Antimicrobial effect of some Egyptian plants

Twenty eight crude water extracts of four Egyptian plants: Hibiscus sabdariffa [Karkade], Tamarindus indica [Tamarind], Glycyrrhiza glabra [Liquorice] and Ceratonia siliqua [Carob], were tested for their antibacterial activities against 10 common pathogenic bacteria, Bacillus cereus, Shigella flexenary and Escherichia coli showed sensitivity to the 28 extracts, Shigella sp. showed sensitivity to 24 extracts while Pseudomonas sp. and Salmonella typhimurium were sensitive to 23 extracts. Salmonella paratyphi and Aerobacter aerogenes showed sensitivity to 22 extracts, Serratia marcesence and Aeromonas hydrophila showed sensitivity to 20 extracts. Karkade exhibited marked antibacterial activity against all the 10 organisms. E. coli and Shigella flexenary had no observed sensitivity to Liquorice extracts. Aerobacter aerogenes was the only one which had no observed sensitivity to Tamarind extracts. All the extracts of Carob were effective against only two pathogens: Bacillus cereus and Shigella flexenary. The results support the traditional uses of extracts of these plants for the management of bacterial infections and for the development of antibacterial agents for the preservation of foods

Seroepidemiological and virological studies on virus-induced tumors in chickens in Egypt

Extensive epidemiological studies were conducted over four years to investigate the real cause and prevalence of virus-induced tumors among commercial meat-and egg-type chicken breeds, as well as native varieties of different age-groups and localities. Criteria used to establish an etiological diagnosis in problem flocks included, besides flock history, gross, histopathological and cytological examinations, virus isolation in chicken embryo fibroblast cultures [Line O] and identification by enzyme-linked-immunosorbent assay [ELISA] and/or indirect immunofluorescence [IFA], antigen detection in thin tissue sections by IFA, and reticuloendotheliosis virus [REV] proviral DNA detection in blood or tumor tissue by polymerase chain reaction [PCR]. Moreover, chicken flocks were examined for viral antigen and/or antibody in plasma, egg albumin or serum by ELIA. The results achieved indicated that Marek's disease virus [MDV], lymphoid leukosis virus [LLV], and REV were the common causes of neoplasms as single or mixed infections with variable incidence among the flocks. The sources of infection in the investigated flocks is discussed in the light of the obtained results

Estimation of proteolytic activity of subgingival microflora of diabetic and non-diabetic individuals

The purpose of this study was to estimate the proteolytic activity of subgingival microflora of diabetic and non-diabetic individividuals as an attempt to clarify the role of these enzymes which are produced by some Gram + ve and Gram - ve bacteria in the pathogenesis of periodontal tissue destruction in patients suffering from diabetes mellitus. Clinical indices and microbiological parameters were determined of 39 adult patients their age ranged from 35-65, 18 diabetic [non-insuline dependent diabetes mellitus] and 21 non-diabetics. The clinical results demonstrated the significant increase in all gingival clinical parameters in diabetics comparing with the non-diabetics. Microbiologically, staphylococcus aureus, micrococcus sp., Gram - ve bacilli and yeasts showed higher percentage of isolates in diabetic patients than in non-diabetic patients. Thus diabetic status may, not only affect the clinical aspect of the gingival tissue of the diabetic patients, but may also modify microbial plaque activities

prevalence of bacterial intestinal pathogens in healthy people in a rural area

In a survey, bacterial intestinal pathogens unassociated with diarrhoeal episodes were isolated from 51.9% of stool samples ftom 1064 individuals in Kerdasah village, Giza Governorate, and identified by the conventional biochemical and serological methods. The results show that the majority isolates were Proteus species [223 persons] followed by Klebsiella [117 persons] and Citrobacter [56 persons]. Whereas Salmonella and Shigella were identified in 42 and 38 persons respectively, 32 persons showed the non-fermenting lactose E. coli. Only 16 persons showed Pseudomonas infection, Hafnia, Providencia, Alkalescens and Serratia were isolated from 12, 8, 5 and 3 persons respectively. In this study the isolated bacteria from males were [47.1%] lower than those from females [60.9%]. It is important to understand the prevalence of intestinal pathogens in a population to know the dynamics of intestinal infection and the pathogenesis of diarrhoea

Amino acids, a triggering factor for creating phosphokinase induction by selected members of enterobacteriaceae and other pathogenic bacteria

24 amino acids were tested for inducing CPK activity within 40 selected members of entero-bacteriaceae as well as other pathogenic bacteria. Klebsiella remarkably produced the enzyme when incubated with any of the acids [1.7-5.4 U/10[7]/ ml] followed by the shigellae [0.2-1.5 U/10[7] cells/ml] then the vibrios [0.4-1.3 U] then Yersinia [0.4-0.5]. The tested arizonas, escherishias, erwinias or pseudomonas produced appreciable amounts of the enzyme only on one or few amino whereas the proteii as well as Salmonella farmsen failed to do so on any of the tested amino acids. The remaining salmonellas could release the enzyme in several of their amino acids media but S. paratyphi, S. sofia, S. typhi, S. typhimurium or S. wassenaar were the best producers on all tested amino acids [0.2-0.8 U]. Valine, arginine, iso-leucine or glycine was the most active CPK inducers [19-17 organisms the least [12-11 organisms]. The remaining amino acids were intermediate [16-14 organisms]