preliminary study on dicrocoeliasis in Egypt, with a general review

Dicrocoelium dendriticum [D. Dendriticum] is a lancet-shape liver fluke that affects sheep and mammals including man. Human and animal infections have been reported worldwide, particularly in some of the Eastern Mediterranean sheep raising countries. Infection is acquired by eating the second intermediate host [17 species of ants] with raw fruits, vegetables, herbs or even with the drinking water. As for the first intermediate host, there is about 54 different species of land snails. In spite of the fact that both the first and second intermediate hosts of D. Dendriticum are available in Egypt, data about human and animal dicrocoeliasis is lacking. This investigation was a preliminary study to report on the presence of D. Dendriticum [in sheep, goats and man in North Sinai Governorate] in Egypt

Serological and histopathological studies on toxoplama gondii among the workers and the slaughtered animals in Tanta abattoir, Gharbia governorate

Toxoplasma gondii is one of the important zoonotic parasites of worldwide zoological and geographical distribution. In this paper, Toxoplasma antibodies were investigated among workers [21] and slaughtered animals [258] in Tanta Abattoir. The indirect hemagglutination test [IHAT] was positive among workers [52.4%] at titers 1/64, 1/256, 1/512 and slaughtered animals [44.1%], at titers >1/64. The indirect fluorescent antibody test [IFAT done for animals only] was positive [48.8%] at titers 1/40. Histopathological study on infected prescapular lymph nodes of the examined animals showed different clinical pictures, which coincided with the serological results

Detection of hepatitis C virus RNA in liver tissue of chronic hepatitis C conditions by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction in situ hybridization [TR-PCR-ISH]

Hepatitis C virus [HCV] infection of cells on liver tissue was determined by detecting HCV RNA using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction in situ hybridization [RT PCR ISH] technique. Twenty wedge liver biopsy specimens from patient with chronic hepatitic conditions were studied; comprising eighteen cases of chronic active hepatitis [CAH] with cirrhosis, five of which were positive for HBsAg] and the rest were diagnosed as non A-non B [NANB] and two cases of CAH with bilharzial fibrosis were also diagnosed as [NANB]. Score activity of the 20 liver biopsies was done and features favorable of HCV infection were determined. Thirteen out of the 20 liver biopsy specimens were positive for HCV RNA which was located within hepatocyte cytoplasm for all thirteen cases, in nuclei for six cases and in bile duct epithelium for two cases. HCV RNA appeared as fine granules diffusely distributed in cytoplasm or concentrated in perinuclear zone. The positive hepatocytes were particularly related to periportal and midlobular zone in relation to lymphocytic infiltrate. A high proportion of hepatocytes appeared positive with variable intersity but there was no strong association with disease activity. HCV RNA was detected in one severe case of CAH with bilharzial fibrosis and three cases positive for ABsAgs. In this study, some histopathological characteristics of HCV infection were revealed and it was concluded that direct recognition of HCV in liver biopsy is mandatory for the establishment of the cause and effect of hepatitis and using RT-PCR-ISH technique would be the most reliable method of diagnosis of hepatitis C virus because it is more sensitive and specific

Study of intrapulmonary vasculature in some chronic lung diseases

The intrapulmonary vasculature of two hundred autopsy cases was studied and correlated with the disease process present in the lung tissues. In this study, we observed arterialization of Pulmonary veins, atherosclerosis of pulmonary arteries, medial hypertrophy of muscular pulmonary arteries, endarteritis and angiomatoids in the intrapulmonary vessels in some chronic lung diseases. Also there was a statistically significant correlation between medial hypertrophy of arteries and elastosis in muscular pulmonary arteries