Validity of igG avidity enzyme linked immunosorbent assay and polymerase chain reaction for the determinatipn of toxoplasma infections during pregnancy

Accurate diagnosis of maternal toxoplasmosis can enhance the success of medical treatment and prevent congenital transmission. The current diagnostic methods have significant limits and they poorly differentiate between acute and chronic infections. The present study was conducted to diagnose acquired Toxoplasma infection in pregnant women by detecting both the low avidity-IgG using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA] and the specific DNA by polymerase chain reaction technique [PCR]. The study was performed on 104 pregnant women at different gestational ages. The serum sample from each case was primarily screened for IgG by ELISA, and then positive samples were examined for IgM and estimation of IgG avidity ELISA. The PCR technique was performed on blood samples from twenty selected cases, ten of whom were positive for both IgG and IgM antibodies and the other ten were positive for IgG only. Out of 104 pregnant females screened by IgG ELISA 48 cases were positive. Twenty seven of these cases were positive for IgG only and 21 had both IgG and IgM antibodies. Of the 27 IgG positive cases 24 showed high IgG avidity while the remaining three showed inconclusive avidity. Of the 21 cases positive for both IgG and IgM antibodies 16 patients showed low avidity while five cases only showed high avidity. PCR was done for ten cases positive for both IgG and IgM antibodies and ten positive for IgG only. It proved positive in only four often cases who were positive for both IgG and IgM and had low IgG avidity. This study highlights the value of IgG avidity ELISA as a single serum sample test indicating the presence of infection and differentiating between acute and chronic infections. It is recommended as a routine test for every pregnant woman. A positive PCR can act as an excellent indicator of recent infection, but its disadvantage lies in the fact that negative results cannot exclude acute infection. In addition it is an expensive technique. Thus IgG avidity ELISA can be considered as a more appropriate technique

Aminosidine sulphate in experimental giardiasis

In this study, a locally acting drug aminosidine-sulfate [gabbroral] was used in the treatment of experimental giardiasis in a rat model under different conditions of gastric acidity which is one of the main local factors affecting the pathogenicity of the organism. The best results were obtained in the group with hyperacidity which was induced by indomethacin [indocid] with significant improvement in the pathological picture and parasitic count. While, in experimental animals with normal acidity, there was only partial eradication of the parasite. However, in the group with hypoacidity induced by cimetidine [cimetex], the drug showed no beneficial effects since most of organisms invaded the deeper layers of the intestine, escaping the local action of the drug

Some observations on the experimental infection of white mice with toxocara canis

Female white mice were grouped as follows. 42 pregnant, 20 nonpregnant, and 8 monitor nonpregnant females kept with the corresponding males. The three groups were infected with 500 or 1000 infective Toxocara canis ova, either with a single does or two repeated doses with one week interval. Pregnancy occurred in the monitor animals receiving doses of 500. Repeated doses resulted in 100% stillbirth. While with single doses nearly 17% completed the pregnancy to full term and 60% of their off springs showed larvae in the brains. Pregnancy also had an effect on the larval count in the brain which showed a significant decrease

Pathological changes in the liver tissue of the lazard fish caused by larvae thynnascaris [F. Anisakidae]

Histopathological changes in the liver of the lizard fish [F. Synodontidae] due to infection with the nematode larvae, Thynnascaris depend on the intensity of infection. In mild infection [less than two larvae per liver]; no apparent changes were detected, since the larvae were mainly on the external surface of the liver. In moderate infection [less than five larvae per liver] changes became apparent as shown by swelling in the hepatocytes. In heavy infections [five larvae or more] some of the larvae penetrated deeply into the liver tissue leading to its necrosis and destruction of bile ducts and blood vessels