Diagnosis of giardiasis in asymptomatic and symptomatic patients using G. lamblia antigen[s] and IgA antibody in saliva

Giardiasis may be asymptomatic or symptomatic with possible extra-intestinal complications such as maculopapular rashes, polyarthritis and urticaria. Diagnosis by stool examination may give false negative results. Accurate exclusion of giardiasis is important to differentiate it from other causes of these manifestations. To assess the employment of saliva for diagnosing G. lamblia infections. The study attempted to determine the presence of G. lamblia antigen in human saliva by immunodiffusion technique and the associated specific secretory IgA [sIgA] immune response by immunoblot technique. Samples of saliva were collected from 80 subjects; 40 Giardia-infected individuals [symptomatic and asymptomatic], 20 subjects infected with other intestinal parasites and 20 healthy individuals as control groups of similar age and sex. Giardia cysts were collected from stools of heavily infected individuals, excysted and the harvested forms were cultivated on TYI-S-33 medium to prepare trophozoite antigen. The latter was used to produce hyperimmune serum in rabbits that was employed to detect the presence of specific antigen [s] in saliva by double gel immunodiffusion technique. Cysts were also used for antigen preparation which was fractionated by SDS-PAGE and tested to detect sIgA by immunoblotting of saliva samples. G. lamblia antigen was not detected in the saliva of any of the individuals enrolled in the study. Secretory IgA was detected in 75% of all infected individuals with 75% sensitivity and 90% specificity and in 90% of symptomatic and 60% of asymptomatic infected individuals. Molecular weight [MW] bands of 170 and 133 kDa were recognized by specific salivary sIgA by immunoblot analysis. Sensitivity and specificity of the 170 kDa band recognition were 75% and 90%, respectively with 88.2% and 78.2% positive [PPV] and negative [NPV] predictive values, respectively. The 133 kDa band gave 42.5% sensitivity, 100% specificity with 100% PPV and 62.3% NPV. Absence of specific antigen in the saliva refutes the assumption that G. lamblia antigens may reach the blood and questions the possibility of tissue invasion. The 170 and 133 kDa of Giardia cysts antigens form together useful molecules for diagnosis of giardiasis by IgA immunoblotting

Seasonal distribution of culicini larvae in greater Cairo

Five species of mosquito larvae were encountered in Greater Cairo including Culex pipiens, Cx. pusillus, Cx. perexiguus, Aedes caspius and Culiseta longiareolata. In areas of Qalyoubia Governorate, Cx. pipiens was the most dominant and the least was Cx. perexiguus. In areas of Giza Governorate, Cx. pipiens was the most dominant and the least was Cs. longiareolata. In Cairo Governorate, Cx. Pipiens was the most dominant and the least was Ae. Caspius. The overall abundance in a descending order was Cx. Pipiens [61.74%], Cs. longiareolata [15.56%], Ae. caspius [15.3%], Cx. pusillus [4.0%] and Cx. Perexiguus [3.16%]. However, in all sites, Cx. pipiens was more abundant in December than in August. The difference in the number of Cx. pipiens in one hand and all numbers of larvae collected on the other hand was nonsignificant

Cryopreservation of trichomonas vaginalis: a trial of useing four different cryoprotectants

To reach the maximum survival rate of Trichomonas vaginalis after cryopreservation, four substances; namely, dimethylsulfoxide [DMSO], glycerol, egg yolk and horse serum, were used as cryoprotectants. T. vaginalis trophozoites, in the logarithmic phase, cultured on TYM-S medium were used. Rapid and slow freezing schedules were followed. Examinations for viable organisms were done after a month duration in liquid nitrogen. Immediate and delayed thawing was tried. Viability scores depended on the presence of live organisms in the thawed parasite suspensions determined by the presence of motile trophozoites under microscopic examination, by dye uptake and re-suspension of the organisms in fresh TYM-S and watching for parasite growth and multiplication. Rapid freezing protocol failed to cryopreserve T. vaginalis with any cryoprotectant. DMSO was superior to glycerol, especially in 10% concentration by slow freezing. Viable organisms were more when the suspensions were immediately thawed without delay

Compatibility of Biomphalaria alexandrina snails to Infection with Schistosoma mansoni after exposure to sublethal concentations of Myrrh

The effect of exposing B. alexandrina to the sublethal dose [LC10 and LC20] of myrrh, on its susceptibility to infection with S. mansoni miracidia were determined. At three weeks post miracidial exposure, cercarial shedding was monitored. No shedding of cercariae was observed from snails treated with LC20. In snails treated with LC10, longer prepatent cercarial and shorter cercarial production periods than those of the control group were recorded. The number of infected snails and shedding cercariae was decreased. The study revealed that the sublethal values of myrrh decreased the compatibility of B. Alexandrina to S. mansoni infection, thus proved to have an important role in the control of schistosomiasis

Role of nitric oxxide in host defense against Hymenolepis nama infection

The defensive role of nitric oxide [NO] against Hymenolepis nana was investigated in vivo and in vitro studies. Serum NO levels were increased in mice 5 days [cysticercoid stage] and 15 days [adult stage] after H. Nana induced oral infection with 1000 eggs/mouse compared with the normal controls. Meanwhile, L-NAME, a NO synthase inhibitor, oral administration in drinking water to infected mice caused a nonsignificant decrease in the serum NO levels compared with the normal controls and was associated with a significant increase in the number of both cysticercoids and adult worms compared with that in infected mice 5 and 15 days post infection. In an in vitro study, the NO donor, sodium nitroprusside caused an increased mortality rate of H. Nana cysticercoids and adult worms compared with the controls without NO donor and this was in a concentration-dependent manner. The implications of these results were discussed

effects of MyRRH on the infected snails of Schistosoma Sp. and their egg masses: effect on shedding of cercariae and on snail fecundity

Myrrh has molluscicidal effect on infected Bulinus truncates and Biomphalaria alexandrina snails at low concentrations [10 and 20 ppm, respectively] after 24 hours exposure. The number of dead snails increased with prolongation of exposure time. All Schistosoma free cercariae were killed by 2.5 ppm within 15 minutes. One day-old egg masses were more susceptible to the ovicidal effect of myrrh than the five-day old ones. Both types of eggs were more resistant to the effect of myrrh than the adult snails, embryogenesis began to stop at 20 ppm and the eggs were all killed at 60 and 80 ppm. Shedding of cercariae of Schistosoma mansoni from infected B. alexandrina stopped at 1 ppm and was suppressed at 0.8 ppm. Snail fecundity decreased at 1 ppm

Study of trichomoniasis among egyptian male patients

In the present study, Trichomonas vaginalis was diagnosed in 28.8% male patients with urethral discharge and in 8.2% suffering from impotence and infertility. Diagnosis was based on examination of urethral discharge, urine, semen and prostatic massage fluid by wet mount, stained films and culture inoculation. Diamond's culture proved to be the method of choice