Morbidity of Schistosomiasis mansoni in rural Alexandria, Egypt

A parasitological survey of stool and urine of 2577 from 3281 individuals living in Abis village, Alexandria, was undertaken in 1998 in order to investigate the prevalence of schistosomiasis in this area and the risk factors for hepatic morbidity. A random sample of 1082 individuals was interviewed using a questionnaire regarding the risk factors for liver morbidity. All interviewed adults [total 728] were clinically examined for an evidence of organomegaly [hepatomegaly and/or splenomegaly]. Individuals with clinically detected organomegaly were referred for detailed investigations [total 65]. The criteria for severe hepatic morbidity were AST/ALT ratio higher than 1, prothrombin activity <70% and an evidence of portal hypertension

Human fascioliasis: T cell subsets in liver before and after bithionol treatment

Liver biopsies from 5 patients with established fascioliasis, before and after bithionol treatment were studied by immunoalkaline phosphatase technique for relative distribution of T cells and their subpopulations. T cell and its subsets are defined for OKT3[+] [pan T], OKT4[+] [helper/inducer] and OKT8[+] [suppressor/cytotoxic] cells by using mouse monoclonal antibodies. Before bithionol treatment, lymphocytic infiltration in all hepatic lesions were predominantly of OKT3[+] [pan T] lymphocytes. The distribution of OKT8[+] cells was moderate to severe in comparison to the few OKT4[+] cells presentation. After bithionol a noticable regression of the OKT3[+] lymphocytic in all liver sections. The majority of the lymphocytic infiltration was of the OKT8[+] cells, in comparison to the absence of the OKT[4]+ ones. This may indicate that suppressor/cytotoxic lymphocytes may have a role in the immune regulation of the disease and the mode of action of bithionol is by the accentuation of this immunoregulartory effect

Human fascioliasis: ultrastructural study on the liver before and after bithionol treatment

The pathology of human fascioliasis was studied before and after bithionol treatment using light and transmission electron microscopy. Fine needle biopsies were taken from five patients, with established fascioliasis, before and after drug administration. By light microscope the pathology of human fascioliasis was similar to that reported in experimental fascioliasis. The ultrastructural picture revealed bile ductular hyperplasia, fibrosis of portal tracts, widening of the interhepatic spaces by many microvilli and dilated Disse space with collagen fibres. Bile ductular hyperplasia may be the initial factor to fibrinogenesis, which subsequenetly enhance the development of the microvilli on the surface of the hepatocytes. Both light and electron microscopic studies revealed regression of the picture of fascioliasis to normal after bithionol treatment with no sign of toxicity on the liver

Uncommon complications of human fascioliasis in Alexandria

Fascioliasis is becoming more frequently discovered among citizens of Alexandria. The main presenting clinical manifestations included hepatic pain, colic, fever, anorexia, discomfort with meals and hepatomegaly. This study selected four cases with unusual presentation from patient's record of the last year. One case developed liver abscess due to F. hepatica infection. Two cases were encountered during cholecystectomy in patients suffering from cholecystitis with cholethiasis; in one of them the gall bladder had ruptured and the patient developed an abscess in the liver related to the gall bladder damage. In both cases F. hepatica worms were found in the bile duct. The fourth case presented with a calcular cholecystitis with empyema of the gall bladder

Serum IgE levels in Libyan patients with bronchial asthma

A serum total IgE levels [IU/ml] in 38 Libyan patients with bronchial asthma [BA] and in 16 healthy individuals as control subjects [CS] were studied by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA] technique. Out of the 38 BA patients [Group D], 17 were identified as intrinsic [Group C] and 21 as extrinsic [Group B] asthmatics. The mean IgE levels in these groups of BA patients were found to be significantly higher when compared with that of the control [Group A]. [A vs B: 82 +/- 53, 397 +/- 391, 0'01

0'00; A vs C: 82 +/- 53, 158 +/- 108, 0'02

0'01; A vs D: 82 +/- 53, 290 +/- 380, 0'02

0'01]. The mean serum IgE level of group B was significantly higher than that of group C also [B vsC: 397 +/- 392, 108, 0'02

0'01]. When the subjects were classified in relation to their individual IgE levels as normal [135 IU/ml], it was observed that 25 out of 38, 9 out of 17 and 16 out of 21 of groups D, C and B, respectively, had identified themselves as above normal, compared to only 4 out of 16 of group A. Attempts were, therefore, made to explain asthmatic attacks in these patients as possibly due to IgE-mediated mast cell degranulation. On the other hand, 13 out of 38, 8 out of 17 and 5 out of 21 of groups D, C and B, repectively had normal serum IgE levels and yet they were asthmatic as compared to group A [12 out of 16 in group A, had IgE levels <135IU/ml]. Therefore, asthmatic attacks in these patients could not be explained as due to IgE-mediated mechanisms. The various possibilities and prospects of new drug development are discussed

Helisoma duryI for the biological control of biomphalaria Alexandrina under laboratory conditions I] biological competitive interactions

In the present laboratory study information was obtained concerning the interspecific competition between H. Duryi and B. Alexandrina snails. The results indicated that the mortality rate among the adult B. Alexandrina snails was significantly increased. In addition the hatching of the egg masses and further development of the juveniles of the target snails were highly influenced by both the presence of Helisoma snails themselves and by the water conditioned by them

Immunoglobulin levels and intensity of infection in patients with fascioliasis, single or combined with schistosomiasis

The levels of IgG, IgM and IgE were measured in patients with single Fasciola infection or Fasciola combined with Schistosoma mansoni. They were found in the two groups above the normal levels. Comparison between the two groups revealed no difference in IgE level. IgG was significantly raised in the group with single Fasciola infection and IgM in the group with combined infection. It was suggested that the raised IgM level was due to the delayed maturity of some worms due to the presence of the other parasite. The study of egg counts lead to the conclusion that oviposition of Fasciola worms in the human host was lower than that in the suitable animal host. There was no correlation between the different immunoglobulin levels and the egg counts

Pregnancy levels of human placental lactogen and other steroidal hormones in cases of pregnancy induced hypertension

Serial plasma human placental lactogen HPL, estradiol E2, estriol E3 and progesterone P determination were conducted in the third trimester of human pregnancy on 20 normal, 20 mild hypertensive and 20 severe hypertensive patients. In mild hypertensive cases, plasma levels of HPL and E3 were significantly decreased compared to healthy group while E2 and P levels were not. Patients with severe pregnancy induced hypertension showed also significantly reduced levels of HPL, E2, E3, and P. estriol values for two patients with dead fetuses were extremely low. Both mild and severe pregnancy induced hypertension patients gave birth to reduced weight fetuses with low Apgar score values. The results indicated that HPL, E2, E3 and P are useful monitors with other obstetric parameters, in assessing the outcome of pregnancy in Egyptian females with pregnancy induced hypertension [PIH]

influence of trigonella foenum graecum on prolactin release in female albino rats during different phases of reproductive life

The effect of Trigonella foenum-graecum [TFG] on plasma prolactin level was determined throughout the estrous cycle of rats as well as in ovariectomized pregnant and lactating rats. Daily doses [each of 0.2ml TFG oil] were given orally to test animals for 15 days. Blood prolactin level was then measured by radioimmunoassay technique. Prolactin level was significantly higher in the treated groups in the diestrous phase [D1 D2 and D3] of the estrous cycle. No effect was noticed in the proestrous and estrous phases. Treatment of ovariectomized group with TFG, caused a significant rise of prolactin level, while treatment of both pregnant and lactating groups had no effect