In vitro efficacy of new synthetic benzimidazole-related compounds against Schistosoma mansoni adult worms

Objective: To evaluate the in vitro antischistosomal activity of two new synthetic benzimidazole-related compounds: NBTP-OH and NBTP-F. Methods: Schistosoma adult worms were recovered from mice infected with Schistosoma mansoni cercaria, washed and then incubated in the culture media with different concentrations of compounds NBTP-OH and NBTP-F up to 72 h. Scanning electron microscopy was conducted to report morphological changes. Results: Incubation of adult Schistosoma mansoni with 10 µg/mL of NBTP-OH for 48 h killed 81.25% of worms. The calculated LC50 and LC90 72 h post-incubation were 6.8 µg/mL and 9.8 µg/ mL, respectively. Exposure of worms to 10 µg/mL of NBTP-F killed 89.5% of worms after 48 h, mostly males (83.3%), the LC50 and LC90 after 72 h of incubation were 4.8 µg/mL and 6.9 µg/mL, respectively. Worms incubated for 72 h with these compounds revealed swelling and deformity of oral sucker, disorganization and erosion of the tegument when examined with scanning electron microscopy. Conclusions: NBTP-OH and NBTP-F possess in vitro antischistosomal activities; however, in vivo studies should be conducted to examine their antischistosomal effects.

Proteomic profiles characteristic of Schistosoma mansoni infection in patients from two different endemic areas

Knowledge of the Schistosoma proteome may greatly enhance our understanding of its physiological and pathological processes at the molecular level and may provide new models for diagnosis and development of vaccines or drugs. Despite the importance of this approach, Schistosoma proteomic research in Egypt and Brazil is still incipient. To identify the profiles of S. mansoni serum reactive proteins [SRP] that may characterise clinically relevant subgroups of patients with schistosomiasis from two different endemic regions; Egypt and Brazil. Soluble egg antigen [SEA] and soluble worm antigen preparation [SWAP] of Egyptian and Brazilian strains of S. mansoni were resolved by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis [2-DE]. Serum samples were collected from patients with intestinal [INT] and hepatosplenic [HS] schistosomiasis from both countries. Sera were probed using 2-dimensional western blot [2-DWB] against the corresponding separated antigens proteins [i.e. Egyptian SEA and SWAP were probed separately against Egyptian sera, while Brazilian SEA and SWAP were probed separately against Brazilian sera] to determine the isoelectric focusing point [pI] and molecular weight [MW] of the SRP. Both Egyptian and Brazilian strains antigens gave similar electrophoretic patterns in their p1 amid MW, where 97 soluble proteins from SEA and 125 from SWAP were resolved by 2-DE. For SEA, 11 and 12 proteins uniquely reacted to sera of INT and US patients respectively, and 62 proteins reacted to sera from patients with concurrent INT and HS schistosomiasis. Out of 85 SEA reactive proteins; 16 were reactive to >/= 50% of sera of patients with the INT or HS clinical form of the disease. Regarding SWAP, 24 and 10 proteins uniquely reacted to sera of INT and HS patients respectively, and 35 proteins reacted to sera from patients with both clinical forms of schistosomiasis. Out of 69 SWAP reactive proteins, 6 proteins were reactive to >/= 50% of sera from Egyptian patients with INT schistosomiasis. Sera of patients from Egyptian and Brazilian populations exhibited significant differences [P=0.032] for recognition of the immune reactive proteins to SEA and SWAP in the two different clinical forms of the diseases. Further definition of reactive proteins could provide novel targets for vaccine design and therapeutic intervention. Further detailed studies on large population scale are recommended to correlate different proteomic data among different clinical forms of schistosomiasis in an attempt to generate a vaccine valuable in schistosomiasis control in endemic areas

Soil-parasites particularly toxocara eggs in Egypt

Soil-transmitted helminths [STHs] remain a major threat to the human health throughout the world, mostly in developing nations. Soil is usually contaminated by different parasitic stages through promiscuous defecation of man particularly children. This is more liable to occur in fields, public gardens and sides of streets or canals. Also, feces of domestic and wild animals and birds play a role in soil contamination. This study was conducted at Mansoura city and Batra village and El-Minia city and Zohra village representing the urban and rural areas of Dakahlia Governorate, Lower Egypt and Minia Governorate, Upper Egypt respectively. The most common helminthic stage presents in the soil of the two Governorates was Toxocara eggs. No ova was detected in-door yards in the urban areas, but only in the sides of streets, crop fields and fruit gardens, around houses and canal banks of both Governorates, and the highest intensity was 13-19 eggs/10 gm soil at canal banks at Zohra village, El-Minia Governorate, Upper Egypt

Past and present situation of human fascioliasis in Dakahlia governorate, Egypt

Zoonotic fascioliasis is a problem not only in Dakahlia Governorate, but also in other Egyptian Governorates. This work was conducted in ten centers at Dakahlia Governorate, Egypt. Three thousand cases were randomly selected annually from each center representing five rural and five urban areas. Cases were examined for Fasciola infection by stool examination using, direct smear, formol ether sedimentation and Kato-Katz technique. Infection was higher in rural areas than urban areas. Female /male ratio was 1.5: 1. Children between five and ten years old represent the highest infected group. The prevalence of infection was more among illiterate compared to educated individuals examined. Remarkable reduction in the prevalence rate was recorded in the last year of study compared to previous years, which is a good index of excellent control measures conducted by the Egyptian governorate to overcome parasitic infections

Kinetics of eosinophilia and IGE production in experimental murine toxocariasis

Eosinophilia and immunoglobulin E [IgE] antibody are considered the first and important elements in host responses to helminth infection. Toxocara canis, which elicits prominent eosinophilia and IgE production in normal mice, may be useful in understanding the Kinetics of circulating peripheral blood eosinophils and IgE antibody during infection. The onset, magnitude and duration of peripheral blood eosinophilia and total IgE production after primary T. canis infection in female outbred albino mice was investigated. Mice were either sham inoculated [controls] or were orally infected with 1000 embryonated eggs of T. canis. Patterns in leucocytic changes include significant increase in total WBC count between weeks 6 and 13 post infection [PI] with a peak on week 8 PI. Mice showed eosinophilia between weeks 2 to 17 PI with a peak on week 7. The development of eosinophilia in T. canis-infected mice was accompanied by the release of prominent level of serum IgE between weeks 2 to 21 with a peak at week 6 PI. These findings showed that eosinophilia in T. canis infected outbred mice can be T-cell dependent

Biochemical parameters in chronic fascioliasis

Serum lipids, liver enzymes and total bile acids were measured in chronic Fasciola [cholestatic and non-cholestatic] patients. Variations in the biochemical parameters between infected and control groups were detected and typified by considerably higher serum triglycerides [TG, P < 0.001], alkaline phosphatase [ALP, P < 0.001] and total bile acids [TBA, P < 0.001] in the infected group. For cholestatic patients, TG, very low density lipoprotein [VLDL], aspartate aminotransferase [AST], alanine aminotransferase [ALT], gammaglutamyl transferase [GGT] and ALP were statistically higher [P < 0.001 for each comparison] and total cholesterol [TC]; low density lipoprotein[LDL] and high density lipoprotein [HDL], were statistically lower than non-cholestatic patients [P = 0.02, < 0.001, < 0.001 respectively]. No statistically significant differences were found for the TC, HDL, VLDL, ALT, AST and GGT between non-cholestatic patients and healthy controls

Diagnostic criteria for house dust mites sensitized allergic patients

House dust mites [HDM] contain a large number of components that react with IgE in individuals with allergies and induced sensi-tization and allergic diseases. The work aimed to correlate between clinical manifestations of HDM allergic patients and skin prick test [SPT] grading, and to clarify some markers denoting allergic disorders caused by HDM exposure. Thirty allergic patients with positive SPT reaction to HDM were selected, grading of disease severity according to SPT and clinical presentations. The results revealed bronchial asthma [40%], atopic dermatitis [26.7%], rhinitis 20%] and conjunctivitis [13.3%]. Serum ALISA-IgE showed mean level of 398.42 +/- 84.73, 369.87 +/- 86, 332.16 +/- 65.57 and 300.25 +/- 79.39 IU/ml respectively, with highly statistically significant difference between cases and controls [p

T-lymphocytes activation and expression of costimulatory molecules in human toxoplasmosis during pregnancy

The study was carried on 48 pregnant patients with positive sera for Toxoplasma antibodies [IgG, IgM] and 12 cross matched healthy control pregnant women. All studied cases were submitted to flow cytometric analysis of peripheral blood mononuclear cells [PBMNCs]; using monoclonal antibodies [MAbs] against CD3, CD4, CD8, CD28 and HLA-DR. Results revealed that, there was a significant decrease in CD4 and the expression of co stimulatory molecule CD28 on CD8 T lymphocytes, while the activation marker HLA-DR expression on CD4 T lymphocytes was significantly increased, but the changes in CD3 and CD8 T lymphocytes were insignificant

Ultrastructure characteristics of Besnoitia darlingi tachyzoites brumpt, 1913 [protozoa: sarcocystidae] of the Michigan strain MIBD1

Tachyzoites of Besnoitia darlingi Brumpt, 1913 were redescribed based on new materials isolated from Virginia opossums [Dideiphis virginiana, Kerr] from Michigan, USA. Tachyzoites of the MIBD1 strain were propagated in bovine turbinate cell culture for more than two years. A comparison with previously described tachyzoites of the B. darlingi OP1 strain from Mississippi, USA revealed some morphological differences despite the remarkable genetic homogeneity between the two B. darlingi strains. MIBD1 tachyzoites were distinguished from OP1 tachyzoites by having more rhoptries, and fewer and haphazardly distributed micronemes at the conoidal end. This morphological heterogeneity between tachyzoites of the two strains suggests the role of geographical isolation in the Michigan strain. New morphological features of B. darlingi tachyzoites were described

Blastocystis hominis among symptomatic and asymptomatec individuals in Talkha center, DaKahlia governorate, Egypt

Blastocystis hominis is now getting acceptance as an agent of human intestinal disease. B. hominis in stool samples of symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals was evaluated as a possible cause of gastro-intestinal troubles. B. hominis was found in 106 [10.1%] out of 1050 individuals examined from six villages and one city in Talkha Center, Dakahlia Governorate. The highest infection rate was in Manshayt El-Badawy village [25.47%], whereas Talkha City showed the lowest rate [4.73%]. Age group 10-20 years had higher infection [13.3%]. In twenty- three symptomatic patients, B. hominis represented the only causative parasitic agent. The most common symptoms were diarrhoea [30.4%], abdominal pain [26.1%], flatulence [21.7%], vomiting [13.1%] and fatigue [8.7%]. High concentrations of B. hominis were found in symptomatic patients than in asymptomatic ones with statistical significant difference [8.2 cells/100 x field versus 3.8 respectively]. The mean number of B. hominis was significantly high in patients complaining of diarrhoea and abdominal pain

Geoparasites in rural Dakahlia Governorate, apreliminary based study for development of the community-based intervention programs

A prospective study was carried out to detect the rural prevalence and intensity of geoparasites in Dakahlia Governorate, Egypt. A total of 1070 soil samples were collected; 571 [53.4%] were infected with one or more parasites. Only 24% of samples were infected with one parasite, 16.4% and 13% with two, and more than two parasites respectively, and the difference was statistically significant. The geoparasites in a descending order of their prevalence were: E. histolytica cysts [9.2%], Toxocara eggs [9.1%], Giardia cysts [7.9%], Cryptosporidium oocysts [6.1%], Trichostrongvius eggs and larvae [5.6%], isospora oocysts [4.3%], Acanthamoeba cysts [4.1%], Naegleria cysts [3.6%], Dust mites [2.7%], H. diminuta eggs [2.7%], Strongyloides free living adults, rhabditiform and filariform larvae [2.3%], H. nana eggs [1.7%], S. mansoni eggs [1.2%], Ascaris eggs [0.6%], Ancylostoma larvae [0.5%], Taenia eggs [0.4%], Trichocephalus eggs [0.4%] and F. gigantica eggs [0.2%]. The prevalence of parasitic infections was significantly higher [P < 0.001] in fields [63.4%] than streets [47.7%] and indoor-yards samples [35.3%]. The intensity of infections was significantly higher [p< 0.001] in streets than fields and indoor-yards [18.1, 9.7 and 1 parasite / 10gm of soil respectively]