serum levels of zinc in school children: a crosstalk with stunting and giardiasis

Zinc deficiency is an increasing public health problem. It may be related to compromised neurobehavioral function in children and adolescents. An association between giardiasis and zinc levels in human hosts had been reported. The occurrence of recurrent intestinal infection by Giardia lamblia may reflect a failure to correct an undefined specific nutrient deficiency, for example, the need for adequate zinc repletion. This study estimated the level of serum zinc in a sample of primary school children and to study the associations between it and height for age and giardiasis. A cross section study was carried out on randomly selected primary schools in Dubai and Ajman. They were 500 school children with age range from 6-12 years in Dubai and Ajman. The level of serum zinc, height for age and giardia infection were estimated. The results showed that the prevalence of zinc deficiency was 23% with no relationship to age or gender. The low serum zinc was significantly associated with stunting and giardiasis. Regression analysis showed that stunting and giardiasis were significant predictors for low serum zinc [Beta = 0.365, 0.684 respectively]

Imported Malaria in United Arab Emirates: Evaluation of a New DNA Extraction Technique Using Nested PCR

Local malaria transmission in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) came to an end in 1997. Nevertheless, UAE has been subjected to substantial importation of malaria cases from abroad, concerning both UAE nationals and immigrants from malarious countries with a total number of 2,119 cases in 2007. To evaluate a new DNA extraction technique using nested PCR, blood samples were collected from 132 individuals who presented to Infectious Diseases Department in Rashid Hospital, Dubai, and Central Department of Malaria Control with fever and persistent headache. Giemsa-stained blood films and ELISA test for malaria antibodies were carried out for detection of Plasmodium infection. Plasmodium infections were identified with the genus-specific primer set and species differentiation using nested PCR. A rapid procedure for diagnosis of malaria infections directly from dried blood spots using for the first time DNA extract from FTA Elute cards was evaluated in contrast to extraction techniques using FTA classic cards and rapid boiling technique. Our new simple technique for DNA extraction using FTA Elute cards was very sensitive giving a sensitivity of 100% compared to 94% using FTA classic cards and 62% in the rapid boiling technique. No complex preparation of blood samples was required prior to the amplification. The production cost of DNA isolation in our PCR assay was much less in comparable to that of other DNA extraction protocols. The nested PCR detected plasmodial infection and could differentiate P. falciparum from P. vivax, and also detected the mixed infection.

Imported Malaria in United Arab Emirates: Evaluation of a New DNA Extraction Technique Using Nested PCR

Local malaria transmission in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) came to an end in 1997. Nevertheless, UAE has been subjected to substantial importation of malaria cases from abroad, concerning both UAE nationals and immigrants from malarious countries with a total number of 2,119 cases in 2007. To evaluate a new DNA extraction technique using nested PCR, blood samples were collected from 132 individuals who presented to Infectious Diseases Department in Rashid Hospital, Dubai, and Central Department of Malaria Control with fever and persistent headache. Giemsa-stained blood films and ELISA test for malaria antibodies were carried out for detection of Plasmodium infection. Plasmodium infections were identified with the genus-specific primer set and species differentiation using nested PCR. A rapid procedure for diagnosis of malaria infections directly from dried blood spots using for the first time DNA extract from FTA Elute cards was evaluated in contrast to extraction techniques using FTA classic cards and rapid boiling technique. Our new simple technique for DNA extraction using FTA Elute cards was very sensitive giving a sensitivity of 100% compared to 94% using FTA classic cards and 62% in the rapid boiling technique. No complex preparation of blood samples was required prior to the amplification. The production cost of DNA isolation in our PCR assay was much less in comparable to that of other DNA extraction protocols. The nested PCR detected plasmodial infection and could differentiate P. falciparum from P. vivax, and also detected the mixed infection.

Loa loa infection in non-endemic area: a case study and disease review

Loiasis is a cutaneous filarial parasite of humans caused by the filarial nematode Loa loa, which is transmitted to humans by day-biting Chrysops flies. Human loiasis is confined to the rain forest and swamp forest areas of Western and Central Africa; however; sporadic cases hove been reported from other parts of the world including India. United Arab Emirates is relatively free from arthropod-borne parasitic diseases, but the region remains vulnerable to the introduction of such infections from areas where they are endemic due to a high traffic of a large expatriate population. We report a suspected case of loaiasis in a patient from India who lived and worked in Dubai, UAE, for several years and who had never visited Africa in the past. We assume that this is the first case of loaiasis reported from the gulf region where transmission of the infection has occurred outside the endemic areas

Genetic characterization of Giardia lamblia isolates from Egyptian patients with relation to clinical giardiasis

Investigators tried to correlate clinical presentation of giardiasis to the different genotypes, but controversial data were described through the last decade. The clinical manifestations of 89 Giardia patients were classified into:- GI: 52 symptomatic patients and GII: 37 asymptomatic patients. Genetic characterization of G. lamblia of the patients' fecal samples was performed by polymerase chain reaction [PCR] and restriction fragment length polymorphism [RFLP] technique b using triose phosphate isomerase gene [tpi]. Forty-two patients had genotype Al [47.19%], 16 had genotype A2 [17.98%], 10 had genotype B [11.23%] and 19 had mixed genotype infection [21.35%]. However, PCR-RFLP failed to determine Giardia genotype of only two cases [2.25%]. The 20 control fecal samples obtained from healthy subjects showed negative results for G. lamblia by PCR-RFLP method. Of 52 cases in GI, the prevalence genotype Al was 44.23%, genotype A2 was 19.23%, genotype B was 13.46%, mixed genotype infection was 21.15% and undetermined genotype was 1.92% as compared to 51.35%, 16.21%, 8.11%, 21.62% and 2.70% in GII, respectively. There was no significant difference between both groups as regard the different Giardia genotypes [p>0.05]. Statistical analysis of each symptom in different genotypes revealed insignificant [p>0.05]. The results denied any correlation between G. lamblia genotype and the clinical presentation of giardiasis

reflection of control programs of parasitic diseases upon gastrointestinal helminthiasis in Dakahlia governorate, Egypt

The study area included Mansoura city as an urban area and Gogar village as a rural area. One thousand individuals were randomly selected from each area. Different methods of stool examination, perianal swab and urine examination of all participants revealed that the incidence in Mansoura city was in a descending order Heterophyes heterophyes 6.4%; Enterobius vermicularis 3.9%; Hymenolepis nana 2.2%; Schistosoma mansoni 0.5%; Trichostrongylus colubriformis; Strongyloides stercoralis and Fasciola sp. were recorded as 0.2% of each. Taenia saginata, Ascaris lumbricoides and Trichocephalus trichiuris were recorded as 0. 1% of each. Neither Ancylostoma duodenale nor Hymenolepis diminuta was recorded. In Gogar, the parasitic infection was H. hetephyes 4.5%; E. vermicularis 4.1%; H. nana 3.3%; S. mansoni 1.6%; T. colubriformis 0.9%; S. stercoralis 0.5%. Fasciola sp. 0.4%; T. saginata, A. lumbricoides, H. diminuta, A. duodenale and T. trichiuris were recorded as 0.1% of each. None S. haematobium was detected in both areas. So, the infection rates of H. heterophyes, E. vermicularis, H. nana S. mansoni, Fasciola sp., T. colubriformis and S. stercoralis were relatively high the rural than in urban area. This was not surprising since the socioeconomic, hygienic conditions and medical services were relative high in the city than in the village. No doubt, the identifications of parasitosis pave the way for feasible treatment and control measures

Intestinal parasites in Dakahlia Governorate with different techniques in diagnosing protozoa

A total of 318 patients attending Mansoura University Hos-pitals' Clinics, were subjected to stool examination by direct wet smear, formol ether concentration, original formol-tween con-centration, modified formol-tween concentration, modified sheather's sugar floatation, potassium hydroxide concentration and Gomori's Tirchrome stain, and modified Kinyoun's acid-fast-sta-in and Ryan's Tirchrome blue stain for Microsporidia. The inte-stinal helminthes in a descending order of abundance were: S. mansoni [5.3%], Fasciola sp. [4.8%], H heterophyes [4.2%], Hymenolepis nana [3.9%], trichostrongylus sp. [2.6%], A. lum-bricoides [1.8%], strongyloides stercoralis [1.5%], H. diminuta [1.4%], Taenia saginata [1.1%], E. vermicularis [by smear; 1.1%], T. trichura [0.7%] and lastly A. duodenale [0.1%]. The inte-stinal protozoa in a descending order of abundance were Blasto-cystis hominis [22.4%], Giaradia lamblia [19.6], Entamoeba histolytical E. dispar [19%], Iodamoeba butschlii [16%], Crypto-sporidium parvum [14.3%], E. coli [9.7%], isospora hominis [7.7%], Endolimax nana [6.9%], E. hartmani [5.9%], Dien-tamoeba fragilis [5.1], chilomastix mesnili [5.1%], tricho monas hominis [4.2%], Cyclospora cayetanensis [4.2%], Mic-rosporidia spores [3.2%], Enteromonas hominis [1.9%] and Em-badomonas intestinalis [1.3%]. The results were discussed.

Hydatidosis granulosus in Egyptian slaughtered animals in the years 2000-2005

Hydatidosis was investigated among camels, sheep, goats, and pigs in Egyptian official abattoirs, from August 2000 to August 2005, and among cows and buffaloes were in Mansoura official abattoirs, in the year 2005. One hundred randomly chosen animals of each species were subjected to serologic and his-to pathologic examinations for infections. The overall five years hydatidosis prevalence was 2.53%, 0,3% and 0.68% in camels, sheep and goats, and pigs respectively. The 2005 year prevalence in cows and buffaloes was 6.4% in Mansoura. There was a significant difference between animal regarding liver infections, but the difference was highly significant for lung infection. A highly significant difference in hydatid cysts size was between pigs and other animals species [p<0.000] and significant difference between macroscopic findings in pigs and camels [p=0.018]. A high significant difference was between histopathology in all animals species except pigs sheep and goats [p=0.089]. IHAT showed highly significant difference between camels and other animals species [p=0.000]. A significant histo pathologic positive correlation was between positive IHAT and fertility [Pearson correlation =0.148, p=0.003]. The results were photographed and discussed

Assessment of immunological response to schistosma hematobium in patients with urinary tract morbidity and its correlation to clinical findings and pathological changes

Schistosomiasis is one of the most widespread parasitic infections. United Arab Emirates is a country free of Schistosomiasis. Cases enrolled in our study were all expatriate. The risk of developing overt urinary tract pathology is well known to be related to the extent of host inflammatory response to surface egg antigen [SEA]. This study examined the hypothesis that nature of the host response to Schistosoma ova is considered a risk factor for urinary tract morbidity. In this study, 50 patients with proven Schistosoma haematobium infection were subjected to estimation of serum level of soluble egg specific antibody [SEA IgG], TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma, IL-4 and IL-10 production. Correlation between these parameters and both clinical data and the severity of bladder pathology as determined by ultrasonography and cystoscopic examination of lower urinary tract. We found strong association between increased TNF-alpha, decreased IFN-gamma production and IL-10 diminished release and bladder pathology in those patients. The level of anti-SEA IgG was positively correlated with bladder pathology. We can conclude that modulation of immune response by different cytokines can be helpful in the management of schistosoma hematobium infected patients

Evaluation of seven assays detecting serum immunoglobulin classes and sub - classes and salivary and faecal secretory IgA against Fasciola excretory / secretory [ES] antigens in diagnosing fascioliasis

Seven assays detecting serum IgM, IgG, IgG1, IgG4, IgA and salivary and fecal excretory IgA against Fasciola excretory/secretory [ES] antigens were evaluated in diagnosing fascioliasis, for cross reactivity with Schistosoma mansoni sera and for the evaluation of the cure of Fasciola infection after treatment. Assays detecting sera IgM, IgGl, IgG4 and IgA against Fasciola ES antigens showed 100% specificity and sensitivity. Assays detecting IgM and IgG showed 98% and 96% sensitivity as well as 100% and 94.6%, specificity respectively. Assays detecting salivary and fecal IgA showed 92% and 96% sensitivity as well as 100% and 100% specificity, respectively. Assays detecting IgM and IgG4 were the best in the evaluation of cure and assays detecting IgG4 and IgA showed the lowest cross-reactivity with sera from S. Mansoni infected patients. So, assays detecting serum IgA, IgG1 and IgG4 against Fasciola ES antigens were highly sensitive and specific for the diagnosis of fascioliasis and assays detecting salivary and fecal IgA were promising and was found to be of a great help in the diagnosis of fascioliasis, especially in epidemiologic studies