Antibody profile, interferon-y and nutritional status in cryptosporidial infection among school children

This work studied the antibody profile, interferon-gamma [IFN-gamma] serum level and nutritional status among infected schoolchildren aged 11 years in a rural school in Abis 8 Village. Fecal examination showed that only 19 cases infected with Cryptosporidium and 10 children were free from parasites [controls]. The IgA, IgG and IgM serum levels in infected cases were within normal level, without significant differences as compared to controls. The IgE serum level was significantly high in infected children. The cytokine IFN-gamma was significantly lower in the infected cases as compared to controls. Malnutrition was diagnostic among infected children. The study showed that malnutrition is the important finding related to Cryptosporidium infection. Malnutrition decreased IFN- gamma, the recognized factor in protection from infection, and elevated serum IgE level

Efficacy of Azithromycin, Praziquantel and Mirazid in treatment of cryptosporidiosis in school children

The study was conducted at a primary school in Abis 8 Village. Eighty- eight children aged 11 years participated in the present work. After fecal examination, 43 cases were found infected with Cryptosporidium. The mean oocysts number per high power field [HPF] ranged 1.6-48 oocysts/HPF. Azithromycin, praziquantel [PZQ] and mirazid were given to 13, 16 and 14 infected children, respectively. Three weeks after treatment, azithromycin and praziquantel gave cure rates of 91% and 56.2%, respectively, with a% reduction of oocysts in stools of 99% for azithromycin and 71.5% for PZQ. Mirazid was not effective. All the three drugs were well tolerated. The study showed that azithromycin is highly effective in the treatment of children with cryptosporidiosis and that PZQ decreases the infection rate and intensity

Laboratory assessment of the molluscicidal activity of Commiphora molmol [myrrh] on Biomphalaria alexandria, Bulinus truncatus and lymnaea calilliaudi

The molluscicidal properties of the oil extract of commiphora molmol [Myrrh] were tested Egyptian snail species: Biomphalaria alexandrina, Bulinus truncates and Lymnaea cailliaudi. The impact of the extract on the egg cluches of B. alexandrina and L. cailliaudi was also evaluated. Snails and their eggs were exposed for 24 and 48 hr at 22-26?C to various concentrations of the extract. The results showed different susceptibilities B. alexandrina showed higher LD[50] and LD[90] [155, 195 PPM] than B. truncates [50, 95 ppm] and L. cailliaudi [50, 85 ppm] after 24 hr exposure. 100% mortality was obtained for the egg cluches of B. alexandrina and L. cailliaudi at concentrations of 100 ppm and 75 ppm respectively. Lower concentrations were needed to obtain the same results after 48 hr. The present laboratory studies demonstrated that Myrrh has a molluscicidal effect on the snail intermediate hosts, particularly on their eggs. Field studies are recommended

pulmonary performance and airway reactivity in acute and chronic fascioliasis before and after triclabendazole treatment

The pulmonary performance and airway reactivity were evaluated in 16 acute and 12 chronic fascioliasis patients before and after treatment with triclabendazole in a trial to clarify some underlying pulmonary changes which can explain the chest symptomatology that may accompany this intestinal fluke. Before treatment, the maximum voluntary ventilation was impaired in the acute and chronic cases. In the acute stage, the affection was in the small airways [as denoted by lower values of FEF75% compared to control]; while in the chronic stage, the impairment was more generalized including not only the small and large airways [as shown by diminished FVC, FEV1, FEFmax, FEF25%, FEF50% and FEF75%] but also the upper airway [as noticed by lower values of FIVC and FIF50% compared with the corresponding control values]. By individual analysis of the dose response slopes [DRS], 37.5% of acute and 33.3% of chronic cases had bronchial hyperactivity. After triclabendazole treatment and cure of the patients, most of the pulmonary flow rates improved significantly compared with the pretreatment values. Moreover, all cases regained normal bronchial reactivity and the DRS diminished significantly than during fascioliasis infection. It is concluded that, although the fluke doesnot have a cycle in the lung, yet if may have an impact on the pulmonary performance and airway reactivity which subsides greatly after treatment with triclabendazole