Zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis: reservoir host and insect vector in north Sinai, Egypt

Cutaneous leishmaniasis [ZCL] is a protozoan disease well documented not only in Egypt, but in nearly all the East Mediterranean Countries. Sinai Peninsula was a sparsely populated area where sporadic cases of ZCL were reported with the reconstruction of Sinai and people coming in and out, it was indicated to study the status of ZCL in North Sinai Governorate, the reservoir host[s] and insect vector[s] in Sinai. In the present study, the six species of rodents were trapped from areas or nearby areas where human ZCL cases were detected. Rodents [50] were Mus musculus [10], Rattus r. alexandrinus [18], R. norvegicus [2], Gerbillus gerbillus [4], G. pyramidum [12] and Jaculus jaculus [4]. The rodents were examined clinically for any skin lesion or even nodule, particularly in head and tail. One G. pyramiduim had natural infection with L. major as indicated by smears and culture, but typing was not done. The spot light surveys for Phlebotomus were carried out by the sticky paper traps and the CDC light traps in four main centers; Al Hassanah, Nakhil, Al Arish, and Bir Al-Abd. A total of 1320 sandflies were identified. They were P. papatasi [1150] and P. sergenti [170] in a ratio of 7:1. A total of three isolates of zymodeme London 70 undistinguished from the formerly obtained human and rodent isolates were enzymatically identified in P. papatasi

Re-evaluation of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis status in North Sinai Governorate, Egypt

There are at least few endemic zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis [ZCL] in Sinai and Suez Canal governorates. A survey for new cases of human ZCL among outpatients with skin complaints revealed that 16 out of 100 examined were parasitologically positive for ZCL. But, no ZCL infection was found among 50 normal individuals. The typing of three human isolates proved to be Leishmania major Zymodeme London 70. Trapping and examination of the rodent reservoirs and sand-fly vector[s] were carried out

Seroepidemiological studies for toxoplasmosis among out-and-in patients in Benha University Hospitals, Qualyoubia Governorate

Toxoplasma antibodies were detected in sera of 700 cases, 500 were collected randomly from individuals attending the Outpatient Clinic of Banha University Hospitals of different ages and sexes and 200 from suspected inpatients from Obstetric, Ophthalmology, Internal Medicine and Surgery departments. The indirect fluorescent antibody technique was performed. The general positivity rate was 14.57%, 11.2% in the random group and 23% in suspected group [P <0.001]. Toxoplasma antibodies were more in females than in males in a random group, especially above 40 years, old but with no obvious difference in rural and urban areas. In the suspected group, Toxoplasma positivity was 24% in obstetric cases, 15% in hepatosplenomegalic cases, 17.5% in prolonged fever cases, 28.57% in ophthalmic cases and 40% in localized lymphadenopathy cases

Evaluation of lyophilized larval antigen in serodiagnosis of strongyloides stercoralis by ELISA in human

The sensitivity and specificity of ELISA in human strongyloidiasis have been evaluated using lyophilized larval antigen suspended in PBS [7.2]. The study included 78 patients proven to have Strongyloides stercoralis infection, 26 normal individuals and 42 patients with different parasitic infections. Sensitivity was 79.5% and specificity was 98.5%. No cross reaction between S. stercoralis antigen and Schistosoma mansoni, Fasciola hepatica, Entamoeba histolytica, ascaris lumbricoides, Oxyuris and Hymenolepis nana was detected. One of eight cases with Giardia lamblia infection showed cross reaction

Total leukocytic count, eosinophilia and cellular immune response in acute and chronic schistosomiasis

Among school children in a rural area the serological diagnosis [ELISA] was more accurate than the parasitological tests. The mean total leucocytic and eosinophilic counts and the blastogenic response to S. mansoni egg antigen were significantly higher in early than in chronic schistosomal cases. Blastogenic response to mitogens and S. mansoni adults preparation was insignificantly different

Correlation between intensity of infection and hepatic histopathological lesions in bilharzial patients

Liver biopsy examination of 106 patients showed 47 with pure bilharzial liver, 16 with chronic persistent hepatitis, 19 with chronic persistent hepatitis associated with bilharzial liver, 14 with chronic active hepatitis and 10 with chronic active bilharzial liver. There was significant correlation between intensity of infection and bilharzial affection of the liver

Combined effect of hepatic schistosomiasis and chronic hepatitis on the liver of bilharzial patients

Among 127 bilharzial patients [52 with bilharzial liver, 22 with chronic persistent hepatitis, 20 with chronic persistent hepatitis and bilharzial liver, 23 with chronic active hepatitis and 10 with chronic active and bilharzial liver] were studied. The combined effect of bilharziasis and chronic hepatitis participates in the derangement of liver histology in bilharzial patients

Immunoglobulins in bilharzial patients with and without chronic hepatitis

The mean values of IgG and IgA were significantly higher in bilharzial patients than in the non-bilharzial ones. The mean IgG level in patients with S. mansoni was significantly higher than that in patients with negative stool, while the reverse was true as regards IgA. Among the bilharzial patients the mean values of IgG, IgM and IgA were significantly higher in CAH and CAH. bilharziasis than in patients with pure bilharziasis, CPH and CPH with bilharziasis. It might be concluded that the altered immune response produced by schistosomiasis, the frequent exposure to the hepatitis B virus and the bilharzial hepatitis lesions, all may pave the way for development of severe diseases, e.g. chronic active hepatitis and liver cirrhosis

Dot-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay [Dot-Elisa] for the diagnosis of schistosomiasis

This study described a dot enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay [dot- ELISA] as a field applicable tool for the rapid diagnosis of schistosomiasis. This antibody capture assay is performed using 50 ng protein of crude Schistosoma mansoni egg antigen [SEA] in 1 ul/dot. Sera [1 ul/dot] at 1:40 dilution were optimal. Dot-ELISA results were completely comparable to micro-ELISA

HBSAg antigenaemia in bilharzial patients

The frequency of HBSAg in bilharzial patients [7%] was significantly higher than that in non-bilharzial ones [2-5%]. The presence of insulted liver by bilharzial, non-bilharzial [CPH and CAH] or both [CPH with bilharzia and CAH with bilharzia] lesions have no role in changing the incidence of HBSAg in sera of bilharzial patients