Serum IgG antibody response to pneumocystis carinii among immunosuppressed, malnourished and healthy rats

In this work, humoral immune responses to Pneumocystis carinii were studied using IFAT during the period of infection and recovery of immunosuppressed and malnourished rats compared to healthy group. Serum IgG antibody titers to the organism were absents in rats administered corticosteroids, but arose after steroid tapering, with disappearance of the organism from their lungs due to reactivation of the immune system. While, in malnourished infected rats, clearance of the organism had occurred after regaining the protein diet with progressive increase in IgG level denoting their immunocompetent state. IgG antibody appeared in the serum of control healthy rats with the progress of age at low non diagnostic level, indicating the presence of dormant parasites in their lungs

possibility of congenital infection with a acanthamoeba culbertsoni

Acanthamoeba culbertsoni is one of the free-living amoebae, which are known to be pathogenic to man, causing granulomatous amoebic encephalitis [GAE]. In this study, Acanthamoeba culbertsoni was isolated from a water sample of El-Mahmoudia Canal in Alexandria, in July 1993. This was used to infect mice intranasally to study the histopathological picture of the brain and lungs. The neuropathological features included chronic granulomatous encephalitis, in which cysts and trophozoites were found. Associated Acanthamoeba pneumonitis with massive consolidation was also observed. Congenital infection of offsprings was reported for the first time in this study

Isolation and identification of free living amoebae from some water sources in Alexandria

Samples from different water sources of Alexandria, and from nasal passages of 500 healthy children inhabiting areas nearby these sources were examined for the presence of free-living amoebae. These samples were cultured on 1.5% non nutrient agar streaked with bacteria. Amoebae were isolated and identified by means of their morphological characters and ability to produce flagellated forms. Characteristics of the cystic stages and pattern of excystation also aided in the identification of the various species. Nine species, Naegleria gruberi, N. fowleri, Acanthamoeba rhysodes, A. glebae, A. culbertsoni, A. astronysis, A. palestinensis, V. avara and V. inornata were isolated from the water of canals and drains. N. gruberi and A. rhysodes were found in the nasal passages of six healthy children living near the contaminated canals. No amoebae were encountered in the drinking water, swimming pools, sea and lake water included in this study