detection of doth fasciolu gigantica circulating antigen and coproantigdn by monoctonal-based sandwich ELISA in diagnosis of human fascioliasis

Human fascioliasis is another important health challenge in Egypt. lip till now and due to many factors. its diagnosis is a problematic issue. In many eases, a considerable damage of the hepatic tissue often occurs before a proper diagnosis could he done. This in turn necessitates finding a reliable. easily applicable and locally affordable diagnostic test to overcome the diagnostic difficulties that handicap prevention and control efforts. The detection of E/S antigens in stool specimens [coproantigens] and in sera of infected humans using a MAb-based sandwich ELISA system. Stool and serum samples were collected from 35 fascioliasis patients having clinical and parasitological evidences of infection, 20 patients harboring other parasites [Schistosoma mansoni and haematobium Wuchereria bancuofti and hydatid cysts] and 25 healthy subjects. A pair of monoelonal antibodies [MAbs: 9F/10B and 5F/6H], raised against both FascioIa gigantica excretory-Secretor [E/S] products and crude antigens respectively, were employed in sandwich ELISA. The lower detection limit of E/S coproantigen assay corresponded to 15 ng/ml, while that of E/S antigen assay in serum corresponded to 50ng/ml. The anti-F gigantica MAb-based sandwich ELISA for antigen detection in collected sera showed 77% sensitivity and 100% specificity with 87% diagnostic accuracy. Coproantigen detection in stool samples showed 94% sensitivity and 100% specificity with 97% diagnostic accuracy. A positive correlation was detected between antigen level in stool samples and its level in corresponding serum samples. This study showed that the use of anti-F gigantica MAb-based sandwich ELISA was more ssensitive for antigen detection in stool samples of fascioliasms patients. Than its detection in their corresponding serum samples, providing a simple, reliable, non-invasive diagnostic method for active human infection

Health risk behaviors among undergraduate college students: an assessment study

Health attitudes and behaviors develop in childhood and progress through adolescence into adulthood. The aim of this study was to assess the different health risk behaviors among undergraduate college students. The study was implemented at 7th of April University, Faculties of medical science in both zawya and Surman city in Libyan Arab Jamahiriya. From the above mentioned setting 750 students were selected by means of a convenience sampling method. The data was collected by using the Youth risk behavior questionnaire that had been validated previously for use among University students included dichotomous questions to monitor different health risk behaviors. The results of this study demonstrate the high prevalence of risk behaviors among the undergraduate college students. Tobacco use was reported by [19.3%] of students, alcohol and drug use [15%], unsafe driving [58.9%], violence [41.4%], sexual practices [20.8%], dietary behahaviors and physical activity [74.8%]. Males, younger age and those had family size more than five were significantly more likely to participate in most of different health risk behaviors. Significant correlation was found between the different investigated risky behaviors, where violence related behavior shows a highly significant positive correlation with all risk behaviors. Also, positive correlation was found between sexual practices and alcohol, drug use, violence, dietary behavior and physical activity. The study provide valuable information to policy - makers, educators, health providers and community workers for planning programmes, develop priorities and adapting interventions to promote health of adolescents and youth in Libya. Much more work must be done through a national comprehensive health programme to raise the knowledge about risk factors and unhealthy behavior among youth and educating parents about how to prevent them

dynamics of serum and hepatic schistosomal antigens in two different strains of mice

This work was designed to study the dynamics of circulating schistosome antigens [CSA] both in serum and hepatic tissues to evaluate their role in the pathological changes in murine schistosomiasis mansoni in two strains of mice with different genetic make up [C57BL/6 and BALB/c] during the course of schistosomal infection. The detection of serum CSA was performed using sandwich ELISA. Immunolocalization of schistosomal antigens in hepatic tissue was studied using indirect immunofluorescent staining. In both techniques, an IgM anti-Schistosoma mansoni soluble egg antigen [SEA] monoclonal antibody [MAb] used. Immunolocalization as well as detection of CSA were studied weekly starting from the first week up to twelve weeks post-infection [p.i.]. The serum circulating antigen was detected as early as the first week p.i.; whereas, its detection in hepatic tissue was observed at a later stage [fourth week p.i.]. Serum circulating antigen levels reached their peaks at the 5th and 6th weeks p.i. in BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice, respectively, and then declined. The deposited schistosomal antigen in hepatic tissues reached their peaks at 7th- 8th week p.i. in both strains, but declined more rapidly in C57BL/6 mice than in BALB/c mice. The data denoted that the dynamics of circulating antigen both in the serum and the hepatic tissues varies according to the genetic background of the mice