Performance of IgG avidity in an area endemic for schistosomiasis in Egypt

We assessed the performance of IgG avidity in the diagnosis of acute, chronic and recent [reinfection] on top of chronic schistosomal infections in patients treated with praziquantel. Immunoglobulin levels were studied in 111 patients with Schistosoma mansoni infection and 28 partially cured patients [not responding to the first dose of praziquantel treatment and almost cured after a second one]. Before treatment all patients with schistosomiasis had elevated IgG levels, 75% of them also had increased IgM levels. Avidity index was high among all age groups. The increased IgM/IgG ratio and avidity index among children with schistosomiasis before treatment support the idea of reinfection. Treatment had no significant effect on the studied parameters. We conclude that unlike IgM and IgG antibody levels, IgG avidity test cannot be used to distinguish between recent and chronic infections

Hepatic fibrosis due to fascioliasis and/or schistosomiasis in Abis 1 village, Egypt

An epidemiological study of fascioliasis and/or schistosomiasis was conducted in Abis 1 village. Stool specimens were collected from 2492 individuals and examined. Fascioliasis, alone or combined with schistosomiasis, was more prevalent among children aged between 5 years and 15 years than in adults. Serum procollagen III peptide [PIIIP] levels were determined as an indicator of active fibrosis, and liver histopathology and ultrasonography used as indicators of established fibrosis. PIIIP levels were significantly higher in children than in adults, and in mixed infections than in fascioliasis alone. In adults, fibrosis around granulomata detected by histopathology and grade 3 periportal fibrosis detected by sonography were encountered more frequently in dual than in single infections

Specific IgG avidity in acute and chronic human fascioliasis

The detection of IgG avidity in sera is potentially useful in the diagnosis of acute and chronic infection. We studied IgG avidity in 31 patients with fascioliasis, with the aim of evaluating the clinical application of this test to confirm the diagnosis of incubating cases and to distinguish between acute and chronic cases. Of the 31 cases, 13 were incubating and had a mean avidity index of 57.28 +/- 5.79%. The 18 chronic cases had an avidity index of 68.80 +/- 8.92%. The difference was highly significant. We conclude that IgG avidity is a reliable means of identifying the stage of fascioliasis and suggest a cut-off point of 59.90% to distinguish between acute and chronic infection

Epidemiological study of heterophyiasis among humans in an area of Egypt

We aimed to determine the prevalence and intensity of infection of heterophyiasis among inhabitants of El-Meaddeya, Egypt. A cross-sectional stool examination survey was performed on 430 randomly chosen households, comprising 2219 individuals. The overall prevalence of parasitic infection was 84.7%. Ascariosis was the most common [67.6%], followed by trichuriosis [49.7%] and heterophyiasis [33.8%]. The prevalence and intensity of infection of heterophyiasis were most common in people 15-45 years, and greater in females than males. The highest intensity of infection was detected among fishermen. Intrafamilial aggregation of cases of heterophyiasis was identified

effect of ambrosia maritima [damissa] on the viability of lymnaea cailliaudi; an experimental study

The present work aimed at studying the effect of Ambrosia maritima [Damsissa] on the viability of Lymnaea snails. Lymnaea snails used in these trials were acclimatized to laboratory conditions before use in the toxicity test. The snails were exposed to various concentrations [100-3000 mg/l] of dry powdered Damsissa. Ambrosia maritima was lethal to Lymnaea snails at concentration of 3000 mg/l after one day and at 100 mg/l after 14 days

Effect of bithionol on b-glucuronidase in serum and rabbits infected with fasciola gigantica

B-glucuronidase was the subject of histochemical and biochemical studies. The enzyme activity in the liver homogenate ran in parallel to that of the serum. It was found that bithionol therapy showed an increase in B-glucuronidase activity of both normal and Fasciola gigantica infected rabbits. The increase was more pronounced in the latter. On the other hand, F. gigantica per se, revealed a more or less normal B-glucuronidase activity on 10th week post infection

Rabbit fascioliasis under bithionol treatment

The role of bithionol treatment in Fasciola gigantica infection was studied in 30 male rabbits divided into four groups: A control group, bithionol treated group, a Fasciola gigantica infected group and a fasciola-infected-bithionol-treated group. The parameters studied were stool analysis, egg count, worm burden in the liver, complete blood picture, serum levels of bilirubin, proteins alkaline phosphatase, GOT, GPT, thymol turbidity, zinc sulfate turbidity and plasma fibrinogen, histopathological and histochemical studies for total proteins, nucleic acid mucopolysaccharides were also done in the liver tissue. It could be concluded that, bithionol has a potent fasciolicidal activity in rabbits. Bithionol, when administered to normal rabbits, caused mild impairment of hepatic performance as evidenced by significant increases in serum alkaline phosphatase; GOT and GPT anemia was also noted. Fasciola infestation produced some maleffects on the hepatic efficiency evidenced by increased serum enzymes and diminished plasma fibrinogen. When the drug was administered to this group these maleffects were corrected. It seems that the presence of the worm consumes some of the drug and thus protects the liver against the maleffects of the drug on the normal liver

Alpha esterase enzyme in liver of rabbits infected with fasciola gigantica and treated with bithionol

Alpha esterase in the liver was the subject of histochemical and biochemical studies. The biochemical study confirmed the histochemical study. It was found that bithionol therapy was accompanied by a marked increase in alpha esterase activity in normal liver rabbits receiving bithionol. A slight decrease in enzyme activity was encountered in Fasciola gigantica-infected control group 10 weeks post infection. In F. gigantica, bithionol treated group, a slight increase in alpha esterase activity was observed. It seems possible that bithionol administration in this group has overcome the decrease in enzyme activity caused by Fasciola worms. This could be considered as an indication that bithionol has an active therapeutic effect