Metacercariae recovered from fresh-water fishes in the vicinity of Qualkyobia Governorate, Egypt

A total of 410 Tilapia zillii, 70 Clarias gariepinus, 30 Bagrus bajad and 15 Chlrysichthys auratus fishes were collected from different water bodies in Qualyobia Governorate. Microscopic examination of samples showed infection in muscles and head region [gills and branchial cavity] with encysted metacercariae in 91.7% of T. zillii, 82.85% of Cl. gariepinus, 70% of B. bajad and 86.66% of Ch. auratus. The highest distribution of metacercarial infection among the T. zillii was in the muscles of posterior third and tail followed by the middle third, anterior third and head region [gills and branchial cavity] while the highest distribution of metacercarial infection among Cl. gariepinus was in the middle third muscles followed by the posterior third, anterior third and lastly in the head region. The highest metacercarial infection among B. bajad and Ch. auratus fish was in the posterior third muscles and branchial cavity respectively. The taxonomic morphology of the encysted metacercariae and the excysted ones was given

Studies on zoonotic cryptosporidiosis parvum in Ismailia Governorate, Egypt

A total of 390 stool samples from children less than 8 years old attending the MOHP central hospital in Ismailia District were examined for cryptosporidiosis. Stools were subjected to direct wet smear method and Sheather's sugar flotation and stained with Modified Z.N. Among the 390 children 204 were diarrheic of whom C. parvum was positive in 68 [33.3%]. The highest infection rate was 26/46 among children less than 2 months, 40/150 among children less than 2 years and 2/8 among children less than 7 years. Of these children the clinical pictures ranged from diarrhea [20.7%], to dehydration [20%], abdominal pain and mild fever [19.2%], and the lowest was tenesmus [6.25%]. The infection rate was 88.2% among cryptosporidiosis children compared to 11.8% that not in contact with animals. Water samples examined showed was 0.0% in bottled water up to 9.33% in water tank. C. parvum in farm animals was 20.9% in sheep, 22.5% in buffaloes, 23.7% in cows and 25.9% in goats

Real-time PCR and flow cytometry in detection of cyclospora oocysts in fecal samples of symptomatic and asymptomatic pediatrics patients

The magnitude of Cyclospora oocysts excretion in relation to infection intensity among cyclosporiasis patients was assessed using flow cytometry and quantitative real-time PCR [RT-PCR]. Oocysts from stool samples of 25 [14.8%] gastro-intestinal symptomatic pediatrics patients [169] and of 10 [2.8%] asymptomatic gastrointestinal ones [350] were identified by modified Ziehl-Neelsen [MZN] and modified Acid Fast Trichrome [MAFT] staining methods and confirmed by its auto-fluorescent characterizations. Also, 10 infants with negative stool samples were selected as controls. The intensity of infection was calculated as number of oocysts/200 microscopic filed with immersion 400. Flow cytometry and RT-PCR assessed relation between symptoms and oocysts excretions compared to MZN and MAFT. The infection severity in symptomatic patients were identified by MZN and MAFT as mild [16%], moderate [24%] and severe [60%]. All asymptomatic patients had mild infection. Flow cytometry was done for stool samples and 100% Cyclospora oocysts were in symptomatic and asymptomatic patients. None was detected in controls, RT-PCR was done for stools with both a species-specific primer set and dual fluorescent labeled Cyclospora cayetanensis hybridization probe by unique regions of 18S rRNA gene sequence. DNA of C. cayetanensis was in 100% of symptomatic and asymptomatic patients and in 20% of controls. In repetitive examination of stools Cyclospora oocysts were neither detected by staining nor flow cytometry. Based on oocysts counts, no differences were found between flow cytometry and RT-PCR in compared to staining methods

protective activity of serum and fractionated serum from rats against babesia divergens

The rat adapted strain of bovine babesia, B. divergens, was used as a model to investigate the mechanisms of immunity to this parasite. The effect of the humoral factors in the acquired immunity to B. divergens was investigated in splenectomized rats. Antibodies to B. Divergens were detected by indirect fluorescent antibody [IFA] test in sera collected during infection and at different times after recovery. The protective activity of the same serum was tested in vivo by passive transfer and compared with the antibody levels as measured by IFA test. The role of antibody in protection was confirmed after fractionating IgM and IgG from immune and hyperimmune sera. The protective activity of sera collected immediately after recovery was mainly due to IgM antibodies. The protective activity of sera collected at 3-4 days after recovery and of hyperimmune sera was mainly due to IgG antibodies. In hyperimmune serum, IgM antibodies were partially protective

Human monieziasis expansa: the first Egyptian parastic zoonosis

This paper reported the first Egyptian zoonotic infection with the common tapeworm of sheep, Moniezia expansa. The diagnosis was based on the recovery of the characteristic eggs from the stool of a 15-year-old shepherd. A single dose of 1 g niclosamide proved to be effective

Efficacy of commiphora molmol [Mirazid] against sheep naturally infected with monieziasis expansa in Al - Santa Center, Gharbia Governorate, Egypt

The efficacy of Commiphora molmol or myrrh [mirazid] was evaluated in treating sheep naturally infected with Moniezia expansa. Total doses of 1, 2 or 3 capsules [300 mg each] were given for 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 successive days on an empty stomach an hour before offering their breakfast. The stools of the three groups were examined microscopically and macroscopically for eggs and/or gravid segments, every day. When the stool was negative, the treatment was stopped. Sheep group was examined macroscopically after being slaughtered for adult worms in intestine. A total dose of 3600 mg given as 3 capsules for 4 days gave a cure rate of 100% with no clinical side effects. A dose of 4800 mg given as 2 capsules per day for 8 days gave a cure rate of 100% with no clinical side effects. On the other hand, a total dose of 2400 given as 1 capsule per day for eight days gave a cure rate 40%. Consequently, myrrh extract of the medicinal plant, Commiphora molmol [mirazid], proved to be safe and very effective in sheep, Monieziasis expansa

Immunity of babesia divergens in the rat: histology of the infected liver and Its possibil role in removing PRBC'S

The possible removal of B. divergens PREC's by the livers of immune splenectomized rats was investigated. The clearance of Cr51 labeled B. divergens infected erythrocytes was followed in splenectomized rats to test whether Cr51 labeled PREC's are cleared from the circulation of immune rats through the uptake and the phagocytosis by the liver. No significant difference was observed between the clearance radioactivity from the circulation as well as the liver uptake in the immune rats and the controls. The injection of irradiated parasites into the same rats showed that they were able to clear PRBC's from the blood stream and immunity was not specifically directed at merozoites. It was speculated that the parasites inside the red cells are removed by lysis or phagocytosis. Histological studies on livers collected from immune rats showed that lymphocytes are accumulated in the liver; therefore, those consisting of B and T cells leukocytes accumulating in the liver might be very important in the development of acquired immunity to B. divergens in splenectomized rats

Identification of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Egypt by hybridization of PCR amplified mini - exon repeats

In this study, polymerase chain reaction [PCR] was used to amplify the mini-exon gene repeat from 30 clinically and parasitologically positively cases of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis. It revealed that they possess 440-460 bp mini-exon gene that belongs to old world Leishmania. Hybridization of the PCR- amplified mini-exon repeats was performed. A single pair of PCR primers within a conserved region of the mini-exon repeat was used to amplify the repeats of the 30 cases. Oligonucleotide hybridization probes for the detection and identification of the PCR-amplified repeats were constructed from alignment of mini-exon intron and intergenic sequences. The probes of Leishmania major and Leishmania tropic, which are supposed to be present in the research area, were used to identify the causative species. They revealed that all collected samples belong to L. major

Cytoplathological action in mosquito larvae fed with Bacillus sphaericus [Strain Faiyorum] spore crystal complex

The ingestion of Bacillus sphaericus [strain Faiyoum] spore/crystal complex by larvae of Anopheles pharoensis, Culex pipiens and Aedes caspius was rapidly followed by a dissolution of the protein crystalline inclusions inside the anterior stomach of the three species. During the first day, B. sphaericus spores were germinated within the mid-gut lumen and were in a vegetative stage between 36-48 hours after ingestion when larvae began to die. The ultrastructural observations focused on the larval mid-gut showed alterations, which differ according to the mosquito species, being localized mainly in the gastric caecae and posterior stomach. With the bacterial concentration used, neither general cell swelling nor complete breakdown of the mid gut epithelium was recorded before the larval death. In An. Pharoensis larval mid- gut epithelium large low- electron-density areas appeared, rough endoplasmic reticula formed numerous concentric structures and mitochondria swelled. Large vacuoles [of unknown origin] appeared early in the Cx. pipiens mid gut cells and rough endoplasmic reticula broke into small vesicles. Mid gut epithelial cells of Ae. Caspius showed mitochondria swelling, except in the anterior stomach and a vacuolization of smooth reticula; these aspects remained unchanged until the larvae died