Evaluation of two commercial assays for immuno-diagnosis of schistosomiasis

This study aimed to evaluate two commerically available assays for diagnosis of schistosmiasis. One is the Schistofast [ABC Diagnostics] based on antigen detection in serum by dot enzyme linked immunosorbent assay and the second Fumouze Schistos-omiasis for detecting antibodies in serum by Indirect Haemaglutination assay [IHA]. The study selected 246 clinically evaluated individuals after thorough examination of urine, stool and rectal snip samples. They were calssified as 184 patients; with primary current infection [84] patients, with late complicated disease and current infection [82], with late complicated disease without current infection [18] and 42 asymptonatic individuals with old treated infection. 20 Schistosome free children without history of contact with, contaminated water. The antibody assay showed [91.6 - 99%] sensitivity among patients with current infection compared with [90-93%] by the antigen assay. As regards patients with previous infection [22 - 85.7%] sensitivity was recorded by the antibody assay compared with [00 - 05%] by the antigen assay. Specificity of both assays were 100% among children lacking contaminated water contact. The antigen assay was easier and more rapid to use but the clarity was much better in the antibody assay. The study recommends the antigen assay for the diagnostic purposes and as a test of cure. The antibody assay is recommended for the epidemiologic purposes

Water as a source of cryptosporidial infection among patients with diarrhea in El-Ekhewa village-El Sharkiya governorate

Water samples were collected from five sources related to five residential areas where human populations use them in their daily life and for drinking in El-Ekhewa village. The first and the second were slow running surface water, the third was underground water at shallow depth [5.6 +/- 18 meters], the fourth was chlorinated piped water and the fifth was underground water at depth> [21 +/- 1] meters. The samples were filtered, diluted then concentrated. The thick walled oocysts of Cryptosporidium were identified and counted after specific monoclonal immunofluorescent staining. The density of water contamination by thick walled oocysts per litre was high in surface water of the first [465] and the second [398] sources: Both are frequently in contact with domestic and wild animals. Lesser degrees, although still infective were encountered in underground water at shallow depth [132] and in the piped chlorinated water [85]. Meanwhile, no oocysts were detected in the underground water at depth>20 meters. These findings may indicate that the oocyts are chlorine resistant and the main method for their elimination is effective filteration. Stool from 120 patients with diarrhea and 100 without diarrhea [1-20 ys] from these 5 areas were examined by acid fast trichrome stain of saline Hemo De concentrate to detect intestinal parasites including coccidia and microsporida Bacterial pathogens were sought by standard bacteriologic techniques. Only those with Cryptosporidium as single pathogen were considered. 10.4% of the symptomatic were shedding oocysts in their stools.The correlation between the density of water contamination and the prevalence of cryptosporidiosis among individuals of each area was so significant that it can be concluded that the disease in the present community is water borne. Most of symptomatic cases were encountered at mean age [10.6/-4.2] while the asymptomatic cases were mostly detected at mean age [15 7 +/- 4.4] indicating age related tolerance towards this organism

role of a single sample detection of specific antitoxoplasma IGM in accurate evaluation of seroconversion during acquired toxoplasmosis

Specific IgM anti-Toxoplasma antibodies were sought in 94 serum samples by means of D.S. IgM ELISA. These antibodies were detected in all cases of acute toxoplasmic lymphadenopathy, but up to 13 months from onset of symptoms and in one out of 20 patients with chronic toxoplasmosis and in one out of 20 seronegative individuals. They were neither detected in samples from 4 infants with high IgG IFAT titres associated with hydrocephalus and cerebral calcification, nor in samples from patients containing rheumatoid factors and those with lymphoma or infectious mononucleosis. Thus the detection of IgM antibodies seems non decisive mean for identifying infected infants and for determination of the exact date of acquiring the infection