Genotypic discrimination between a leishmania isolate and two leishmania major reference strains using PCR-RFLP technique

The restriction fragment length polymorphism [PCR-RFLP] of 18S rDNA amplified fragments was conducted to distinguish between an unidentified Leishmania isolated from Egyptian patient infected in Saudi Arabia and two L. Major reference strains causing cutaneous lesions. The strains were maintained both in vivo and in vitro. A morphological characterization on the basis of light microscope and scanning electron microcopy and behavior in experimental Swiss albino mice regarding the development of lesions was performed. The results showed that PCR-RFLP analysis of the 18S rDNA amplified PCR fragments was highly successful to classify the unidentified Leishmania strain in the category of L. major. There were no significant differences regarding the cutaneous lesions development. Significant variations of the morphometric measurement of the three strains were observed

Recognition of antigenic components of fasciola gigantica and their use in immunodiagnosis

Antigenicity of the tegumental extract, excretory-secretory products and the whole somatic extract of Fasciola gigantica were evaluated to detect the most sensitive and specific antigen out of them that could be used as an immunodiagnostic tool. Scanning electron microscopic study was carried out to have a full picture for the tegumental structure. The immunohistochemical staining technique was done using the indirect immunoperoxidase method on F. gigantica sections before and after removal of the tegument to recognize the most antigenic parts by using patients sera. Counter immunoelectrophoresis was carried out by using sera from patients with fascioliasis [positive control], patients with schistosomiasis and healthy individuals [control group]. In addition, antibody response against the three types of antigens was detected as ELISA absorbance readings. The results revealed that antigens of F. Gigantica that cause antibody formation in hosts are those generated and released mainly from the tegument and they were the most sensitive and specific

rapid technique for diagnosis of intestinal parasitic infection

This study was carried out on stool specimens of 150 cases attending the outpatient clinics of the Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University. All patients were suffering from gastro-intestinal disturbance specially diarrhoea. Each specimen was examined for intestinal parasites by direct saline and iodine smears and was stained by using: quantitative buffy coat [QBC] tube technique, modified trichrome and modified Ziehl Neelsen stains. This work aimed to evaluate the quantitative buffy coat tube method in diagnosis of parasitic infection in such cases, comparing it with the other staining reference techniques used simultaneously. Out of 150 diarrhaeic patients 67 were positive for protozoa. These protozoa identified in the examined specimens were Giardia lamblia, Cryptosporidium parvum, Cyclospora, Microsporidia and Blastocystis hominis. The results showed high sensitivity and specificity [100%] of the QBC tube method over the other staining techniques