Study of factors affecting growth of leishmania in cultures

The rate of growth of Leishmania major and L. infantum in El-ON's culture media supplemented with human, dog, rat and avian blood was studied in vitro. Rabbit blood was used as a control. The effect of culture with these types of blood on the infectivity of both Leishmania strains to albino mice was also studied. The results showed that a good yield of both L. major and L. infantum parasites can be obtained in culture by using avian blood as substitute for rabbit blood in El-ON's medium. In addition, rat blood gave good results with L. infantum. The morphological forms of L. major and L. infantum on all types of blood supplemented media [elongated promastigotes, spindle promastigotes, promastigotes and amastigoes] were present all through the culture period with variable percentages. The infectivity of experimental animals was not affected by culture of both Leishmania strains on rabbit, human, rat, dogs as well as avian blood supplemented media

Effect of insulin treatment on some metabolic changes on experimentally induced tumor in female mice

Insulin administration in TB-mice caused a very highly significant decrease in the values of plasma glucose, triacylglycerols, free fatty acids, total ketone bodies and urea concentrations. On the other hand, plasma albumin, total proteins and liver glycogen concentrations were markedly increased. Meanwhile, insulin administration in NTB-mice caused a significant decrease in the values of plasma glucose and free fatty acids concentrations. However, the mean values of plasma triacylglycerols and total ketone bodies levels showed a highly significant decrease after insulin administrations. On contrary, the value of plasma lactate, total proteins, albumin and liver glycogen concentrations were significantly increased. The results of this study indicated that, insulin treatment can reverse the experimental cancer cachexia, and it's anabolic therapy, has potential benefits in cancer treatment by shifting glucose metabolism toward the host and away from the tumor

Current prevalence of trichinosis in pigs in Egypt

The prevalence of Trichinella infection in slaughtered pigs in Cairo has been studied. 250 slaughtered pigs were examined by direct muscle examination and by immunofluorescent antibody test [IFAT]. The prevalence of Trichinella infection in slaughtered pigs as measured by direct muscle examination did not show any increase in the last ten years. The IFAT gave more accurate results [35.6%] than the direct examination of muscles [4%]