Detection of some intestinal protozoa in commercial fresh juices

Fresh fruit juices are popular, but not always safe. For assessing the likelihood of infection with newly emerging intestinal protozoa, commercial fresh orange, lemon, sugar cane, strawberry, and mango juices were screened by wet mounts, Webers modified trichrome and modified Ziehl-Neelsen stains. Protozoa viability was done by fluorescein-diacetate/propidium-iodide staining, and infectivity was performed in Swiss albino mice. Results showed that 35.43% were contaminated with one or more of Cryptosporidia, Microsporidia, and Cyclospora, as well as Giardia spp. Strawberry was the most contaminated juice [54.28%], while orange was the slightest [22.86%]. Cryptosporidia was the highest contaminant [61.29%], and Cyclospora was the least [14.52%]. Microsporidia spp. was the most robust contaminant which retained its viability and infectivity in juices in which it was detected. Moderately acidic strawberry and mango juices and alkaline sugar cane juice pose a possible threat, due to harboring the highest viable and infectious protozoa. Regarding highly acidic juices, viability and infectivity decreased in lemon, yet was not still risk free. Orange juice was comparatively safe, as viability dramatically declined, while infectivity was completely abolished. Hence consumers, especially high risk group, are placed at hazard of contracting intestinal protozoa infections, especially through moderately acidic and alkaline juices

Prophylactic effect of Bovine lactoferrin against acute toxoplasmosis in immunocompetent and immunosuppressed mice

This study evaluated the immune-potentiating effect of administrating bovine Lactoferrin [LF] to immunocompetent [IC] and immunosuppressed [IS] mice prior to infection with tachyzoites of T. gondii RH strain. Mice were IS with cyclophosphamide. LF was given in seven of them as oral doses on alternate days. Immunological and parasitological assessments showed that LF induced statistical significance comparable resistance against acute toxoplasmosis in IC and IS mice. This was verified by elevated splenic CD4[+] T lymphocytes, reduced tachyzoites' viability and infectivity, with diminished parasite burdens. So, mice mortality declined and their survival was prolonged. This indicated that LF have prophylactic efficacy against human toxoplasmosis in risky persons with alleviating immune balance

efficacy of antihelminthic compound; clorsulon against experimental schistosoma mansoni infection

The efficacy of Clorsulon[R] [CLS] against experimental schis-tosomiasis mansoni, using Praziquantel[R] [PZQ] as a therapeutic control was evaluated. Swiss Albino mice were divided into infected non-treated control, PZQ-treated group given a single dose of 500 mg/kg four weeks post infection [PI], and infected mice treated with single, double, and triple doses of 5 mg/kg CLS per dose, one week apart starting from the 4[th] week PI. All animals were perfused for adults count. Parts of livers and intestines were examined for granulomata number and sizes. Pathological changes in hepatic parenchyma by H and E and Masson trichrome stains were also examined. Results revealed that a single treatment with PZQ caused a significant percentage reducetion [%R] of worm load [92.68%], mean egg count in liver and intestine [91.20 and 94.01% respectively], and mean size of liver granulomata was reduced [92.06%]. Regarding CLS, the worm burden was reduced proportionally with number of doses given; 87.80, 96.34 and 97.56% in single, double and triple exposures successively. Egg count in liver was decreased by 85.90, 97.01 and 96.23% respectively in treated mice. Number of intestinal granulomata was decreased by 85.28, 94.24 and 95.49% in a similar way. Size of hepatic granulomata was decreased by 89.02, 94.51 and 95.05% by 1, 2 and 3 doses consecutively. All parameters reflected non significant difference between 2 and 3 dose of CLS. The results were critically discussed