ABSTRACT
Objective: To identify the serological epidemiology of Cryptosporidium infections and to follow up on the changes in the infection profile in Southern Egypt in order to establish a suitable scheme for control and prevention of cryptosporidiosis. Methods: A total of 1 912 (960 from human and 952 from animals) stool specimens and sera were screened for Cryptosporidium species using modified Ziehl Neelsen technique and a newly-developed enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Environmental risk factors and socioeconomic data were surveyed by questionnaire between September 2016 and December 2017. Results: Totally, 20.83% of the human subjects were positive for Cryptosporidium infection tested by ELISA. The seropositivity was positively correlated with age. The prevalence of Cryptosporidium infections in females was significantly higher than in males (P<0.05). The sensitivity and specificity of ELISA for Cryptosporidium were 99.06% and 88.88%, respectively. Furthermore, a high prevalence of Cryptosporidium in domestic animals (42.20%). Conclusions: The study observed that Cryptosporidium infections are common in the study area, with water sanitation, socioeconomic level; eating habits and hygienic status are considered the main risk factors for cryptosporidiosis. Therefore, environmental sanitation and health education will be useful in reducing the prevalence of infection.
ABSTRACT
Nile tilapia [Orechromis niloticus] as an experimental fish were stocked into 7 groups [G] with duplicate treatment. Each group received different mixture of CM or FCM with fish ration [FR], 0: 100, 25: 75, 50: 50 and 100: 0 [% CM or FCM:% FR]. Physico-chemical character of water and heavy metal load [Cu, Pb and Zn] of water and fish, as well as fish performance were measured and compared and compared with control group received only fish ration [FR]. Total volatile base nitrogen [TVB-N] was also used for determining fish quality. Unionized ammonia [UIA] was significantly high [P<0.05] at groups received FCM resulted in 100% mortality in such groups. TVB-N values were significantly [P<0.05] higher in group received 100% FCM compared to the control group. Heavy metals load [zinc, copper, lead] at water samples showed no significant difference among the examined groups, however slight decrease were observed at groups received FCM. While in fish flesh zinc only was detected above permissible limits in G4 [100%CM] and G7 [100%FCM]. Specific growth rate [SGR] percentage were lower at groups received CM and FCM