Histopathological changes in liver of mice after experimental envenomation with androctonus amoreuxi scorpion venom

A total of 78 adult male Albino mice were divided into thirteen groups [6 mice in each]. One served as a control group and the other twelve groups were venom treated groups. The mice of treated groups were injected with 0.1 ml saline solution in which a particular amount of scorpion venom. The first 6 groups were subcutaneously injected with 1/2 LD50 [0.05 microg/g body weight], while the other 6 groups were injected with 1/4 LD 50 [0.025 microg/g body weight] by the same route. The animals from each group were anesthetized with ethyl ether and sacrificed at different time intervals [3, 6, 9, 12 hrs, 4 and 7days post toxin administration]. The microscopic examination of liver tissue obtained from envenomed animals showed variable histopathological changes being severely increased with the time interval of envenoming. The most obvious changes in the liver were acute cellular swelling, hydropic degeneration, congestion of central veins and portal blood vessels. Besides, extramedullary hematopoiesis and invaginations in nuclei of hepatic cells, with formation of intranuclear cytoplasmic inclusions were observed

Corvus R. ruficollis [desert or brown necked raven]: a reservoir host for zoonotic parasites in Egypt

Egypt includes many desert and rural areas. The small uptown fertile areas are placed under illegal enormous pressure of existing resources, where intensive agricultural practices are performed, in combination with high population densities. The brown necked ravens [Corvus ruficollis] are attracted in huge numbers to such areas. The birds are omnivorous, very aggressive pest and seriously affect human welfare. The study focused on zoonotic role of ravens

Efficacy of ixodes ricinus as a vector of zoonotic babesiosis in Sinai peninsula, Egypt

Ticks and blood samples were collected every month from March 2009 through April 2010 from different sites in Sinai to detect babesial parasites using PCR assay based on nuclear small subunit rRNA gene. Ticks were found to contain babesial DNA. Sequence determination and analysis of amplified portions of nss-rDNA revealed their identity with B. bovis and a high degree of homology with B. bigemina and B. divergens. The results represent the first genetic evidence of different species of Babesia and identified the role of Ixodes ricinus as a vector of zoonotic B. microti infection. Rodent isolate [HK] and American isolate [GI] were studied in transmission experiments. The present study used in vitro culture of zoonotic Babesia sp. EU1 from blood samples of rodent in Sinai. This study provides an evidence of transovarian and transstadial transmissions of the parasite within I. ricinus, which emphasizes that this tick could be a vector and reservoir of EU1

Mixed-ligand complexes of palladium [II] involving tricine, girard's T and amino acids

Complex formation equilibria of [Pd[GT][H[2]O[2]][2+] and [Pd[Tn] [H[2]O[2]][+] [GT = girard's T reagent, Tn = tricine] with amino acids have been investigated. Stoichiometries and stability constants of the complexes were determined at 25 [degree sign] C and 0.1 M NaNO[3] ionic strength. The participation of different ligand functional groups in the complex formation was examined. The concentration distribution of the complexes in solution was evaluated as a function of pH

Identification of Egyptian Fasciola species by PCR and restriction endonucleases digestion of the nuclear small subunit ribosomal RNA gene

Fascioliasis is one of the familiar zoonotic health problems of worldwide distribution including Egypt. In this study, a simple and rapid polymerase chain reaction/restriction fragment length polymorphisms [PCR/RFLPs] assay, using the common restriction endonucleases Aval, EcoRI, Eael, Sac11 and Avail was applied to differentiate between both Fasciola gigantica and F. hepatica. The five restriction endonucleases were used to differentiate between the two species of Fasciola based on -1950 bp long sequence of the 18S nuclear small subunit ribosomal RNA gene. Aval and EcoRI restriction endonucleases failed to differentiate between the two Fasciola species when each restriction enzyme gave the same restriction patterns in both of them. However, F. gigantica and F. hepatica were well-differentiated when their small subunit ribosomal DNA were digested with Eael and Sac 11 restriction endonucleases

Studies on zoonotic cryptosporidiosis parvum in Ismailia Governorate, Egypt

A total of 390 stool samples from children less than 8 years old attending the MOHP central hospital in Ismailia District were examined for cryptosporidiosis. Stools were subjected to direct wet smear method and Sheather's sugar flotation and stained with Modified Z.N. Among the 390 children 204 were diarrheic of whom C. parvum was positive in 68 [33.3%]. The highest infection rate was 26/46 among children less than 2 months, 40/150 among children less than 2 years and 2/8 among children less than 7 years. Of these children the clinical pictures ranged from diarrhea [20.7%], to dehydration [20%], abdominal pain and mild fever [19.2%], and the lowest was tenesmus [6.25%]. The infection rate was 88.2% among cryptosporidiosis children compared to 11.8% that not in contact with animals. Water samples examined showed was 0.0% in bottled water up to 9.33% in water tank. C. parvum in farm animals was 20.9% in sheep, 22.5% in buffaloes, 23.7% in cows and 25.9% in goats

Elisa-seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in draught horses in greater Cairo, Egypt

Toxoplasma gondii is one of the important zoonotic parasites of worldwide. In this paper the seroprevalence of T. gondii in draught horses [3-15 years] including 90 males and 10 females in the first half of the year 2009 was studied. The result showed that the overall ELISA-T. gondii antibodies were 25% of the horses in Greater Cairo, 50% [females] and 22.2% [males]

Laboratory studies on the effect of magnetic technologies on some biological parameters of biomphalaria Alexandrina in Egypt

The effect of magnetic water on some biological parameters of B. Alexandrina was investigated. The growth rate, egg laying capacity, hatchability of deposited eggs, development of the newly hatched snails and the mortality rate of the treated snails [maintained in magnetic water for 12 weeks] were determined and compared with control ones maintained in normal water. The mean length of the diameter of treated snails after 12 weeks exposure to magnetic water [6.8 +/- 0.93] was slightly greater than the control group [6.4 +/- 0.8]. Also, a highly significant increase in number of eggs and egg-masses of treated snails [8.06 +/- 6.55 and 1.14 +/- 0.8, respectively] as compared with controls [2.5 +/- 1.2 and 0.33 +/- 0.14, respectively]. Hatchability rate of treated eggs in magnetic water for a period of 5 days was higher [63.4%] than the control group which recorded 28.2%. However, a highly significant reduction in the survival rate of newly hatched snails [22.5%] maintained in magnetic water for another 7 days after hatching as compared with the control [61.5%]. Also a highly significant reduction in the survival rate of adults in magnetic water for 12 weeks which recorded 40% in contrast with the control ones, recorded 88%, [P<0.001]. There was slight decrease in the calcium content of the shells of treated snails [25.44% of wt.] as compared to controls [29.58% of wt.]. The haermaphrodite gland acini of snails in magnetic water for 12 weeks were most frequently in final stages of oogensis and spermato-genesis. There were a significant increase in the mean number of 2ry oocytes and mature ova in acini of treated snails comparing with the control group [P<0.05]

Patients with gastrointestinal comlains due to enteric parasites, with reference to entamoeba hidtolytica/dispar as dected by Elisa E. histolytica adhesion in stool

A total of 210 patients with gastrointestinal troubles, of both sex and a mean age of 32 +/- 6.1 years, selected from the outpatient's clinics of Al-Azhar University Hospitals. 115 [54.76%] had dysentery, 95 [45.23%] did not have dysentery, 15 [14%] suffered flatulence, 20 [9.52%] had epi-gastric pain, 19 [9.05%] had vague abdominal pain, 5 vomiting [5.2%] and 10 [4.9%] had fever. Two symptoms were in 29 [13.81%] patients and three symptoms in 12 [5.7 1%]. Of the 210 patients, 20 [9.9%] had helminthes infection, 121 [57.6%] had intestinal protozoa and 69 [32.9%] had no parasitic infection. Of these parasite-free patients, 16 had Shigella sp. and nine had Campylobacter sp. Of the patients with intestinal protozoa, 34 [16.2%] had E. histolytica/ dispar by stool examination of stained smears. By using ELISA for detection of E. histolytica adhesion in stool samples of 115 with diarrhea only 18 had true E. histolytica infection and of 3 without diarrhea only one had E. histolytica infection. Mean-while, ELISA did not cross-reacted E. coli, Giardia lamblia, Cryptosporidium parvum, Endolimax nana or Blastocystis hominis. So, ELISA for detection of E. histoltica adhesion in stool samples was more specific than microscopy and safe direction to the E. histolytica treatment. Apart from intestinal protozoan and bacteria, helminthes were seen in stool analysis. These were Schistosoma mansoni [0.95%], Capillaria sp. [0.95%], Enterobius vermicularis [1.90%] macroscopically, Hymenolepis nana [4.3%] and Ascaris lumbricoides [1.43%]

Studies on rodents role as reservoir hosts of leishmaniasis with specical referance to their ectoparasites in Suez governorate

The distribution of rodents was studied in three different habitats. Seven rodent species were identified: Rattus norvegicus, R. alexandrinus, R. frugivorous, Mus musculus, Acoins russatus, Meriones sacramenti and Gerbillus pyramidum. The species distribution varied with the habitat type. The highest density of rodents was in July and August and the lowest one was in January. However, some species were collected all the year round. The rodents were investigated for the endo- and ecto-parasites. No Leishmania parasites were found. The ectoparasites were: Xenopsylla vita cheopis, Leptopsylla segnis and Ctenocephalides felis, Polyplax spinulos, Hyalomma dromedarii [nymph] and Echinolaelaps echidninus and Hemolaelaps glassgowi. Ecto-parasites were on rodents all year-round in domestic habitat and peridomestic habitats. In wild one, ecto-parasites activity was from March to December. The rodents' role as reservoir for L. najor was experimentally studied. Rodents inoculated with L. major together with hamster and BALB-c mice developed cutaneous lesions. The active lesions, the rodents' ecological habitats and the presence of insect-vector may pave the way to an epidemic zoonotic leishmaniasis role

Ecology, Biology and susceptibility of phlebotomus papatasi to leishmania experimental infection in Suez Governorate

Zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis [ZCL] is endemic in Sinai Peninsula. The sand fly and reservoirs were investigated in Suez G., since new settlements and land reclamation programs are ongoing. The results showed that Phlebotomus papatasi reached its highest density in September. The successfully colonized P. papatasi facilitated its biology and competence study. An autogenous trait was proven within P. papatasi population indicating its ability to survive and breed during adverse conditions. The vector competence was carried out under laboratory condition through feeding on lesion of a L. major experimentally infected hamster and by membrane feeding technique. Both hamsters and BALB-c mice inoculated with L. major developed ZCL lesions

Effect of commiphora molmol on Bithynia connollyi with special reference to their morphology and medical importance

Morphological studies on B. connollyi dealt with the shell description, concerning colour, number of whorls, measurements, the correlation coefficient between shell shape and thickness, weight, length and width. Electrophoretic studies were carried out on snail's foot. Examination of B. connollyi showed a lot of gymnocephalus cercariae of liver fluke, Opisthorchis sp. Commiphora mobmol [Myrrh] has molluscicidal effect on B. connoblyi at concentration [80 ppm] after 72 hr exposure. The mortality rate increased with the increasing the exposure time [death 100% at 72 hr. with 80 ppm and death 100% at 96 hr. with 40 ppm]. Based on safety to man, animals and environment, C. molmol is highly recommended as a cheap herbal molluscicide

Influence of certain fertilizers on the activity of some molluscicide against Biomphalaria Alexandrina and lymnaea natalensis snails

Effect of the fertilizers [ammonium nitrate, potassium sul- phate and urea] on molluscicides [copper sulphate, niclosamide and mollutox] against B. alexand-rina and L. natalensis was investigated. The molluscicides were more potant than fertilizers. Snails were exposed for 24 hr to a fertilizers using LC0 [1/10 and LC50] than, to molluscicides. Per- exposure to potassium sulphate caused a synergistic action with copper sulphate, niclosamide and mollutox on L. natalen-sis. Pre-exposure to urea caused an additive effect with niclo-samide and mollutox against L. natalensis and B. alexandrina res- pectively. Pre-exposure to ammonium nitrate caused an additive action to niclosamide on L. natalensis. Snails exposed for 24hr to one molluscicide, then exposed to fertilizers, showed that pre-exposure to niclosamide or mollutox caused an additive effect with ammonium nitrate and potassium sulphate. Pre-expo-sure to mollutox caused an additive effect with urea on the two snails' sp. Juvenile or adult B. alexandrina were ex-posed to LC0 of molluscicde-fertilizer mixture, showed that urea when mixed with each molluscicides showed greatly reduced on the growth rate percent, survival rate and snail fecundity mollus-cicides and fertilizers mixed at ratios of LC [40:10,30:20, 25:25, 20:30 and 10:40], the toxicity of the mixtures cau-sed antagonistic effect on adult B. alexandrina, but a mixture of niclosamide-ammonium nitrate caused a potent effect [syner-gism or additive] except at ratio 20:30 which showed an antago-nism on L. natalensis. Mixtures of copper sulphatepotassium sulphate [10:40], niclosamide-potassium sulphate [20:30], moll-utox-ammonium nitrate [25:25] revealed an additive effect on L. natalensis.

Doxazosin versus finasteride for the treatment of large symptomatizing benign prostatic hyperplasia: a questionnaire and urodynamic-based study

Objectives: To evaluate and compare the efficacy of both Finasteride and Doxazosin in the treatment of moderately symptomatizing large-sized benign prostatic hyperplasia [BPH] and to correlate symptomatic changes with alterations in the urodynamic values using the Schafer nomogram and the obstruction coefficient [OCO] values

Patients and Methods: Fifty male patients with moderately symptomatizing BPH [prostate size > 40 grams] as assessed by ultrasound were randomized to receive either Finasteride [5 mg/day] or Doxazosin [1-4 mg/ day] for 12 months

Results: Both Finasteride and Doxazosin significantly improved the urinary flow rates. Pressure-flow studies confirmed that both Doxazosin and Finasteride were effective in decreasing the opening detrusor pressure, the detrusor pressure at maximum flow [PdetQmax] and the detrusor pressure at least flow [Pdet least]. The OCO values were found to have improved in both treatment groups. There was, however, a significant difference between the groups with respect to the OCO values denoting a greater improvement of the degree of obstruction in patients treated with Finasteride

Conclusion: The use of a compatible numerical format for grading the degree of bladder outlet obstruction would maximize the usefulness of pressure-flow studies in the evaluation of obstructed patients. Using the OCO value revealed that Finasteride was superior to Doxazosin regarding the degree of improvement in obstruction caused by benign prostatic hyperplasia

Brain imaging and urodynamic correlation in patients with cerebrovascular stroke

Objective: To identify urodynamic abnormalities in patients with cerebrovascular accidents and correlate both with CT or MRI findings

Patients and Methods: From September 2001 to March 2003, a total of 44 males and 16 females were prospectively examined urodynamically in different phases after cerebrovascular accidents, and as early as two days after stroke

Results: In most cases, the urodynamic findings could be correlated with CT or MRI findings. The most determining factor was the site of the lesion followed by the size. Small lesions were frequently silent unless located in critical sites. It was found that frontal, frontoparietal, parietal, basal ganglia and internal capsular ischemic lesions were associated in most cases with detrusor hyperreflexia, whereas thalamic, pontine and cerebellar infarcts were linked to detrusor hyporeflexia. Multiple lesions within the same group produced the same effect, while mixed lesions produced variable effects. There was no effect of laterality or dominance and an initial shock phase could not be identified. Detrusor-sphincter-dyssynergia [DSD] and hence upper tract deterioration were not observed. The effect of stroke was also modified by already present or predominant conditions such as BPH

Conclusion: Correlating urodynamic and CT findings is very difficult in stroke patients because of the diffuse nature of the lesions, the unknown function of many brain centers in micturition control, the innumerable connections between the different brain regions and the extremely complicated influences that the brain regions exert upon each other and upon the bladder. The optimal understanding of the problem is dependent upon the better understanding of the function of each part of the brain. Further studies in this direction are recommended

Cellular response to Schistosoma mansoni infection in Biomphalaria alexandria strains selected for susceptibility and resistance

Exposure of juvenile and adult Biomphalaria alexandrina to Schistosoma mansoni miracidia resulted, typically, in three susceptibility patterns: a]non-infected snails b] normal infections, and c] retarded infections. Under laboratory conditions, a vigorous resistant-type cellular response to invading miracidia was seen in the histological sections of non-susceptible snails. Accordingly, they were classified as resistant snails. Data pertaining to the influence of host size on suceptibility to S. mansoni indicates that adult snails [i.e.10-20 mm shell diameter] were significantly less likely to harbour sporocysts than juvenile ones [i.e. 5-10 mm shell diameter]. Cellular reaction to the infection varied with sporocysts location and length of infection. At 2 days post exposure [DPE], most sporocysts were viable. Approximately 8-12% of the sporocysts had elongated shaped transverse constriction and were categorized "normal", while those showing no elongation were categorized "retarded". All remaining sporocysts at 4 DPE were categorized "dead" while at 30 DPE most sporocysts were "amorphous" with eosinophilic masses. Although encapsulation of sporocysts never occurred in susceptible snails, haemocyte aggregations could sometimes be observed in the proximity of well developed sporocysts. In resistant snails, this cellular response continued to increase and resulted in the encapsulation of the sporocysts. In susceptible snails, the nucleus of secretory cells of the albumen cytoplasm were different in susceptible and resistant snails

Diagnosis of hepatitis C virus infection using different methods

Hepatitis C virus [HCV] is now recognized as one of the major health problems allover the world. More than 50 percent of individuals exposed to HCV develop chronic infection. Approximately 20 percent to 30 percent will develop liver cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma. HCV is generally transmitted by the parentral route. Methods to identify HCV include a highly sensitive second generation immunoassay that detects antibodies to structural and non-structural proteins in serum. Viremia is detected by polymerase chain reaction [PCR] technology. This study was done on 200 subjects who were divided into four groups, and 30 apparent healthy persons [blood donors] as a control group. Sera were subjected to detection of antibodies to HCV using enzyme linked immunosorbant assay [ELISA] test and the detection of viral RNA by PCR. HCV antibodies were present in 82 [35.36 percent] out of 230 tested subjects. Sera from these subjects [230] were subjected to detection of HCV- RNA, we found HCV - RNA in 22 [14.9 percent] out of 148 hCV antibody - negative subjects and in 72 [87.8 percent] out of 82 HCV antibody - positive subjects

Evaluation of different techniques used for diagnosis of chlamydia pneumoniae infection

Chlamydia pneumoniae is a common respiratory tract pathogen. Serological methods currently used for the diagnosis of C. pneumoniae infection lack specificity, give ambiguous results from a single serum sample and often provide only a retrospective diagnosis. Many studies were undertaken to assess whether polymerase chain reaction [PCR] could be a useful addition to the serological techniques routinely practiced for diagnosis. This study investigated 100 patients with a diagnosis of acute respiratory tract infection. Nasopharyngeal swab [NPS] obtained from these 100 patients were evaluated by PCR- enzyme immunoassay [PCR - EIA] for the presence of C pneumoniae DNA and by direct immunofluorescence [DIF] and staining by Giemsa stain for detection of its antigens. Serological determination of IgG antibodies against C. pneumoniae were performed by means of an enzyme linked immunosorbant assay [rELISA]. Seventeen patients [17 percent] were positive by both PCR and rELISA, while 5 patients [5 percent] were positive by rELISA and negative by PCR. By using DIP test, 13 patients [13 percent] were positive. There were 8 patients [8 percent] positive by Giemsa staining. Better definition of the serological criteria and improved performance of the PCR technique, are necessary to confirm the etiological role of C. pneumoniae in acute and chronic respiratory infections

Susceptibility of three successive snail generations from positive and negative laboratory bred biomphalaria Alexandrina from different localities in Egypt to infection with schistosoma mansoni from Giza

Susceptibility of snail vectors to schistosome infection varies between geographical areas, population in the same area and among individuals in the same population. It is also affected by biological factors of which are snail size [age], number and age of miracidia exposed to water, temperature, illumination and darkness. The previous studies indicated that snails 4 - 6 mm in diameter exposed to 5 freshly hatched miracidia under light and in water at 25C are optimum conditions for infection of Biomphalaria alexandrina from various localities in Egypt with Schistosoma mansoni [TBRI strain maintained in hamsters]. In the present study, groups of 16 snails from 3 successive generations from positive and negative laboratory bred B. Alexandrina from Giza, Alexandria, Monoufia, Cairo and Menia were exposed to S. mansoni miracidia [TBRI strain] from Giza under the abovementioned optimum conditions. From the 20th day of infection snails were checked from cercariae shedding to estimate the prepatent period and their number from each snail light for one hour. B. alexandrina from the various localities in Egypt were susceptible to S. mansoni [TBRI strain] infection. Snails from Alexandria were the most susceptible, followed by those from Cairo, Giza, Monoufia and Menia. Snails from positive generations were more susceptible to infection than those from negative ones. However, there has been a decline in the susceptibility of snails from one generation to the next

Complexation of some antibiotics with lanthanum [III]

The interaction of La [III] with some selected antibiotics e.g. ampicillin, cephalexin, cephradine, oxytetracycline and tetracycline were studied by potentiometric or pH titrations. The stability constants of different binary complexes formed in such system have been determined at 25 +/- 0.1 and an ionic strength [M] of 0.1 mol. 1-1 by using the computer program Miniquad. The results showed the formation of 1: 1 complexes together with the corresponding hydrolyzed species. The solid complexes were separated and their composition and structure were confirmed by elemental analysis, IR spectrometry and conductometric measurements. The results showed that the beta-lactam antibiotics act as bidentate ligands, coordinated to the La [III] through the amino and the carbonyl-groups of side chain