mini-overview on zoonotic cryptosporidiosis

Cryptosporidium is an intracellular protozoan that is one of the most common parasitic enteric pathogens in humans. Infection is associated with gastrointestinal disease in sporadic self-limited outbreaks among immunocompetent hosts and chronic illness in immunosuppressed patients. Transmission occurs via spread from an infected person or animal, or from a fecally contaminated environment, such as a food or water source. Cryptosporidiosis is associated with a secretory diarrhea and with malabsorption. The parasite intracellular nature interferes with intestinal absorption and secretion. Infection can be asymptomatic, a mild diarrheal illness, or severe enteritis with or without biliary tract involvement. In immunocompetent hosts, illness usually spontaneously resolves without therapy, but among immunosuppressed host infection can be a chronic debilitating illness with wasting and persistent diarrhea. Diagnosis depends on enzyme immunoassay or by microscopic identification of oocysts in stool or tissue. Organisms may be present in duodenal aspirates, bile secretions, biopsy specimens from gastrointestinal tract, or respiratory secretions

Bedbugs [bed bugs]: the basic knowledge

The common bed bug, Cimex lectularius, is an obligate blood-feeding ectoparasite that preferentially feeds on humans. All stages feed on blood and require a blood meal to molt [nymphs] and reproduce [adults]. Differential diagnosis of bed bug bites is difficult and insufficient to determine the bed bugs or their extent. Infestation is a worldwide epidemic due to emergence of insecticide-resistant strains

Aedes aegypti and dengue virus infections

Aedes-borne diseases [Dengue, Chikungunya, Yellow Fever and Zika] are an emerging problem worldwide, escalating overall risk and burden of disease worldwide. Dengue viruses are members of the family Flaviviridae, genus flavivirus with four anti-genically related but distinct viruses; all are mosquito-borne human pathogens. The four dengue virus serotypes are associated with fever, rash, and the more severe forms, hemorrhagic fever and shock syndrome. Susceptible humans become infected after being bitten by an infected female Aedes mosquito. Viremia in humans begins at the end of a four-six-day incubation period and persists until fever abates. An uninfected Aedes spp. may acquire the virus after feeding on a patient at the vermeil period. Infected mosquitoes carry the virus for their lifespan and pass the virus to its immature stages [Trans-ovarian transmission] and remain infective for humans, Several factors have combined to produce epidemiological conditions in developing countries in the tropics and subtropics that favor viral transmission by the main mosquito vector, Aedes 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

arthropod-borne encephalitis viruses, The neglected serious diseases

Arthropod-borne encephalitis viruses are highly adapted to a particular reservoir host. Viruses spread from animal to animal by an infected specific mosquito or tick species. Mosquito or tick becomes infected when feeding on the viremic animal blood. Virus then replicates in the vector, ultimately infecting the salivary glands, which transmits the virus to a new host with infective saliva while taking a blood meal. Infected patients may become ill; they usually do not develop sufficient viremia to infect feeding vectors, and thus do not contribute to the transmission cycle. Among mosquito-borne encephalitis, the greatest public health threat in North America and is posed by the West Nile, St. Louis encephalitis, and La Crosse encephalitis viruses. Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus is of concern in Central and South America, while Japanese encephalitis virus affects residents or visitors to parts of Asia. Among the tick-borne encephalitis, tick-borne Encephalitis virus causes the greatest public health threat among residents or visitors to Eastern Europe and Asia. Eastern equine encephalitis [EEE] virus is widely distributed throughout North, Central, and South America and the Caribbean. EEE virus is the most severe one, with mortality up to 30% .Western equine encephalitis [WEE] virus is a found in North and South America and is a potential agent of bioterrorism through the aerosol route. Case fatality rate is 3 to 7%, .La Crosse virus [LAC] is the most pathogenic member of California encephalitis serogroup in central and eastern United States, mostly in school-aged children. Most infections are asymptomatic with low mortality rates. Treatment is supportive, with emphasis on control of cerebral edema and seizures. Murray Valley encephalitis [MVE] virus occurs in Australia, New Guinea, and probably islands in the eastern part of the Indonesian archipelago. MVE virus is maintained in a natural cycle involving water birds and Culex annulirostris. Only 1 in 1000 to 2000 infections had clinical illness; but, about one-third of patients die and about half the survivors suffered from neurologic deficits. Venezuelan equine encephalitis [VEE] widely spread from Florida to South America, occur periodically, but occasionally, large epidemics occur among equine and humans. VEE is infectious via aerosols, making it an occupational risk to certain laboratory workers and a potential agent of bioterrorism. Effective prevention by immunizing equines, which serve as the primary amplification hosts for the epizootic VEE viruses. Tick-borne encephalitis [TBE] exists over a wide geographical area, including Russia and Europe. Human exposure occurs through work or recreational activities when the ticks are most active. TBE virus is transmitted from the saliva of an infected tick while taking blood meal. Case fatality rates range from 2 to 8%, Treatment is mainly supportive

General principles of infection control and safety initiatives

Standard precautions are guidelines established to break the infection chain and reduce risk of pathogen transmission in hospitals. Standard precautions apply to blood, body fluids, secretions and excretions [except sweat], non-intact skin, and mucous membranes

Malaria situation in egypt the last three years: retrospective study in an egyptian fever hospital

Malaria is a protozoan parasite caused by the genus Plasmodium with five human species: P. ovale, P. vivax, P. malariae, P. knowlesi, and P. falciparum. The last is the most dangerous and commonest in Africa. This retrospective study evaluated the situation of malaria in the last 3 years in an Egyptian Fever Hospital. The studied reviewed a total of 100 malaria patients medical sheets, their past and present history including [sign and symptoms, mode of trans-mission, diagnosis, complication, treatment and follow-up and prevention. The results showed all patients were youth re turning back from Central Africa, [41], Darfur, [38], DR Congo, [11], Nigeria, [3] to Chad [2] and one from to each of Rwanda, Djibouti, Yemen, Kenya, and /or Tanzania. The infective malaria species were P. falciparum [83 cases], P. vivax [10 cases], P. ovale [one case] and mixed infections [six cases]. Stained blood films gave 100% positivity and Rapid diagnostic test failed in 4%. All patients were successfully treated except two

Intervention program for nursing staff regarding approach to a patient with spider phobia and/or bite

Spider bites are uncommon medical events, since there are limited number of spiders worldwide with fangs strong enough to pierce human skin, and most spiders bite humans only as a final defense when being crushed between skin and another object. Thus, most lesions attributed to spider bites are caused by some other etiology. The spiders that can cause medically significant bites include widow and false widow spiders [worldwide], recluse spiders [mostly North and South America], Australian funnel web spiders [eastern coastal Australia] and Phoneutria spiders [Brazil]. Acute spider bites most commonly result in a solitary papule, pustule, or wheal. Systemic symptoms can accompany envenomation of widow; funnel web, and Phoneutria spiders, and less often, those of recluse spiders

Human infection with bertiella studeri [cestode: anoplocephalidae] in an Egyptian worker returning back from Saudi Arabia

Perhaps this is the first case of bertiellosjs studeri record in Egyptian worker returning back from Saudi Arabia. The patient was resistant to Niclosamide but successfully treated with Commiphora molmol extract