Protozoa causing food poisoning

Food poisoning also called foodborne illness, or illness caused by eating contaminated food is a term used to cover an unpleasant range of illnesses. Food poisoning symptoms vary with the source of contamination. Most types of food poisoning cause one or more of the following signs and symptoms: nausea, vomiting, watery diarrhea, abdominal pain and cramps and fever Signs and symptoms may start within hours after eating the contaminated food, or they may begin days or even weeks later. Sickness caused by food poisoning generally lasts from a few hours to several days

Egyptian eosinophilic and infectious meningoencephalitis and their impact on psychological aspects

Meningoencephalitis is an acute inflammation of the brain and spinal cord and their covering protective membranes. Meningitis can be life-threatening because of the inflammation's proximity to the brain and spinal cord; therefore, the condition is classified as a medical emergency

The commonest symptoms of meningitis are headache and neck stiffness associated with fever, confusion or altered consciousness, vomiting, and an inability to tolerate light [photophobia] or loud noises [phonophobia]. Children often exhibit only nonspecific symptoms, such as irritability and drowsiness. If a rash is present, it may indicate a particular cause of meningitis; for instance, meningitis caused by meningococcal bacteria may be accompanied by a characteristic rash

A broad variety of allergic, infectious, neoplastic, and idiopathic diseases are associated with increased blood and/or tissue eosinophilia and range in severity from self-limited conditions to life-threatening disorders. Although accepted upper limits of normal blood eosinophil numbers vary somewhat, a value above 600 eosinophils /microL of blood is abnormal in the vast majority of cases. Generally speaking, there are several possible causes of eosinophils in the CSF; undoubtedly parasitic infection is one of the main causes

Arthropod-Borne Onchocerciasis: is it deserved to be neglected?

Onchocerciasis a filarial parasitic nematode, also known as river blindness and Robles disease, is a neglected tropical disease infecting more than 18 million people mainly in subSaharan of Africa, the Middle East, South and Central America and many other countries. Disease infectivity initiates from Onchocerca volvulus [Filarioidea: Onchocercidae] transmitted by the blackfly, Simulium sp. which introduces the infective stage larva with its saliva into the skin. Within human body, adult females [macrofilaria] produce thousands of larvae [microfilariae] which migrate in skin and eye. Infection results in severe visual impairment or blindness for about 2 million, as being the world's second-leading cause of blindness after trachoma, as well as skin onchocercomata

Zoonoses from pets horses, donkeys and mules: with special references to Egypt

A zoonosis is an animal disease that is transmissible to humans. Humans are usually an accidental host that acquires disease through close contact with an infected animal, who may or may not be symptomatic. Children are at highest risk for infection because they are more likely to have close contact with pets. Pets are responsible for transmission of an extensive array of bacterial, fungal, and parasitic zoonotic pathogens. The route of transmission can be through the saliva [e.g., bites or contaminated scratches], feces, respiratory secretions, direct contact, or by the animal acting as a vehicle and source of tick or flea exposure. Although pets have been implicated in transmission of zoonoses to their owners, risk of transmission from contact with pets is low and may be further reduced by simple precautions

Zoonoses from cats: with special reference to Egypt

A zoonosis is an animal disease that is transmissible to humans. Humans are usually an accidental host that acquires disease through close contact with an infected animal, who may or may not be symptomatic. Children are at highest risk for infection because they are more likely to have close contact with pets. Cats are responsible for transmission of an extensive array of bacterial, fungal, and parasitic zoonotic pathogens. The route of transmission can be through the saliva [e.g., bites or contaminated scratches], feces, respiratory secretions, direct contact, or by the cat acting as a vehicle and source of tick or flea exposure. Although cats have been implicated in transmission of zoonosis to their owners, risk of transmission from contact with cats is low and may be further reduced by simple precautions. There is a need for education on zoonotic disease prevention practices for pet-owning households with individuals at higher risk of infection, and to educate future veterinarians during their early years in veterinary school about the risks associated with their future jobs. Also, zoonotic disease awareness training is a valuable service to animal shelter workers

Zoonotic brucellosis: an underestimated or misdiagnosed disease in Egypt

Over six months, 329 suggestive consecutive brucellosis human cases were diagnosed in attending the out-patients clinics of Al Azhar and Ain Shams Universities Hospitals and Giza Governorate Farmers. They were 100 females and 229 males with ages ranged between 15-65 years old. A total of 213 [64.75%] were working in dairy farm and/or consumed raw milk, 16 [14.85%] used home slaughtering of sheep, and 100 [30.4%] were working in Giza Government slaughter-house. Clinically and by ELISA-IgM 259 out of 329 the subjects were proven brucellosis patients [77.8%]. Besides, other patients had toxoplasmosis, or Schistosomiasis mansoni or fascioliasis. Double infection was encountered with toxoplasmosis and either schistosomiasis or fascioliasis. The causes of endemic liver parasitosis that may give false-clinical diagnosis were excluded. Signs and symptoms of brucellosis patients were fever [91.5%], chills [84.1%], Myalgia [69.5%], headache [58.2%], fatigue [77.2%], anorexia [54.1%], tachycardia [38.6%], hepato-and/or splenomegaly [46.2%], lymphadenopaqthy [19.6%] lower back abdominal pain [8.8%] and/or constitutive symptoms [13.1%]

Clonorchis sinensis a new report in Egyptian employees returning back from Saudi Arabia

Clonorchis sinensis, or Chinese liver fluke, is a parasite of the fish-eating mammals endemic in the East Asia, Far East, particularly in China, Japan, Taiwan, Vietnam, and Korea and among immigrant refugees to European Union and Eastern Mediterranean Countries. This paper reported infection among Egyptian family who practice consumption of imported fishes from the Far East. Diagnosed was based on detection of its characteristic eggs, positive specific ELISA, radiological and family behavior and feeding habit history. Patients were successfully treated

Aedes aegypti re-emerging in Egypt: a review and what should be done?

Mosquitoes are main vectors of varieties of pathogenic agents affecting man and animals. There-emergencein Aswan and approach of Aedesaegypti, the vector of the Dengue hemorrhagic fever, Yellow fever and Chikungunya fever, which are encountered in Africa, needs to alert for this public health threat. The presence of Dengue and dengue hemorrhagic fever in Saudi Arabia is another issue

Threat of dengue fever and dengue haemorrhagic fever to Egypt from travelers

Dengue [DF] and dengue hemorrhagic fevers [DHF] are present in urban and suburban areas in the Americas, South-East Asia, the Eastern Mediterranean and the Western Pacific, but dengue fever is present mainly in the rural areas of Africa. Several factors have combined to produce epidemiological conditions in developing countries in thejropics and subtropics that favour viral transmission by the main mosquito vector, Aedes aegypti as the rapid population growth, rural-urban migration, inadequate basic urban infrastructure [eg. the unreliable water supply leading householders to store water in containers close to homes] and the increase in volume of solid waste, such as discarded plastic containers and other abandoned items which provide larval habitats in urban areas. Geographical expansion of the mosquito has been aided by the international commercial trade particularly in used car-tyres which easily accumulate rainwater. Increased air travel and the breakdown of vector control measures have also contributed greatly to the global burden of dengue and DH fevers. The presence of Ae. aegypti and endemicity of DF and DHF in the neighboring regional countries must be in mind of the Public Health Authorities

Maternal brucellosis and human pregnancy

Brucellosis is a worldwide zoonotic gram-negative bacterium of worldwide distribution. Its role in causing miscarriage in animals is well documented. Data on its role in human abortion are very few. This paper was carried out on selected women with abortion or history of abortion to clarify the role of brucellosis in human abortion. A total of 129 women were selected from Al-Zahraa University Hospital and other obstetric and gynecological hospitals in the vicinity of Greater Cairo. The patients were subjected to clinical, gynecological, and serodiagnosis [STAT and ELI-SA] of brucellosis. Also, routine urine [Nuclepore technique] and stool [Kato thick smear] was done as well as skin tests and ELISA for common hepatic parasites. The results showed that 59 had brucellosis, 27 had toxoplasmosis, 15 had fascioliasis and 29 had other cause[s] of abortion. Meanwhile, none had visceral leish-maniasis or schistosomiasis mansoni. the signs and symptoms of all patients were hepatosplenomegaly [31.1%], lower back abdominal pain [23.13%], lassitude, headache [each, 21.7%], lymphadenopathy[20.1%], vomiting [17.1%], loss of appetite, myalgia or diarrhea or constipation [each, 15.42%], weight loss [14.6%], chest pain [13.9%], night sweating or dizziness [11.65%], fever or right sided abdominal pain [each, 10.7%], chills [7.71%], urticaria or monoarthralgia [each, 3.85%]. These signs and symptoms were confusing for specific clinical picture of brucellosis. Brucellosis patients were successfully treated with a combination of Rifampicin 600 mg. once daily and Septrin 800mg twice daily for 6 weeks. Cure was achieved clinically and serologically. Patients with toxoplasmosis or fascioliasis were also treated with Fasinex and Mirazid respectively. Other parasites were also treated

Zoonotic ectopic fascioliasis: review and discussion

Ectopic fascioliasis [EF] has direct and indirect effects on both humans and animals. The phenomenon of EF was individual cases in the period from 1950 up to the end of last century. From the period of 2000 up .to 2006, plenty of researches were on EF in the developed and undeveloped countries. Nineteen EF cases infected with the immature and few with the mature worms were 13 females and 6 males. Three cases of lymphatic, pleural and breast fascioliasis reached the adults and laid their eggs in a lymph node in the cervical region pleural cavity and breast tissues. Until recent, knowledge about the ectopic fascioliasis pathway is little. Fasciola hepatica was the commonest species in most cases. The effect of fascioliasis might be direct to liver as ectopic foci or indirect on other organs due to the metabolites and secretory excretory products. All ages and both sexes were EF infected. Watercress topped the list of water plants born encysted metacercariae followed by lettuce, mint, and alfalfa. Nearly 24 million Egyptians at risk and about 800.000 were infected. On the global scale, about 180 million are at risk of infection

study on the prevalence of house dust mites in Al-Arish City, North Sinai Governorate, Egypt

Free living mites comprise a huge and various groups of tiny arthropods in the class Arachida, mainly of the Pyroglyphidae family. Exposure to allergens derived from house dust mite [HDM] feces is a postulated risk factor for allergic sensitization, asthma development and asthma morbidity. However, practical and effective method to mitigate these allergens in low-income, urban home environments remains elusive. It well known that [HDM] physiology is greatly affected by hydrothermal microclimatic condition. El Arish has subtropical climate and warm humid summer, such situation are favourable to proliferate house dust mites. As no valid data are available for house dust mites fauna of El Arish, this study was carried out to determine the prevalence and contamination rates of homes in El Arish city. Samples of house dust collected in 2008 from 50 houses in El Arish city were subjected to acarological examination. Acri were found in [34.6%] of the samples collected from these homes. Results indicated that dust mites were present in all humid environments. Also, hypersensitivity to dust mites was common among patients with asthma

Mirazid in treatment of three zoonotic trematodes in Beni-Sweif and Dakhalia governorates

A total of 60 patients with schistosomiasis [40], fascialiosis [15] and heterophyiasis [5] were selected Beni-Swejf and Mansoura Districts and subjected to history taking, clinical examination, Kato thick smear, sedimentation and hatching test [for schistosomiasis cases] at the beginning of the study, 2 and 3 months after treatment with Oleo-resin of Myrrh [Mirazid] in a dose of 10mg/kg/day for 6 consecutive days an hour before breakfast. The results showed a significant improvement in symptoms with minimal negligible or no side effects. The cure rates, 2 and 3 months after treatment were 80.7% and 11.8% for schistosomiasis, 93.3% and 6.6% for fascioliasis, and 100% for heterophyiasis. The clinical picture of schistosomiasis before treatments were easy fatigability, anorexia, nausea, vomiting, epigastria pain, abdominal distention, right upper guardant pain, colicky abdominal pain, left upper andlor lower guardant pain, abdominal rumbling, dysentery, diarrhea, rectal bleeding, constipation, and alternating bowel habit. Those of fascioliasis were abdominal distention, dripping of saliva, right upper guardant, colicky abdominal pain, weight loss, easy fatigability, intermittent jaundice, anorexia, nausea, vomiting, epigastria, left upper and/or lower quadrant pain, right layer quadrant pain, loin pain, abdominal rumbling, diarrhea, constipation, and alternating bowel habit The safety and efficacy of C. molmol extract in treating heterophyiasis [100%], fascioliasis [100%] and schistosomiasis [92.5%] were documented

Lupus nephropathy: clinical, immunohistochemistry and quantitative morphometric analysis studies

Lupus nephritis includes a wide range of parenchymal injuries and severity. Better predictors to outcome are needed for patients newly diagnosed with lupus nephritis, so that an appropriate management strategy may be selected. This study aimed to determine whether the ratio of hepatocyte growth factor [HGF] to transforming growth factor beta 1 [TGF beta1] in lupus nephritis could be a prognostic factor for response to therapy with cyclophosphamide and steroids at six months. Also, to determine whether a simple automated system for objective scoring of biopsies of lupus nephritis could be a prognostic factor for response to therapy with cyclophosphamide and steroids at 6 months. Consequently, renal biopsy findings and clinical parameters of thirty parasites-free patients with new onset lupus nephritis were recorded. Histopathologic, clinical, immune-histochemical and morphometric data at baseline served to define the predictive value for outcome after 6 months of therapy. The results showed a significant positive relationship between response to therapy and HGF IS [P= 0.007], HGF ES [P= 0.026], HGF IS/ TGFbeta1 IS ratio [P= 0.022] and HGF ES/ TGFbeta1 ES ratio [P= 0.001]. A significant inverse relationship was proved between response to therapy and TGFbeta1 IS [P= 0.025] as well as TGFbeta1 ES [P= 0.017]. Also, a significant inverse relationship was present between response to therapy and nuclear index, tubular index and matrix index [P = 0.03, 0.03 and 0.029 respectively]

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

Early development of osteoporosis in male smokers with hypoandrogenism due to fascioliasis with or without schistosomiasis added by life style

The rnultifactor outcome of hypoandrogenemia with the impact of oxidative stress induced by glucose intolerance, fascioliasis with or without schistosomiasis and cumulative smoking influence on bone remodeling and the early development of osteo-porotic manifestations were studied. The effect on vascular endothelium immune mediated mechanisms and antioxidant capacity were monitored in cases of youth aged selected male smokers involving 20 with hypoandrogenemia who were either subjected to sedentary life style, glucose intolerance fascioliasis hepatic fibrosis [FHF] [G1] or without [G2] and GI after following 6 months therapy [G3]. Monitoring of clinical picture and biochemical assessments of osteoporotic indices [osteocolcin, bone alkaline phosphatase, parathyroid hormone, urinary cyclic AMP], hypoandrogenism [dehydroepiandrosterane sulphate or DHEAS and testosterone] glycemic determinant [insulin] immuno-inflammatory response [inter-leukein-6, tumor necrosis factor a, E-selectin, ceruloplasmin] smoking index [serum cotinine], total antioxidant capacity [AOC] and lipid peroxidation [malonedialdehyde] was done before and after 6 months therapeutic program involving supplement of DHEAS, mirazid, chromium picolinate, and megavit zinc alongside smoking cessation and physical exercise daily for at least 30 minutes. Treatment with Mirazid supplied as 10 mg/kg for 6 successive days resulted in 100% cure of fascioliasis whether single or combined with schistosomiasis

New concept of schistosomiasis lesions of urinary bladder versus development of bladder cancer

Schistosomiasis haematobium precancerous lesions of urinary bladder included group 1: preneo plastic non papillary [flat] lesions [reactive atypia, flat hyperplasia, keratinizing squamous metaplasia, glandular metaplasia, dysplasia, carcinoma in-situ [CIS]] and group 2 preneoplastic papillary lesions [typical papillary hyperplasia, atypical papillary hyperplasia, papilloma]. The present work studied the content of the schistosomiasis precancerous lesions of the urinary bladder using image analyzer, thereby shedding more light on the significance on the early diagnosis of the high risky group. A total of 140 previously diagnosed schistosomiasis urinary bladder lesions [124 precancerous and 16 cancers as controls] were stained by H and E, and Feulgen stain. The mean SPF was high in CIS [22.7], dysplasia [19.6] and low in atypia [7.91]. DNA ploidy, non-diploidy DNA was high in CIS [53%], papilloma, dysplasia and atypical papillary hyperplasia than flat hyperplasia, glandular metaplasia, keratinizing squamous metaplasia and typical papillary hyperplasia that were diploid indicating more tendency and aggressiveness of the first group to turn malignant than the second group

Efficacy of five chemicals on fasciola gigantica encysted metacercariae infectivity

The efficacy of treating encysted metacercariae [EMC] of Fasciola gigantica with different concentrations [conc] of acetic acid, citric acid, cetrimide, potassium permanganate and sodium hydroxide, for 15 and 30 minutes was evaluated. The efficacy of these chemicals on the vitality and infectivity of the EMC was evaluated by the development of fascioliasis infection, and the histopathological changes in the livers of experimentally infected Albino rabbits. The results showed that 1% sodium hydroxide had a lethal effect on EMC, 10% to 40% potassium permanganate destroyed the infectivity power of EMC, and acetic acid gave an adverse effect on the EMC in cone, more than 2.5%. But, neither citric acid nor cetrimide affected the vitality or infectivity of EMC and all rabbits acquired fascioliasis

Alpha-glutathione S-transferase and serum aminotransferases in Schistosomiasis mansoni patients with or without hepatitis C virus

The present study evaluated delta-Glutathione-S-transferase as a biochemical marker for hepatocellular damage in schistosomiasis mansoni patients, with or without chronic hepatitis C [HCV] patients as compared to controls. Alpha GST, ALT and AST were assayed in sera of GI: 20 schistosomiasis mansoni patients with HCV, GII 16 schistosomiasis mansoni patients without HCV, GIII 19 pure HCV patients and GIV: 20 normal controls. The results showed that delta-Glutathione-S-transf erase was less sensitive and less specific but more accurate than ALT and AST as a liver affection marker in HCV patients

Correlation of ELISA copro-antigen and oocysts count to the severity of cryptosporidiosis parvum in children

A total of one thousand and fifty [1050] young children from Mansoura Pediatric Hospital, July 2005 to July 2006 were examined for cryptosporidiosis. Detailed history was taken from each participant, stool examination by direct smear, Formalin-ether sedimentation, Sheather's floatation, modified Ziehl-Nelseen [MZN] stain, Cryptospordium oocysts count, coproantigen detection by ELISA. Other infections were excluded. Out of 1050 children examined, cryptosporidial oocysts were detected in 90 cases by modified Zeihl Nelseen [MZN] stain, and coproantigen ELISA added another 10 cases. There was a significant difference between age group [1-2 years], rural locality, nutrition status, and diarrhea regarding Cryptosporidium infection. There was highly significant difference in malnourished children regarding Cryptosporidium oocysts and ELISA-OD. There is a significant positive correlation between oocysts count, ELISA-OD and malnutrition. Only diarrhea had a highly significant difference in relation to other symptoms in both mean oocysts count and ELISA-OD. There was highly significant positive correlation between symptoms, oocysts count and ELISA-OD