Efficacy of pentoxifylline as an antifibrotic drug in experimental murine schistosomal hepatic fibrosis

This study evaluated the possible antifibrotic effect of pentoxifylline on experimentally induced schistosomal hepatic fibrosis and its effect on serum leptin and transforming growth fac-tor-pl levels as possible antifibrotic mechanisms in correlation with the hepatic fibrosis indices.A total of ninety clean laboratories bred, males Swiss, albino mice were included, of which ten mice served as a control non-infected, non-treated group and sacrificed at one time. Eighty mice, each was subcutaneously infected with 50 Schistosoma mansoni cercariae and classified into groups: GI [infected and non-treated], Gil [infected and treated with Mirazid], GUI [infected and treated with Pentoxifylline] and GIV [infected and treated with a combination of Mirazid and Pentoxifylline]. Each group was further subdivided into 2 subgroups; subgroup a' which started treatment at 6[th] week post-infection [P.I.] and sacrificed at the end of 9[th] week P.I and subgroup [b] which started treatment at 14[th] week P.I and sacrificed at the end of 17[th] week P.I. The efficacy of the treatment was assessed by histopathological examination of the liver with measurement of granuloma sizes, estimation of hydroxyproline content in the liver, and assessment of serum levels of leptin and transforming growth factor- 61 [TGF- 61]Mirazid [MZD] caused significant reductions in granuloma sizes and hepatic hydroxyproline content and caused non-significant reductions in serum levels of leptin and transforming growth factor- 61 at 9[th] and 17[th] weeks P.I [Gil]. Pentoxifylline [PTX] caused significant reductions in granuloma sizes, hepatic hydroxyproline, and serum levels of leptin and transforming growth factor- 61 at the 9[th]and 17[th] weeks P.I [GUI]. While combined therapy of both MZD and PTX in GIV caused more reductions in granuloma sizes, hepatic hydroxyproline, and serum levels of leptin and TGF- 61 at the 9th and 17th weeks P.I when compared to the other groups

Seroprevalence study of Toxocara canis in selected Egyptian patients

This study was conducted in order to reveal the seroprevalence of T. canis infection in selected 150 Egyptian patients with presumptive clinical syndromes. They were children [128] with respiratory symptoms or pyrexia of unknown origin [PUO] and adults [22] with PUO. Anti-Toxocara antibodies [IgG] were detected in sera by ELISA. The results showed 6.2% positivity in children. The frequency increased in male gender, those in rural residence and in 6-12 years group versus 1-6 years, and 4% and 13.3% positivity in those with respiratory symptoms and PUO respectively. Adults positivity was 18%. So, male gender and residence in rural regions could be considered as risk factors for transmission of toxocariasis in children

possible synergistic effect of gossypol [cottonseed oil] and schistosomiasis mansoni on the male reproductive organs in experimentally infected mice

Gossypol is considered as the major toxic ingredient in the cotton plant which affects the male fertility in countries where crude cottonseed oil is used extensively for cooking as in Egypt. In rural areas in Egypt, there is a common association between schistosomal infecion that can affect the male genital organs and gossypol intake through increased consumption of cottonseed oil. Whether this synergism plays a role in enhancing male inferility or not, is a matter that needs evaluation. The present study was conducted to evaluate the possible synergistic effect of gossypol as one of food pollutants and schistosomiasis mansoni on the male reproductive organs in experimental animal. One hundred and thirty laboratories bred, parasite free, male Swiss albino mice were used in the current study. Mice were classified into 4 groups: Group [I]: consisted of 40 mice which remained none infected but received gossypol orally for 4 weeks. Group [II]: consisted of 40 mice which were infected with Schistosoma mansoni and did not receive gossypol. Group [III]: consisted of 40 mice which were infected and received gossypol orally for 4 weeks staring from the 8th week post Schistosoma infection. Group [IV]: consisted of 10 mice which were none infected and did not receive gossypol. Mice were sacrificed at different durations after gossypol intake and post infection whereas control mice were sacrificed at one lime. The tesis and the epididymis were removed from each animal and their weights were recorded. They were processed for histopathological and immunohistochemical examinalion as well as electron microscopical examinalion. There were histopathological changes in tesicular sections of group [I] starting from the 2nd week after gossypol intake which became marked later on with depletion of germ cells and spermatozoa in testis and cauda epididymis. Regarding group [II], the pathological changes were rather mild. In group [III], the pathological changes appeared at the 10 week p.i. as spermatogenesis was arrested with a marked reduction in the number of mature spermatozoa. Some seminiferous tubules showed degenerative changes of the germinal epithelium, such as vacuolization, disrupion, and even severe destruction. In both S. mansoni infected groups [Gp. II and III], neither ova nor granulomata were detected in all examined histopathological secions while the immunohistochemical staining showed posilive deposilion of S. mansoni anigen in the testes and epididymes. In addilion, electron microscopical examination showed similar results at the ultrastructural level. Although schistosomiasis mansoni can affect male organs by antigen deposition, it's not a major cause for male infertility, while gossypol is a major culprit where cottonseed oil is used. Acing together, these two culprits exert a synergistic effect on male fertility. Therefore, gossypol should be handled more cautiously. In addition, using crude gossypol for male contracepion in Egypt is not recommended, because its synergism with schistosomiasis may render its effect irreversible

impact of subchronic mercury exposure on the immune response and pathogenesis of experimental cryptosporidiosis

Mercury is one of the most widely distributed heavy metal which incriminated in the environmental pollution. Evidence is emerging that chronic exposure to mercury may elicit immunomodulation with enhanced host susceptibility to bacterial, viral and parasitic infection. Therefore a special attention is payed in this study to test the impact of subchronic mercury exposure on the immune response and the pathogenesis of experimental cryptosporidiosis. One hundred and sixty, parasite free, albino mice were used in this study and were divided Into four groups:-Group [1]: consisted of 50 mice which received an oral daily dose of mercury for 28 days before infection with Cryptosporidium oocysts. Group [2]: consisted of 50 mice which infected with Cryptosporidium oocysts without mercury treatment, Group, [3]: consisted of 50 mice, which received mercury treatment only and Group [4]: consisted of 1.0 mice with no infection and no mercury treatment [control group]. The influence of the subchronic mercury exposure on the pathogenesis of cryptosporidiosis will be assessed by counting the fecal oocysts, histopathological examination of different organs of infected mice and biochemical estimation of the glycogen and protein contents in both liver and heart tissues at early stage of infection, Lastly, the levels of IFN-gamma and IL10 in the sera will be measured during the course of experiment. The results of the present work showed that group [1] had shorter prepatent period as fecal oocysts could be detected from first day post infection, remained infected longer and shed more oocysts with higher mortality rate as compared to group [2]. In addition, a significantly higher number of endogenous stages were detected in group [1] with severe villous atrophy and heavy infestation with the endogenous stages than in group [2]. Regarding the levels of glycogen and protein, groups [1and 2] showed statistically significant decrease in the level of glycogen in liver and heart tissues whereas, the level of protein increased in the liver unlike the cardiomyocyte that showed marked protein decrease as compared to other groups. Moreover, there was a statistical significant increase in the levels IFN-gamma and IL10 in group [2] as compared the lower levels detected in group [1], Therefore, the result of the present work strongly support the immunosuppressive effect of mercury on experimental cryptosporidiosis as evident.by flaring up of the intestinal infection with the extraintestinal spread of the parasite as well as the induction of functional impairment in liver and heart tissues. Therefore, these results would spotlight on the wide spread environmental pollution with mercury which may be incriminated in the flaring up of the opportunistic parasites specially among children and its possible hazardous effect on their health

dual effect of cyclosporin A in experimental Hymenolepis nana infection in mice

This work was planned to study the dual effect of cyclosporin A in experimental Hymenolepis nana infection in mice. 100 Swiss albino mice were used and divided into 2 large groups. 60 mice were used in the first experiment and subdivided into gp. [1] control, gp. [2] treated with CsA [150 mg /kg/dose] early at infection time [2a] or later at days 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20 p.i. [2b] and gp. [3] treated with cortisone acetate [2.5 mg /dose] early [3a] or later on [3b]. Cysticercoid count was done for gp. [2a, 3a and 1] and adult worm count was done for gp. [2b,3b and 1]. 40 mice were used in the second experiment and divided into [4] groups to study the effect of CsA on the acquired resistance to re-infection. Gp. [1] infected with 500 H.nana eggs and challenged with 2000 eggs at 10[th] day p.i., gp [2] received a single 2000 eggs at 10[th] d.p.i., gp. [3] received CsA, infected and challenged with H.nana eggs and gp [4] received cortisone acetate, infected and challenged with H.nana eggs. Local intestinal IgA was examined by peroxidase anti-peroxidase technique [PAP]. Histopathological examination on H.and E. stained sections was done to see the intensity of infection. The results of this work showed that CsA has a direct antiparasitic effect by decreasing the cysticerciod counts in both experiments and immunosuppressive effect as indicated by increased worm burden and decreased local IgA deposition in experiments I and II respectively in comparison to normal and cortisone treated groups. Thus, it can be concluded that, in H. nana infection CsA exerts both antiparasitic and immunosuppressive effects. However, the antiparasitic effect predominates the immunosuppressive one