are still considered the best intervention to tackle the spread of the virus and reduce the severity of COVID-19 infection. However, the reported side-effects continue to have a crucial role in public confidence in the vaccine and its acceptance. This study aimed to investigate the short-term side-effects reported by the healthcare workers (HCWs) in Saudi Arabia after receiving the first dose of the Oxford/AstraZeneca (ChAdOx1 nCoV-19) COVID-19 vaccine. Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted among HCWs in the Jazan region of southwestern Saudi Arabia. Healthcare workers who had received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine and agreed to participate in the study were followed up for 3 weeks post vaccination through a weekly online survey. Information was collected on local and/or systemic side-effects reported following vaccine administration. Participants’ general and demographic information was also collected. Results: A total of 57.2% (250/437) of the HCWs who participated in this study reported at least one side-effect. Injection site pain and redness (80.0%), fever (73.2%), whole-body pain/fatigue (56.4%), and headache (48.8%) were the most commonly reported side-effects. Moreover, 12.4% of the participants who reported side-effects needed to see a physician, and only one female participant was admitted to the hospital. Multivariate regression analyses revealed that nationality (Saudi, adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 3.65; 95% CI = 2.40, 5.55) and residency (Jazan governorate, aOR = 0.38; 95% CI = 0.15, 0.95) were the significant factors associated with reporting COVID-19 post-vaccination side-effects, while the number of reported side-effects was found to be significantly influenced by occupation (medical, aOR = 0.42; 95% CI = 0.26, 0.66; p < 0.001) and gender (female, aOR = 0.61; 95% CI = 0.38, 0.97; p = 0.038). Conclusions: Findings of the present study support the safety of the Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine among HCWs in Saudi Arabia. All the reported side-effects were mild-to-moderate side-effects. The findings may help convince vaccine-hesitant individuals and skeptics to accept the COVID-19 vaccine.

The impact of blood campaigns using mobile blood collection drives on blood supply management during the COVID-19 pandemic

Background and objectivesBlood transfusion is a lifesaving procedure for transfusion-dependent patients. Therefore, maintaining blood supply is extremely crucial. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has negatively affected blood supply by affecting donor attendance. This study aimed to investigate blood supply and demand during the pandemic and demonstrate the positive impact of blood donation campaigns through mobile blood drives. Materials and methodsA cross-sectional study was conducted based on data of the blood bank at Prince Muhammad bin Nasser Hospital (PMBNH) in southwestern Saudi Arabia. Data on the attendance of blood donors at PMBNH were retrieved and retrospectively reviewed to assess the impact of mobile blood drives during the COVID-19 pandemic. ResultsBlood supply and donor attendance during the COVID-19 pandemic dropped by 17.32 %. However, blood supply increased between March and May 2020 due to national blood donation campaigns conducted through mobile blood drives. The drop in blood supply after 3 months of mobile blood drives significantly decreased to 0.17 % (P < 0.01). This means the blood supply was increased as follows; (March 2020 = 32.67 %, April 2020 = 45.54 %, and May 2020 = 19.47 %). On the other hand, blood demand decreased by 12.83 %. ConclusionThis study demonstrated the significant impact of establishing blood donation campaigns through mobile blood drives. Our results showed that the strategy can contribute to sufficient blood units to patients during pandemics and emergencies.

Polymorphism analysis of pfmdr1 gene in Plasmodium falciparum isolates 11\xa0years post-adoption of artemisinin-based combination therapy in Saudi Arabia

A total of 227 Plasmodium falciparum isolates from Jazan region, southwestern Saudi Arabia were amplified for the P. falciparum multi-drug resistance 1 (pfmdr1) gene to detect point mutations 11 years after the introduction of artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) in Saudi Arabia. The pfmdr1 86Y mutation was found in 11.5% (26/227) of the isolates while the N86 wild allele was detected in 88.5%. Moreover, 184F point mutations dominated (86.3%) the instances of pfmdr1 polymorphism while no mutation was observed at codons 1034, 1042 and 1246. Three pfmdr1 haplotypes were identified, NFSND (74.9%), NYSND (13.7%) and YFSND (11.4%). Associations of the prevalence of 86Y mutation and YFSND haplotype with participants’ nationality, residency and parasitaemia level were found to be significant (P < 0.05). The findings revealed significant decline in the prevalence of the pfmdr1 86Y mutation in P. falciparum isolates from Jazan region over a decade after the implementation of ACT treatment. Moreover, the high prevalence of the NFSND haplotype might be indicative of the potential emergence of CQ-sensitive but artemether-lumefantrine-resistant P. falciparum strains since the adoption of ACT. Therefore, continuous monitoring of the molecular markers of antimalarial drug resistance in Jazan region is highly recommended.