Epidemiological studies on the role of fish in transmitting some zoonotic diseases to man

This study was performed for determination of the role played by fish in transmitting some bacterial and parasitic zoonoses to man. A total of 300 fish of Tilapia spp. were collected [50 from a farm in El-Fayoum Governorate, 100 from a farm in Beni-Suef Governorate and 150 from Beni-Suef markets]. In addition, 73 humans [60 fish sellers and 13 farm workers] were examined. Staph. aureus, Aeromonas hydrophila, Proteus spp., Shigella spp. Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Pseudomonas fluorescence were isolated from the examined fish at percentages of 4.3, 9.7, 3.0, 1.7, 2.0 and 2.0, respectively. Among the isolated bacteria, Staph. aureus, Proteus spp. and Shigella spp. were found restricted to fish skin and gills, while Aeromonas hydrophila and Pseudomonas spp. were isolated from all the examined fish bodyparts [skin, gills, muscles and internal organs] with varying percentages. Out of the examined fish, 26.7% were harboring parasitic cysts including metacercariae of CHnostomum complanatum, Heterophyes heterophyes, Centrocestus armatus and Haplorchis pumilio. Examination of hand swabs obtained from humans demonstrated that 12.3% revealed a positive result for Staph. aureus. Among farm worker stool samples examined, 7.7% tested positively for Staph. aureus and 15.4% were Aeromonas hydrophila-positivQ. None of the parasites recovered from fish was detectable in humans. It was concluded that fish sold in the examined localities may occasionally represent a serious threat to public health as a result of its content of zoonotic fish pathogens

Investigation of toxoplasmosis in pregnant women and slaughtered animals

A total of 21 women with complicated pregnancy [abortion, premature labor and genital disorders] together with 51 with normal pregnancy from Beni-Suef Governorate hospitals were investigated for detection of anti-toxoplasma antibodies level by ELISA [IgM and IgG]. Tissues [diaphragm, masseter and thigh muscles] from slaughtered animals [60 cattle, 97 sheep and 26 camels] were collected from Beni-Suef abattoir for detection of Toxoplasma cyst [bradyzoites] using bioassay in mice. The results showed that all controls [normal pregnancy] were 1gM negative, however 19 [37.25%] were IgG positive. As to the women with complicated pregnancy 3/21 or 14.28% were IgM positive and 15/21 or 71.42% were IgG positive. The epidemiological survey revealed that the risk factors associated with Toxoplasma infection in humans were contact with cat, eating raw or undercooked meat and other uncertain factors. Concerning meat, Toxoplasma cysts [bradyzoites] were detected only in sheep meat at a rate 15.46% but failed detection in bovine and camel meat. However, as T. gondii was principally detectable in sheep meat, the consumption of such meat harbors a potential infection risk for humans