Molluscicidal activity of the methanol extract of callistemon viminalis [sol. ex gaertner] g.don ex london fruits, bark and leaves against biomphalaria alexandrina snails

Methanol extracts of Callistemon viminalis [Sol. Ex Gaertner] G.Don Ex Loudon fruits, bark and leaves were tested for molluscicidal activity. Snails were collected and kept in dechlorinated water under standard condition. Ten adults Biomphalaria alexandrina, of the same size, were introduced in plastic acquaria for each experiment. The fruits, barks and leaves were extracted with methanol and the methanol extracts were kept for testing as molluscicides. Different extracts proved to have molluscicidal activity against the vector of schistosomiasis, B. alexandrina snails. LC50 values for C. viminalis fruits, bark and leaves were 6.2, 32 and 40 ppm respectively. The C. viminalis fruits extract showed the highest effect against the tested snails. Histopathological studies proved that the site of action of all tested extracts was localized in the digestive system and hermaphrodite gland

Changing pattern of fascioliasis prevalence early in the 3[rd] millennium in Dakahlia governorate, Egypt: an update

Fascioliasis is an important food- and water-borne parasitic zoonosis caused by liver flukes of genus Fasciola [Digenea: Fasciolidae] of worldwide distribution. In Egypt, fascioliasis was encountered in nearly all Egyptian Governorates, particularly in the Nile Delta and specifically in Dakahlia. All enrolled cases were subjected to complete history taking, clinical examination, routine investigations and abdominal ultrasonography. Stool analysis, IHA and ELISA were used for fascioliasis diagnosis. Rural areas showed highest prevalence of fascioliasis than urban areas, however, but without significance [x[2]= 0.042 and P= 0.837]. Regarding human fascioliasis in examined the centers, no statistically significant difference [x[2] =2.824 and P=0.243] was detected. Regarding gender variation, the difference was statistically insignificant [x[2]= 0.166 and P= 0.683]. The difference between the age groups was statistically insignificant [x[2]= 3.882 and P=0.274]. Clinically, 7 cases [35%] were asymptomatic and another 13 cases [65%] had different clinical pictures. Abdominal pain, anemia, eosinophilia, and tender hepatomegaly were seen in 70%, 80%, 70%, and 10%; respectively. Of them, 11 cases showed positive abdominal ultrasonographic findings suggestive of fascioliasis

Evaluation of ELISA and IHAT in serological diagnosis of proven cases of human hydatidosis

Cystic hydatid disease [Hydatidosis] is the most serious tape-worm infection prevalent in the cattle and sheep raising area of the world. Hydatidosis in man [as an accidental host] is caused by infection with the ova containing larval stage of Echinococcus granulosus. In the last decade, different techniques have been employed for sero-diagnosis of hydatidosis; as IHA, IFA, ELISA, CCLE [Counter Current Immuno-electrophoresis]. This paper evaluated the validity of ELISA and IHA. Since whole hydatid cyst fluid was used as a source of antigen for serodiagnosis. Thirty surgical and pathological hydatidosis proven patients were examined. The sensitivity and specificity of ELISA were 96.7% and 97.5% respectively, and that of IRA were 86.7%, and 95% respectively

Protein substitution to produce a processed cheese with high branched-chain amino acids of medical and genetic importance

The most important metabolic impairment in patients with advanced liver disease is characterized by low levels of circulating branched chain amino acids [BCAAs]. The etiology of such abnormal amino acid metabolism is multifactorial including protein restricted diet or inadequate nutritional intake as in protein energy malnutrition. Multiple studies report the beneficial effects of BCAAs supplementation to improve plasma amino acids imbalance, several neurologic diseases, protein energy malnutrition, and subsequently the survival rate of cirrhotic patients. In the present study we used a protein substitution technique to synthesize a new processed cheese as a dairy source rich in BCAAs, with low phenylalanine content manufactured from Ras cheese, kariesh cheese, butter oil and phenylalanine-free milk. Chemical composition, amino acids analysis, rheological properties and sensory evaluation were done to all of the cheese samples. L-Phenylalanine was selected to induce hepatic and brain affections in Begg Albino strain c [BALB/c] mice model. Effect of 2.5%, 5% and 10% protein-replacement cheese formulas was evaluated among mice groups including histopathological sections of the liver and brain; colorimetric determination for liver enzymes; serum total and differential cholesterol profile, serum albumin, globulin and total protein along with phenylalanine levels determinations. Analysis of the processed cheese sample with 10% protein substitution revealed that the protein content was 7.42 mg/g [about 50% of the content in the standard processed cheese] while fat content, acidity and moisture were nearly the same. The sensory score for all the formulas ranged from 79-88. Highest content of BCAAs along with least phenylalanine content was attained in the processed cheese with 10% protein substitution. Weight of mice fed on different substitution formulas ranged from 22.8 +/- 2.2-24.66 +/- 2.5 g compared with 17.8 +/- 1.9 g in the untreated diseased mice [P< 0.05]. Serum phenylalanine was 1.822 +/- 0.42 mg/dl in the mice fed on 10% protein substitution formula compared to 6.2 +/- 1.32 mg/dl in the untreated mice [P < 0.01]. There was a highly significant difference [P <0.01] between untreated mice and mice fed on 10% substitution cheese formula as regards the serum protein, Aspartate Transaminase [AST] and Alanine Transaminase [ALT]. The improvement in histopathological findings was more apparent in the mice fed on 10% formula cheese. The manufactured processed cheese with 10% protein substitution was proved to have a more nutritional therapeutic potential that can help in the implementation of dietary management in many medical and genetic disorders with liver and brain affections

Seroprevalence of human toxocariasis [visceral larva migrans]

A total of 455 patients who fulfilled the inclusion criteria were included in the study. The enrolled patients were subjected to a questionnaire [including sociodemographic and other risk factors] and thorough clinical examination was done for the patients. Sera were collected from patients and tested for anti-Toxocara IgG antibodies using ELISA. The overall and- Toxocara sero-positive was [7.7%]. It was significantly higher than among the randomly selected 30 healthy controls. There were no significant differences between the seropositive and seronegative patients regarding age, sex, educational level and monthly family income of the patient. However, rural residence, poor house, pet's ownership and frequent contact with soil were found to be significant. Patients who had confirmed bronchial asthma were more than 2 times at higher risk of developing toxocariasis [OR, 2.33; 95% CL 1.09-4.98] than those with other clinical diagnosis [PUO, hepato-megaly or heptosplenomegaly, lympha-denopathy, neurological disorders, gastrointestinal troubles and dermatitis]. Patients with eosinophilia were at 149 times greater risk of being Toxocara seropositive compared to those without eosinophilia [OR, 148.7; 95% CI: 53.5-413.3]. Multivariate regression analysis showed eosinophilia and contact with soil were the most important predictors of toxocariasis. OD of anti-Toxocara antibodies [ELISA] was significantly positive with eosinophilia level

Potential protective role of vitamins C and E administration on renal and retinal toxicity induced by organophosphorus compound chloropyrifos

The potential protective role of combined administration of vitamins C and E was sought to ameliorate the toxicity of chloropyrifos [organophosphorus compound]. Biochemical and histological effects were studied on blood, kidney and retina of rats. 40 Wistar strain rats were divided into 4 groups. Group I was the control group which received an equivalent volume of saline i.m and i.p daily for 7 days; group 11 was the model of toxicity which was induced by an oral administration of a single dose of 63mg/kg chloropyrifos dissolved in corn oil; group III was the model of toxicity treated daily for 7 days a single I.M. injection of vitamin C and I.P injection vitamin E and group IV was the positive control which received the vitamins without any toxicity induction, blood samples were taken at the 7[th] day of experiment, then erythrocytes reduced glutathione [GSH], serum malondialdehyde [MDA] and soluble FAS ligand [sFASL] concentrations were tested. The animals were then sacrificed and specimens of kidneys and retinas were collected and processed for paraffin sections and semithin sections to be examined by light microscope. The biochemical parameters showed significant improvement after vitamin C and E administration also the histological pictures of kidneys and retinas were improved as compared to the toxicity model rats. Combined administration of vitamins C and E can reduce oxidation, apoptosis and histopathological changes of kidney and retina induced by organophosphorus compound chloropyrifos toxicity

potential effect of liposome encapsulated tetracycline topical application for the management of experimental dry eye model in albino rabbits

The aim of this work is to study the effect of liposome-bound tetracycline eye drops on a rabbit's dry eye model. Twenty four healthy adult male New Zealand albino rabbits were equally divided into control groups and dry eye induced groups. Dryness was induced in 24 eyes of 12 rabbits by instilling atropine sulphate eye drops 1% t.d.s for one week, then animals were subdivided into four groups; group 1 [rabbits with dry eye model, groups 2,3 and 4 [rabbits with dry eye model treated three times daily [t.d.s.] for 7 days starting on 7 [th] day of dryness induction with either tetracycline, liposome, oreombined tetracycline and liposome [topically] respectively]. Schirmer test and tear break up time [TBUT] were assessed on days 0,2,4,7,9,11 and 14. Animals were sacrificed at the 14[th] day and histopathological examination of the corneas and conjunctivae was done. TBUT and Schirmer test values were significantly improved in groups 2,3,4 as compared to group 1. The histopathological examination showed protection of corneas and conjunctivae in groups 2,3 and 4 against the dryness effect that continued to affect the cornea and conjunctival epithelium in group 1. There was a significant improvement in animals treated with liposome bound tetracycline eye drops [group 4] as compared to tetracycline alone [group 2] and liposome alone [group 3]. In conclusion, the use of liposome bound tetracycline was found beneficial to improve the dry eye induced inflammatory reaction

Soil-parasites particularly toxocara eggs in Egypt

Soil-transmitted helminths [STHs] remain a major threat to the human health throughout the world, mostly in developing nations. Soil is usually contaminated by different parasitic stages through promiscuous defecation of man particularly children. This is more liable to occur in fields, public gardens and sides of streets or canals. Also, feces of domestic and wild animals and birds play a role in soil contamination. This study was conducted at Mansoura city and Batra village and El-Minia city and Zohra village representing the urban and rural areas of Dakahlia Governorate, Lower Egypt and Minia Governorate, Upper Egypt respectively. The most common helminthic stage presents in the soil of the two Governorates was Toxocara eggs. No ova was detected in-door yards in the urban areas, but only in the sides of streets, crop fields and fruit gardens, around houses and canal banks of both Governorates, and the highest intensity was 13-19 eggs/10 gm soil at canal banks at Zohra village, El-Minia Governorate, Upper Egypt

kinetics of microfilaraemia and antigenaemia status among asymptomatic Bancroftian filariasis before and after treatment

In this study, a total of 54 male patients with asymptomatic cases of lymphatic filariasis were selected from the known endemic governorates; Damietta, Sharkia, Gharbia and Dakahlia. Medical sheets were filled out for each case. Diagnosis was based on detection of circulating microfilariae by specific ELISA. Some were treated with Ivermectin, and Albendazole. The treated cases were parasitologic and serologic evaluated pre-treatment and post-treatment for two years follow-up

Past and present situation of human fascioliasis in Dakahlia governorate, Egypt

Zoonotic fascioliasis is a problem not only in Dakahlia Governorate, but also in other Egyptian Governorates. This work was conducted in ten centers at Dakahlia Governorate, Egypt. Three thousand cases were randomly selected annually from each center representing five rural and five urban areas. Cases were examined for Fasciola infection by stool examination using, direct smear, formol ether sedimentation and Kato-Katz technique. Infection was higher in rural areas than urban areas. Female /male ratio was 1.5: 1. Children between five and ten years old represent the highest infected group. The prevalence of infection was more among illiterate compared to educated individuals examined. Remarkable reduction in the prevalence rate was recorded in the last year of study compared to previous years, which is a good index of excellent control measures conducted by the Egyptian governorate to overcome parasitic infections

Genito-urinary function after lateral node dissection with concomitant pelvic autonomic nerve preservation [PANP] for rectal cancer

Lateral node dissection for advanced rectal cancer, in which perirectal tissues are widely removed and superior as well as lateral nodes are dissected has contributed to improve the local failure and survival. Nevertheless urinary and sexual dysfunction frequently occur after lateral node dissection because of the damage of the intrapelvic nerves. A total of 31 male patients underwent lateral node dissection, 15 patients were eligible for the technique while 16 patients did not receive [PANP]. All the patients responded to standardized questionnaire regarding the current and preoperative urinary sexual function as well as follow-up examination six months after surgery. Regarding the bladder function, 10 patients out of 15 [67%] who were offered [PANP] maintained good urinary control p<0.04, compared to 5 patients out of 16 [19%] in the group that was not submitted to [PANP]. Regarding the sexual function, 9 patients out of 15 [60%] with [PANP] maintained satisfactory erection p<0.04, compared to 4 patients out of 16 [25%] who were not submitted to PANP]. Ejaculation was achieved in 2 patients out of 15 [13%] with [PANP], compared to 0% in the group without [PANP]. Lateral node dissection with either partial or complete [PANP] combines the curative benefit of enhanced perirectal tissue excision with a minium of voiding and sexual dysfunction in the majority of advanced rectal cancer patients

indirect immunological effect of concurrent human schistosomiasis and fascioliasis on helicobacter pylori pathogenesis

The impact of Schistosoma mansoni and Fasciola parasitic infections on H. pylori induced pathogenesis was studied in 20 patients exclusively having H. pylori infection alone. The patients were compared to 20 patients having schistosomiasis mansoni co-infected with H. pylori and to another 20 patients having fascioliasis co-infected with H. pylori. 15 patients exclusively having schistosomiasis mansoni alone and 15 patients exclusively having fascioliasis alone were also included in the study. All patients were subjected to thorough medical examination, parasitological, endoscopic and histopathological studies. The results showed that severe gastritis was significantly more common in the patients exclusively infected with H. pylori alone. Chronic atrophic gastritis and intestinal metaplasia or precancerous lesions were present in patients with exclusively H. pylori infection. We may conclude that the concomitant of parasitic diseases with H. pylori infection probably reduce the gastroduodenal pathogenesis through indirect immune response

Phylogenetic evidence for recombination in SAG5 locus in Toxoplasma gondii

The present study evaluated the hypothesis that genetic diversity in SAG5 genes was generated by recombination events. Three lines of evidence suggested that recombination occurred in SAG5 genes in T. gondii. The permutation test revealed strong signature of intragenic recombination, pairwise comparisons of nucleotide sequences of SAG5 genes revealed that SAG5A alleles have chimerical structures composed of segments derived through recombination events between different alleles, and phylogenetic trees reconstructed based on SAG5 sequences using neighbor-joining and maximum parsimony methods, showed statistically well-supported consensus clusters of T. gondii strains specific to each SAG5 gene. Topological discrepancies between trees based on the N-terminal variable domain and C-terminal conserved domain sequences, were observed, suggesting intragenic recombinetion between SAG5A and SAG5B/C genes. The results showed that recombination within SAG5 in T. gondii was a major evolutionary mechanism generating both allelic variation at SAGS locus and contributing to genotypic diversity and to emergence of new T. gondii variants, allowing them to evade the host immune defence mechanism

Mirazid alone or combined with paromomycin in treating Cryptosporidiosis parvum in immunocompetent hospitalized patients

Sixty cryptosporidiosis patients from Mansoura University Hospitals, 36 males and 24 females, with age from few months to ten years [mean age 6.1] were divided into three cross-matched groups of 20 patients each. All patients received the glutamine-based oral rehydration solution with 111 mmol/1 glutamine, 20 mg zinc acetate once a day and vitamin A supplementation [200,000 IU] once a day for 2 weeks. For cryptosporidiosis treatment, Gl received Mirazid [10mg /kg for 2 weeks], G2 received Paromomycin [500 mg qid for 2 weeks], and G3 received a combination of Mirazid [10mg/kg] and Paromomycin [500 mg] for two weeks. The result was assessed according to the scales: 0= no improvement, 1= symptoms began improvement [reduction of diarrhea frequency and stool volume, less abdominal pain, less nausea and vomiting], 2= diarrhea eradication, 3= weight gain, 4= oocyst counts reduction, 5= reduction in diarrhea and oocyst counts, 6= eradication of diarrhea and oocysts. G3 showed significantly higher difference than Gl and G2 in the 1[st] week [p=.036, 0.025 respectively], no significant difference in 2[nd] week, a significantly higher difference than in Gl [0.003], and G2 [0.006] in 3[rd] week, and a significantly higher difference than Gl [0.014], and G2 [0.01] in 4[th] week, but without significant differences in oocyst shedding in the 3 groups

Kinetics of eosinophilia and IGE production in experimental murine toxocariasis

Eosinophilia and immunoglobulin E [IgE] antibody are considered the first and important elements in host responses to helminth infection. Toxocara canis, which elicits prominent eosinophilia and IgE production in normal mice, may be useful in understanding the Kinetics of circulating peripheral blood eosinophils and IgE antibody during infection. The onset, magnitude and duration of peripheral blood eosinophilia and total IgE production after primary T. canis infection in female outbred albino mice was investigated. Mice were either sham inoculated [controls] or were orally infected with 1000 embryonated eggs of T. canis. Patterns in leucocytic changes include significant increase in total WBC count between weeks 6 and 13 post infection [PI] with a peak on week 8 PI. Mice showed eosinophilia between weeks 2 to 17 PI with a peak on week 7. The development of eosinophilia in T. canis-infected mice was accompanied by the release of prominent level of serum IgE between weeks 2 to 21 with a peak at week 6 PI. These findings showed that eosinophilia in T. canis infected outbred mice can be T-cell dependent

Zoonotic hydatidosis in donkeys: post mortum examination in the Zoo, Giza, Egypt

A total of 17 out of 160 donkeys slaughtered had hepatic hydatidosis as proved macroscopically and microscopically. The epidemiology of zoonotic echinococcosis/hydatidosis was reviewed and discussed

Biochemical parameters in chronic fascioliasis

Serum lipids, liver enzymes and total bile acids were measured in chronic Fasciola [cholestatic and non-cholestatic] patients. Variations in the biochemical parameters between infected and control groups were detected and typified by considerably higher serum triglycerides [TG, P < 0.001], alkaline phosphatase [ALP, P < 0.001] and total bile acids [TBA, P < 0.001] in the infected group. For cholestatic patients, TG, very low density lipoprotein [VLDL], aspartate aminotransferase [AST], alanine aminotransferase [ALT], gammaglutamyl transferase [GGT] and ALP were statistically higher [P < 0.001 for each comparison] and total cholesterol [TC]; low density lipoprotein[LDL] and high density lipoprotein [HDL], were statistically lower than non-cholestatic patients [P = 0.02, < 0.001, < 0.001 respectively]. No statistically significant differences were found for the TC, HDL, VLDL, ALT, AST and GGT between non-cholestatic patients and healthy controls

Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage: presentation and neuroradiological detection

To study the presentation and the results of the different radiological tools; computed tomography [CT] brain scan, magnetic resonance imaging [MRI], magnetic resonance angiography [MRA] and cerebral angiography [CA] in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage [SAH] resulting from ruptured cerebral aneurysms. Consecutive patients with CT proved diagnosis of SAH were subjected to thorough history taking, general, neurological examination and laboratory investigation. After exclusion and deaths, 13 patients underwent MRA and CA beside CT and MRI. CA detected 11 aneurysms in 11 patients, arterio-venous malformation in one patient and in one patient there was no apparent cause. Among our 11 patients with aneurysmal SAH, females and age group of 31-50 years predominated. Smoking was present in 45.5%, hypertension in 27.3% and history of recurrent headache in 63.6%. With the onset of SAH, headache with neck stiffness was the most common presentation [63.6%]. Disturbed consciousness was found in 45.5%, seizures in 18.2% and focal signs in 9.1%. 36.4% of the patients had grade II and 27.3% had grade III in Hunt and Hess scale. Radiological assessment revealed that 7 patients had pure SAH, 3 patients had intracerebral hemorrhage [ICH] and one patient had intraventricular hemorrhage [IVH] in association with SAH. 63.6% of the aneurysms in our patients were small and no giant aneurysms were found. The most common site of aneurysms was middle cerebral artery [MCA] accounted for 36.4%. Anterior cerebral artery [ACA] and anterior communicating artery [ACoA] accounted for 18.2% each. Internal carotid artery [ICA] and posterior communicating artery [PCoA] accounted for 27.3%. In comparison to the CA, as the golden standard method, MRA detected 10 aneurysms out of 11, and missed one small aneurysm, with a sensitivity of 90.9% in detection of aneurysms. Ruptured intracranial aneurysms accounted for about 85% of causes of SAH. History of recurrent headache, smoking, hypertension and female gender may be predictors of aneurysmal rupture in the 4[th] and 5[th] decades. 36.4% of SAH may be associated with ICH or IVH. Headache is the most common presentation of rupture aneurysm while less than half of the patients presented with altered consciousness. About tow thirds of aneurysms are small sized. Intracranial aneurysms located in the anterior cerebral circulation mostly in MCA. MRA is a rapid, non invasive technique and can be used to detect intracranial aneurysms with high sensitivity of 90.9%, with excellent correlation with the gold standard, invasive, CA

Ectoparasites of commensal rodents in Talkha center, Dakahlia governorate, Egypt

The ecto-parasites infesting commensally rodents were collected from the different localities in Talkha Center [Dakahlia Governorate] from April 2006 to March 2007. The seasonal abundance of rodent number and rat index was 52 [0.58] in spring, 27 [0.3] in summer, 39 [0.22] in autumn and 17 [0.05] in winter. From 135 rodent species and rat index was Rattus norvegicus N=33 [0.24], R. r. frugivorous N=39 [0.29], R. r. alexandrinus N=48 [0.36] and Mus musculus N=15 [0.11]. From 388 ecto-parasite infested rodent collected number and ecto index was fleas N= 114 [0.84 flea/rat], Lice N=93 [0.69 lice/rat], Mites N= 165 [1.2 mite/rat] and larva of ticks N=16 [0.12 tick/rat]. No doubt, rodents and their ectoparasites played a serious role in spreading and transmission of zoonotic diseases to human and animal

Mirazid in treatment of human Hymenolepiasis

The efficacy and safety of Mirazid in treatment of human hymenolepiosis were carried out in a rural village in Talkha Center [Dakahlia G.]. Kato thick smear stool examination showed 51 cases of Hymenolepis nana [9 of them had concomitant parasitosis], two cases of H. diminuta. Mirazid was given in a dose of 10 mg/kg/d for nine consecutive days an hour before breakfast for hymenolepiosis cases, as capsule for adults and suppository for children. All cases were subjected to history taking before treatment and six weeks post-treatment and stool examination was repeated as well weekly for six weeks post-treatment. There was overt clinical improvement. Side effects were negligible. Parasitologic cure rate was 40/41 or 95.2% for H. nana one week post-treatment, and 100% for H. diminuta one week post-treatment, up to six weeks follow-up for all treated patients. Two unresponded H. nana patients were cured by another Mirazid course