Epidemiological studies on highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 during late 2009 and 2010 in Egypt

Epidemiological studies on AI virus H5N1 in different governorates in Egypt [Alexandria, Bohera, Cairo, El-fayom, Gharbia, Giza and Dakahlia] during late 2009 and 2010 were carried out. These studies included seventy five flocks [49 broilers, 17 layer, 4 breeder and 5 duck flocks] showing high mortality rate with respiratory manifestations and diarrhea, through isolation in specific pathogen free eggs and identification by hemagglutination inhibition test using H5N1 antiserum. The data revealed the following: a percentage of 32.7%, 76.5%, 50% and 40% in broiler, layer, breeder and duck flocks respectively were positive for AIV H5N1. The highest incidence was recorded in layer flocks followed by broiler breeder flocks, duck then broiler flocks with total incidence of 44% in all species. Sequencing and phylogenetic tree of hemagglutinin [HA] gene of six positive AIV H5N1 isolates from chickens during 2010 were done. Phylogenetic tree showed that all HA gene sequences blonged to highly diverse clade 2.2.1 viruses according to WHO/FAO/OIE nomenclature. Analysis of amino acid sequences of HA glycoprotein revealed some mutations at the receptor binding site of the HA molecule

Molecular characterization of the avian influenza virus in Egypt

Epidemiological studies on AI virus in different governorates in Egypt [Alexandria, Bohera, Gharbia, Kafr El Sheikh, Fayoum and Menofia] during 2007 to 2009 were carried out. These studies included broiler, layer and breeder flocks in addition to duck flocks and pigeon samples. Using the RT-PCR and Chromatography test, the data revealed the following: A total of 29 out of 59, 5 out of 11 and 2 out of 5 broiler, layer and breeder examined flocks were positive with a percentage of 49.2%, 45.5% and 40% respectively. Regard to duck flocks, 10 examined flocks were negative but 2 birds out of 82 pigeon samples were positive with a percentage of 2.4%. The data clearly indicated that the highest outbreaks with AI virus were recorded in broiler flocks followed by layer and breeder flocks, then pigeon samples. The data also, indicated that the chromatography test is a highly sensitive test used for detection of the avian influenza virus. The phylogenetic analysis of the full length genome sequences of the eight viral segments from virus isolates from chicken revealed that the clustering of our samples was within clade 2.2. The isolates had the multiple basic sequences in the heamagglutinin gene at cleavage site indicating a highly pathogenic phenotype. Sequence analysis of the eight gene segments showed nucleotide as well as amino acid substitutions

Postoperative control of pain after total knee replacement: epidural infusion of bupivacaine-sufentanil and levobupivacaine-sufentanil mixtures

Regional anasthesia [particulary epidural technique] leads to reduction in intraoperative and postoperative complications thus improving morbidity and mortality after major surgery [1-2], minimizing or preventing side effects and risk are economic benefits which can be balanced against, or purchased by costs, especially in terms of postoperative morbidity and hospital stay [3-4-5]. Racemic bupivacaine has been widely used as a local anesthetic beacuse of its long duration of action and beneficial ratio of sensory to motor block when used for epidural analgesia. However there have been reports of death attributable to bupivacaine-induced cardiotoxicity in patients after accidental intravascular injection [6] or during intravenous regional anaesthesia [7]. Levobupivacaine was developed because of concern regarding bupivacaine cardiotoxicity and preclinical evidence suggesting that there is stereospecificity with regard to blockade of impulse conduction in the cardiovascular system. Clinical studies have shown that levobupivacaine is equipotent to bupivacaine in vitro and in vivo in terms of anaesthesia efficacy. This study was conducted on fort patients classified into two groups, each of twenty, undergoing total knee replacement, comparing the analgesic efficacy, effects on hemodynamic parameters and the occurrence of side effects, between two groups receiving either bupivacaine sufentanil or levobupivacaine-sufentanil mixtures for post operative control of pain. This study revealed non-significant difference between the two groups as regard the effectiveness of pain control as determined by monitoring the 100 mm visual analogue scale, degree of sedation as detected by the four points sedation score also changes in the hemodynamic parameters were comparable between the two groups as well as the prevalence of side effects