potential role of pigs in the enzootic cycle of rift valley fever at Alexandria Governorate, Egypt

This study was carried out to clarify the possible role of pigs as intermediate host for Rift Valley Fever [RVF] virus through detection of antibodies to RVF in the sera of pigs and human contacts. Two hundreds and forty five of pig blood samples and forty three blood samples of human contacts to the pigs [Veterinarian and their assistants, butchers and Abattoir workers] were collected from pigs1 abattoir at Alexandria governorate, Egypt. Blood samples were subjected to the detection of RVF antibodies by both ELISA and HAI techniques. The detection rate of RVF antibodies in pig sera by ELISA was 37 positive [15.1%] out of 245 tested sera samples. The highest detection rate of positive samples was in winter season [12 out of 58, [20.69%] and the lowest detection rate was at summer season [7 out of 70, [10.0%], while it was 9 [15.79%] and 9 [15.0%] positive out of 57 and 60 tested sera samples in spring and autumn seasons respectively with no significant differences between them. When HAI technique was applied to detect the RVF antibodies in pig sera, it gave only 20 positive samples out of 245 [8.16%] with highest detection rate was also in winter 7 [12.07%] while it was only 1 [1.43%] in summer season with significant differences between the results obtained in the summer season and those of autumn and winter seasons. History was taken from all of human contacts to exclude the possibilities of taking neither vaccination nor infection from other sources. The detection rates of antibodies against RVF virus in human contacts were 6 [13.95%] and 3 [6.98%] by ELISA and HAI techniques respectively. Our study does not exclude that, pigs act as a possible intermediate host in the maintenance cycle of RVF virus

use of ELISA for diagnosis and epidemiology of brucella infection in humans in Assiut governorate

The prevalence of brucella infection among hyumans in Assiut Governorate was stimated busing Rose Bengal plate test [TAT], and Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA]. The seroprevalence of brucellosis among humans in Assiut Governorate was 32.3%. Subjects professionally exposed to livestock including farmers [40.3%] and veterinarians [18.2%] represent a high risk group for brucella infection. The positive butcher case recorded in our study reflects the possibility of abattoir workers to attain the infection. Infections of the occupational groups including students [44.4%], children [40%], manual workers [14.3%] and others [66.7%] explain the role of consumption of raw milk and milk products as well as inadequately cooked meat, liver and spleen in spreading of that zoonosis among humans. A higher brucella prevalence was recorded in men [36.6%] than in women [26.8%]. Also, the rural population shows a higher infection rate [38.7%] than the urban one [14.7%] and this may be attributed to the local dietary customs and habits. Intensification of the infection [40%] among the age group less than 16 years gives a spot light on the serious role of raw milk and milk products in the epidemiology of brucellosis among humans in Assiut Governorate

Modified laser nephelometric technique to study RBC's aggregation stages

Laser nephelometric technique is developed to study RBC's aggregation. Using this aggregometer, blood aggregation curve is obtained from monitoring the scattering light signal from blood under various shear rates. From this curve, blood aggregation relaxation times [relaxation time of RBC's rouleaux formation T1 and time of network formation T2] and aggregation durability constant [beta] are determined. Results obtained indicate that as the shear rate increases the intensity of backscattered light increases due to increase in disaggregation. The relaxation time of formation of rouleaux [T1] was found to be correlated with HCT [hematocrit], RBC's count and HGB [hemoglobin]. Relaxation time of network formation [T2] and hydrodynamic durability constant [beta] have a weak correlation with hematological parameters