Echinococcosis granulosus/hydatidosis an endemic zoonotic disease in Egypt

The hydatidosis patients were collected from Mansoura University's Hospitals and Dakahlia Public Health Hospitals. The patients were divided into three groups: GI: 74 patients with surgically confirmed cystic echinococcosis [CE], GII: 45 patients with other parasitic infections, GIII: 30 healthy parasite-free individuals. All were subjected to questionnaire and full clinical examination, imaging investigation, routine laboratory examination, and serum samples for antibody against CE by the specific ELISA. The hydatidosis was higher in females but without statistically significant difference [p=0.309]. There was no age predilection difference regarding hydatidosis infection. However, the hydatidosis granulosus was significantly higher in the shepherd followed by the farmers. All the questionnaires were positively correlated to hydatidosis infection except the availability of clean domestic water and personal knowledge about hydatidosis gave negative correlations. The ELISA-OD correlated positively with the imaging investigation [mainly U S stage]. The sensitivity of ELISA was 86.7% and specificity was 81.4%. The results were evaluated regarding the local and regional data on echinococcosis/hydatidosis

Protozoal pollution of surface water sources in Dakahlia Governorate, Egypt

Water samples were collected different water sources and different districts of Dakahlia G., from September 2005 to August 2006, were investigated for pathogenic protozoa. Water specimens were examined by concentration technique followed by modified Ziehl-Neelsen [MZN] and Truant auramine-rhoda-mine [AR] stains for Giardia sp. cysts, Cryptosporidium sp. oocysts, and other protozoa species. In the 1[st] survey, 94/480 [19.6%] water samples had protozoa. Prevalence rates were in summer 38/120 [31.6%], autumn 27/ 120 [22.5%], spring 20/ 120 [16.6%] and lastly winter 9/120 [7.5%]. Protozoa were less common in treated potable water tanks 15/120 [12.5%], followed by River Nile [Demiatta branch] 22/120 [18.3%] and sub-branch Bahr-El-Saghear 24/120 [20%]. The highest prevalence was in water of the main local draining 33/120 [27.5%]. In the 2[nd] survey, 840 potable water samples from seven districts were examined. Prevalence in descending order was C. parvum [3.1%], G. intestinalis [2.1%], E. histolytica [1%], Blastocystis homi-nis [1%], lodamoeba sp, [0.5%], Isospora belli [0.47%], E. coli [0.36%], Cyclospora cayetanensis [0.24%], and Chilo-mastix mesnilli [0.12%]. Data suggested that C. parvum and G. intestinalis were the commonest disease-agent. The implementation of preventive measures to protect water system from protozoa contamination was given

preliminary pilot survey [culex pipiens], Sharkia governorate, Egypt

Sixteen different ecological areas in Sharkia Governorate were surveyed for adult Culex pipiens. The prevalence was investigated among 160 houses of 2800 individuals and their surrounding outdoors. The collected adults were 41488 from October 2003 to November 2004. The collection rates were higher in the rural areas than urban ones. Mosquitoes were common all the year round except January, February and March, with peaks in summer and autumn than in spring and winter. Larvae in descending order were Cx. pipiens the predominant larva followed by Ae. caspius, Culiseta sp. and then Cx. pusillus. Cx. pipiens was described as the most common larva