Assessment of the antischistosomal activity of ginger [zingiber officinale] against schistosoma mansoni harbored in C57BL/6 mice

This study was conducted to assess the effect of ginger [Zingiber officinale] aqueous extract, on the oxidative status, antioxidant defense system and liver pathology of Schistosoma mansoni -infected C57BL/6 mice. Ginger at dose level of 500 mg/kg body weight was orally administered, daily for five weeks from the 5[th] week post-infection. Result showed that S. mansoni-infected mice exhibited a suppression of liver antioxidant capacity, and depleted reduced glutathione content [GSH], superoxide dismutase [SOD], and catalase [CAT] activities. In addition, the hepatic lipid peroxidation was deleteriously elevated in S. mansoni-infected mice. The hepatic total protein [TP], alanine aminotransferase [ALT] and aspartate aminotransferase [AST] activities were profoundly decreased due to their release from necrotic liver cells into blood of S. mansoni-infected mice. Concomitantly, histopathologiacl and histochemical data indicated severe hepatic cell necrosis and multigranulomas with different sizes and collagenous fiber contents indicated in both acute and chronic infection. Hepatic sinusoidal dilation, cytoplasmic degeneration, total protein pattern depletion as well as intravascular and perivascular inflammatory infiltration were also observed. The treatment of S. mansoni-infected mice with ginger extract succeeded to suppress oxidative stress by enhancing antioxidant defense system and decreasing lipid peroxidation. In addition ginger treatment markedly minimized the structural abnormalities where the size of granulomas and collagenous fiber were significantly reduced. The histochemical profile of TP level was partially restored. It could be concluded that oxidative damage and pathologic changes of liver may be improved partially by ginger treatment via suppression of the oxidative stress and enhancement of antioxidant defense system

Effects of schistosoma mansoni experimental infection on some inorganic elements in the snail host biomphalaria alexandrina

The alteration in the concentrations of metallic ion Pb, Zn, K, Na, Co. Fe, and Cu in the soft parts of the Biomphalaria alexandrina snails shedding Schistosoma mansoni cercariae was detected by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. Six elements Pb, Zn, K, Na, Co, and Cu were found to be present at significantly higher concentrations in cercariae-shedding snails compared with uninfected snails. The concentration of Fe ion showed non-significant decrease in the tissues of cercariae-shedding snails. Variation in the present results compared with related previous studies lead to the suggestion that the effect of trematode parasitism on fresh-water snails should not be considered universal and might be varies according to the trematode-snail combination, the organs or the tissues analyzed and the analytical method used

Isoenzyme electrophetic characterization of leishmania major, the causative agent of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis in north and west Saudi Arabia

Several expeditions were carried out to four localities [Al-Madinah Almonawarah, Tabouk region, Al-Jouf and Northern Frontiers regions] in Northern and Western Saudi Arabia for sampling zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis [ZCL] cases from patients and rodents. Biopsy samples were collected from 51 patients complaining of skin lesions, most of which [40 or 78.4%] proved to be ZCL. Amastigotes were detected in 33 patients [64.7%], but only 30 [58.9%] gave successful growth of promastigotes in the culture media. The positive cases were Saudis 14 [35%] and non-Saudis 26 [65%].Five species of rodents were caught, Meriories libycus, Psammomys obesus, Rattus rattus, Jaculus jaculus and Hystrix indica. The first species was the most dominant [90%] in which Leishmania parasites were detected. The Leishmania isolates from man and rodents were identified by isoenzyme electrophoresis and proved to be Zymodeme LON-4

Host - Parasite Relationships Between Schistosoma Mansoni and Echinostoma liei and their Intermediate Host Biomphalaria Alexandrina using RAPD - PCR Analysis

The aim of this study was to use RAPD-PCR assay offering an alternative approach to host-parasite relationships. This was performed by investigating the genetic variation and compatibility among S. mansoni, E. liei and their intermediate host B. Alexandrina with a special emphasis on the variations occurring in snails infected with S. mansoni and/or E. Liei. Six primers were screened for DNA analysis and gave total patterns from 28-37 reproducible bands for each species. All specimens analyzed by the RAPD-PCR gave interpretable electrophoretic banding patterns that were polymorphic and compatible in the amplified products of these primers within each species

Diagnosis of Fasciola gigantica in snail using the polymerase chain reaction [PCR] assay

The 124-bp repetitive and highly abundant DNA sequence, used as a specific probe for the detection of Fasciola infection in snails, was tested in the detection of F. Gigantica infection in Lymnaea natalensis. The probe did not show any positive PCR results with Lymnaea natalensis, Physa acuta, Biomphalaria alexandrina and Bulinus trancatus or with Schistosoma mansoni, S. haematobium and Echinostoma liei. However, the probe was found capable to detect F. Gigantica infection within L. natalensis at very early stages of the prepatent period and at very low concentrations. Thus, the present assay was specific and sensitive for the detection of F. Gigantica within its intermediate host. It confirmed the idea that 124-bp repetitive and highly abundant DNA sequence in Fasciola sp. genome could be used as an epidemiological tool for the examination of fascioliasis intermediate host. The nucleic acid-based assay could eliminate both inherent uncertainties and lengthy periods of the time required for the visual examination of the snails. Also, the assay is valuable in the epizootiology of F. Gigantica, vector suitability and host- parasite relationship