Some studies on capillaria philipinensis and its mysterious trip from philippines to Egypt [review article]

Cdpillaria philippinensis is a mysterious parasite and intestinal capillariasis is a mysterious disease. It is now more than half a century since the discovery of the first case in Philippines without answering many questions concerning the parasite's taxonomy, morphology, life cycle, diagnosis, pathology, clinical symptoms, mode of transmission as well as how it was transported to Egypt and how it started to spread and progressed in most Egyptian Governorates; particularly those of Middle Egypt. This article is a trial to overview all these aspects of the parasite

Molecular phylogenetic characyerization of Echinococcus spp. hydatid cyst based on internal transcribed spacer genes in Assiut, Egypt

Hydatidosis is one of the most important parasitic zoonosis and remains a public health and economic problem all over the world. The disease is endemic in many parts of the world. Reports on the species and strains of Echinococcus present in Egypt appear controversial. In the present study hydatid cysts were collected from freshly slaughtered camel at local abattoir, Assiut, Egypt. Hydatid cysts were genetically characterized by polymerase chain reaction [PCR] amplification and sequencing of internal transcribed spacer genes one and two [ITS1 and ITS2] of nuclear ribosomal DNA [rDNA] by using specific primers. The lengths of ITS1 and ITS2 sequences were 583 bp and 517 bp respectively for hydatid sample sequenced. Comparisons of ITS sequences of the examined hydatid sample in the present study revealed that collected hydatid represented Echinococcus Canadensis, which provides foundation for further studies on Echinococcus in Egypt. The data obtained will facilitate the development of diagnostic tools necessary to study the population genetic structure and epidemiology of this enigmatic parasite

Genetically confirmed fasciola hepatogigantica N.SP.

Identification of liver fluke species cannot be achieved by clinical, pathological, coprological or immunological methods. However, the differential diagnosis between F. hepatica and F. gigantica infection is very important because of their different pathological manifestations. Moreover, in countries where the two species co-exist, morphologically intermediate forms were reported. The present study aimed to identify these forms by the use of molecular characterization of DNA sequence. Based on morphometric criteria, adults of Fasciola hepatica, F. gigantica and intermediate forms were collected from naturally infected sheep and cattle from various regions of Sohag Governorate. A simple and rapid new method [QIAamp DNA Mini Kit] was used to isolate DNA from the worms and their RELP patterns were obtained after digestion of the PCR products with AvaII restriction enzymes. The result of a regular PCR experiment for the amplification of the selected 28S rDNA fragment with the designed primer set yielded identical 618- bp-long PCR products for the three types of Fasciola where the RFLP profile obtained from F. hepatica revealed four fragments of 628, 575, 165 and 95 bp, and F. gigantica generated three fragments corresponding to 628, 358 and 300 bp fragments whereas the intermediate forms revealed four fragments of 628, 541, 358 and 300 bp, which were similar to those of F. gigantica but with a distinctive fragment of 541. These results confirmed that three species are present in our locality: F. hepatica, F. gigantica and an intermediate form which was named F. hepatogigantica n.sp. on basis of having few morphometric characters from F. hepatica [length and pattern of uterine coils] but genetically they were more related to F. gigantica

Comparative study of the sensilla on antenna and maxillary palps of five culicine mosquitoes in Sohag governorate, Egypt

Mosquitoes are unquestionably the most medically important arthropod vectors of disease. The maintenance and transmission of the pathogens that cause malaria, lymphatic filariasis, and numerous viral infections are absolutely dependent on the availability of competent mosquito vectors. Although the medical community has known for over a century the role played by mosquitoes in the transmission of malaria and lymphatic filariasis, these diseases continue to have a devastating influence on less privileged populations throughout the tropical and subtropical regions of the world. The present study was done to identify the different culicine mosquitoes in four different districts in Sohag Governorate and to describe and compare the various types of sensilla located on their antenna and maxillary palps using scanning electron microscopy

Histochemical and ultrastructural studies on the calcareous corpuscles and eggs of taenia taeniaeformis and dipylidium caninum

Calcareous corpuscles were noticed by several previous workers to be present in larval and adult cestodes without knowing their function. However, nothing was mentioned in the available literature about distribution of these corpuscles and their density, structure and composition in different parts of the body of different cestodes. Hence, in the present work, a comparative study of their distribution, density, histochemical and ultrastructural characters in different parts of the body was performed in Taenia taeniaeformis and Dipylidium caninum. Due to the presence of the eggs in their gravid segments, their histochemical and ultrastructural characteristics were also studied. It was found that the size, location and density of the calcareous bodies were different in different body parts of the same and the other cestode. Histochemically, the main component of these corpuscles was calcium; while other constituents as polysaccharides, lipids, protrins and mucopolysaccha-rides were found in their outer rim. Ultrastructurally, they were quite similar in the two studied cestodes and different stages of their development were exhibited. Histochemically, the eggs of both cestodes were similar in their contents. However, some ultrastructural differences have been demonstrated particularly in relation to the size and shape of the rods in the embryophore and the structures in between the embryophore and onchosphere

Comparative morphological studies on three sarcocystis species in Sohag, Egypt

Samples from the tongue, heart, oesophageal and skeletal muscles were collected from 100 cow and 100 buffalo from Sohag slaughterhouses. Macroscopic examination for sarcocysts was followed by microscopic ones on impression smears and compressed muscles. Histological sections and transmission electron microscope [TEM] studies were done on positive cases. Sarcocystis infection rate of cows were 84%. Two species of Sarcocystis were detected: 1-S. cruzi with a membrane provided with hairlike villar protrusions folded over the surface of the cyst. These protrusions were rod-like, round, oval or irregular in shape and were approximately parallel to the cyst surface. 2-S. hominis characterized by a cyst wall consisting of cylindrical finger-like villar protrusions and having microfilaments. The protrusions were perpendicular on the cyst surface with broad tips and contain microfilaments. Buffaloes' muscle, samples revealed an infection rate of 28%. The macroscopic fusiform-shaped species only was detected [Sarcocystis fusiformis]. The role of cyst wall ultrastructure and thickness were discussed regarding identification and pathogenicity

Possible causes of morphometric differences in Schistosoma haematobium eggs in Sohag [Upper Egypt]

Eggs of Schistosoma spp. are of particular taxonomic importance. Minor variations in morphometry of egg or spine may denote a different species, variety or strain. Eggs of Schistosoma haematobium were detected from five urinary bilharzial cases. They were of different ages [6-29 years old] and different worm burdens [egg count varied from 5-375 eggs/1ml urine]. Previous treatment was also taken in consideration. Eggs were subjected to microscopical examination. Wide variations were observed in the egg measurements. Abnormal morphology was also observed Unfertilized eggs were observed for the first time. These were generally smaller in size than fertile eggs, and showed some deformity in their outline and contain few different- sized refractile granules. It is concluded that S. haematobium in Egyptian patients may belong to different strains that have eggs variable in measurements and shapes. Cross-fertilization between different species may affect the morphometry of the resultant eggs and may also be responsible for the deformities described during the present study

Detection of schistosoma haematobium egg antigen by western blot

Eggs of Schistosoma release a potent soluble egg antigen SEA" which is used as an important marker in immunodiagnosis of schistosomiasis. Electrophoresis and identification of different protein fractions of the antigen are used in accurate serological diagnosis. This work aimed to detect Schistosoma haematobium egg antigens in human serum and hyperimmune sera of rabbits by Western blot [WB]. The results revealed important bands detected with rabbit anti-sera against [SEA] at 32-34, 40, 63 and 100 KD. In case of human anti-sera, the most important bands were at 24-26, 32-34, 40, 63 110 and 150 KD. This work was done for the first time in Egypt and its results agreed with what was done before by other methods

Gigantobilharzia crude antigen as vaccine against schistosoma mansoni infection

Crude antigen prepared from adult Gigantobilharzia worms was used - for the first time - to immunize Balb/c mice against challenge infection with Schistosoma mansoni. Results of immunization were estimated by appearance of eggs in stool, antibodies in serum by Indirect Haemagglutination Test, counting the number of eggs and adults in liver and intestinal veins and tissues, estimation of the number and size of granulomas in the liver as well as description of adults deformities by ordinary and scanning electron microscopes. Obvious reduction in all these parameters was recorded in immunized mice. Further studies were recommended through the use of purified bird schistosomes antigens

Study on helminth parasites of man in Sohag governorate, Upper Egypt: I- General survey

The field of study was the endemic diseases Hospital in Sohag Governorate, where 16857 patients were examined. The most common parasites were: Schistosoma haematobium [9.38%] and Enterobius vermicularis [8.94%]. These were followed by Hymenolepis nana [2.13%], Ancylostoma duodenale [0.77%], Ascaris lumbricoides [0.6%], Schistosoma mansoni [0.047%], Taenia saginata [0.047%], Trichostrongylus colubrigormis [0.03%] and Trichuris trichiura [0.01]

Study on helminth parasites of man in Sohag governorate, Upper Egypt II- Biological studies on encountered parasites

Detailed morphological studies on the eggs of parasitic infection in Sohag Governorate were done. For this purpose, collected and intra-uterine eggs of helminth parasites were studied, different sizes and shapes of eggs were noticed. Examination of intrauterine eggs of worms which were obtained form treated patients and kept in formol saline revealed different types of eggs in the same worm. Knowledge of such differences is of very important aid in identification of eggs and diagnosis of parasitic infections

Study on helminth parasites of man in sohag governorate, upper Egypt: III-incidence of urinary schistosomiasis in primary school children

Out of 1828 pupils of five different localities were examined for schistosomiasis, Schistosoma haematobium was found in the five localities in percentage of 6.4%, 4.58%, 1.6%, 19.39% and 22.79% in El-Baskia, El-Shiakh Youssef, A bar El-Melk, El-Khiam and Awlad Nousair respectively. The infection rate increased till the age of nine years when it decreased gradually with age. Females were markedly less infected than males. Ten cases of Schistosoma mansoni were found only in three localities