Antiparasitic activity of silver and copper oxide nanoparticles against Entamoeba Histolytica and Cryptosporidium Parvum cysts

Nanoparticles [NPs] have received more attention as antiparasitic agents. In the present study, silver and copper nanoparticles were synthesized and characterized using scanning electron microscopy [SEM], transmission electron microscope [TEM] and X-ray fluorescence [XRF]. The antiparasitic activity of Ag and CuO nanoparticles were tested against two of the most environmentally spread parasites in Egypt [Entamoeba histolytica and Cryptosporidium parvum]. The average sizes of synthesized Ag NPs and CuO NPs were 9 and 29 nm respectively and a significant reduction for cysts viability [p > 0.05] was observed for CuO NPs against E. histolytica cysts and Ag NPs against C. parvum oocysts. Moreover, LC[50]-3h of CuO NPs for E. histolytica and C. parvum were 0.13 and 0.72 mg/l, while Ag NPs recorded 0.34 and 0.54 mg/l respectively. Accordingly, these NPs could be suggested as a new nanoform agent for safe and effective treatment of E. histolytica and C. parvum parasites

Population ecology of mosquitoes and the status of bancroftian filariasis in el Dakahlia governorate, the Nile Delta, Egypt

Mosquitoes were surveyed [Oct. 2010 and Apr. - Oct. 2011] in some localities representing 13 centers of El-Dakahlia Governorate. Six mosquito species were collected: Culex pipiens, Cx. antennatus, Cx. perexiguus, Ochlerotatus detritus, Anopheles pharoensis and An. tenebrosus. Culex pipiens was predominating [ca 79% larvae, 51% adults]. Culex antennatus and Cx. perexiguus were also common. Of the Four types of the breeding habitats, the drainage canals were the most productive [53.4% larvae]. For the three common species, the compiled larval density increases as water temp, increased and decreases as pH increased while adult indoor density increases as indoor and outdoor temp, and indoor RH increased and decreases as outdoor RH increased. Cx. pipiens significantly associated with Cx. antennatus [C[AB]=0.88 and I=0.48] while Cx. antennatus has a moderate association with Cx. perexiguus [C[AB]=0.47 and I=0.36]. Out of 908 examined blood samples from ten centers, 7.49% were infected with Wuchereria bancrofti. The highest infection rates in some centers were associated with high indoor densities of Cx. pipiens females, the main filariasis vector. The situation necessitates a wide vector control program to minimize lymphatic filariasis transmission in this Governorate

Mosquitoes [diptera: culicidae] in relation to the risk of disease transmission in el Ismailia Governorate, Egypt

Mosquito were surveyed [Nov. 2009 - March 2010] in El Ismailia Governorate. Nine species were reported: Culex pipiens, Cx. perexiguus, Cx. antennatus, Anopheles tenebrosus, An. pharoensis, An. multicolor, Ochlerotatus detritus, Oc. cas-pius and Culiseta longiareolata. Culex pipiens was the predominant species [ca. 87% larvae and 57% adults]. For the 3 common species, Cx. pipiens, Cx. perexiguus, and Cx. antennatus the following were examined: [1] the type and characteristics [temperature and pH] of the breeding habitats and their relation to the larval density and [2] the relation of adult indoor density to the indoor and outdoor temperature and RH. The abundance of mosquito vectors in El Ismailia with its old history of vector transmitted diseases contributes to the risk of mosquito borne disease transmission in this area. This would assist in the control activities

Geographical distribution and relative abundance of culicine mosquitoes in relation to transmission of lymphatic filariasis in El Menoufia Governorate, Egypt

Culicine mosquito were surveyed in El Menoufia Governorate [October to November 2008 and April to May 2009] in villages representing eight districts. Six species were reported: Culex [Culex] pipiens Linnaeus, Cx. [Cx] perexiguus Theobald, Cx. [Cx.] antennatus [Becker], Aedes [Ochlerotatus] caspius [Pallas], Aedes [Ochlerotatus] detritus [Haliday] and Culiseta [Allotheobaldia] longiareolata [Macquart]. Cx. pipiens, the main filariasis vector was the commonest or predominating species [ca. 47% adults and 92% larvae, P<0.01]. For the common species, the following were investigated: 1-temperature and pH of the breeding habitats and their relation to the larval density and 2-relation of adult indoor density with indoor-and outdoor-temperature and RH. Besides, parasitologically, Wuchereria bancrofti cases [33/631 blood samples, 5.23%] were detected in three districts [range=1.96-14.12% infection]. The cases were associated with the abundance of Cx. pipiens adults [ca. 45-62% of the collected adults]

Hematological changes in mice exposed to biting of the bedbug: Cimex lectularius L. [Hemiptera: Cimicidae]

The studies on hematologic changes in humans or animals as a result of bedbug bites are lacking. This study was undertaken to examine changes in the blood picture of mice [Mus musculus] exposed to Cimex lectularius biting. As compared to the check animals, mice exposed to bedbug bites either once or twice within 7 days showed insignificantly higher WBC's [1.6 and 2.8% increase, respectively] and lower HGB content [0.5 and 0.8% decrease, respectively] and significantly higher PLT's [P<0.01] by 2.2% and 3.0%, respectively. Significantly higher [P<0.01] RBC's counts in mice bitten once than those of normal animals or those exposed to twice bites [5.3 and 5.9% increase, respectively]. Bedbug biting exerts its effects largely upon the differential WBC's. Mice bitten once or twice showed significantly lower number of neutrophils [1.2% and 12.1% decrease, respectively] than those for normal animals. Mice exposed to twice bites showed significantly [P<0.01] higher numbers of lymphocyte [18.8%], monocyte [13.6%], eosinophil [200.0%] and basophil [500%] than those of normal mice