Molecular characterization of Egyptian human and animal echinococcus granulosus isolates by Rapd-PCR technique

Five primers of known, but arbitrary nucleotide sequence [OPH-03, OPH-05, OPH-12, OPH-15 and OPH-18] were used to detect the genetic variability in the Egyptian human, camel and pig E. Granulosus isolates. OPH-03, OPH-05 and OPH-15 proved to be useful genetic markers of strain variation; while, OPH-12 and OPH-18 allowed the distinction at the genus level, i.e. diversified from Cysticercus tenuicollis. OPH-03 was the most effective, giving sharp distinct banding pattern and the least values of similarity coefficients. Some variations were detected within E. granulosus isolates from the same host. The level of heterogeneity was low in three of the human isolates, camel and pig strains. An individual variation was detectable within other three human isolates. Human and camel isolates were the most related pair, having similar patterns and the highest similarity coefficients. The study implied that human cases in Egypt are of the camel/dog strain and camels are important hosts for the transmission of human hydatidosis

Association of some HLA-DRB1 antigens with echinococcus granulosus specific humoral immune response

In this study, an ELISA system using crude camel hydatid fluid antigen was used to detect specific IgG and IgG1 in the sera of 35 cystic echinococcosis [CE] patients, in whom the distribution of class II HLA-DR3 anti HLA-DR11 was determined. The recorded sensitivities were 88.6% and 94.35% for IgG and IgG1, respectively. In patients with a high humoral immune response, a statistically highly significant increased frequency of HLA-DR3 was recorded for IgG with a high relative risk value [RR = 3.2] and a reasonable etiologic fraction [EF = 0.3], while HLA-DR11 recorded RR = 2.6 and EF = 0.2. For IgG1, both antigens showed a significant increased frequency [RR = 2.95 and 2.79, respectively, and EF = 0.28 and 0.23, respectively]. HLA-DR3 was highly significantly associated with complicated cases [RR = 4.36 and EF = 0.4], in whom the mean antibody units for both IgG and IgG1 were significantly raised. It was advisable to rely on IgG1 for the diagnosis of CE and to consider the genetic disposition of the patient as an important criterion in the outcome of infection

Evaluation of an IgG cystatin capture enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay for the detection of anti-cysteine proteinase antibodies in asymptomatic trichomoniasis patients

All isolates of T. vaginalis release cysteine proteinases proteolytic enzymes that are shed into the vagina or culture medium. Cystatin had been successfully used as a capture agent in ELISA to detect cysteine proteinase antibodies without the need for purified proteinases. ELISA was evaluated in comparison with wet mount microscopy and culture techniques. IgG cystatin capture ELISA proved to be a sensitive and highly specific [100%] assay that could rapidly detect anti-cysteine proteinase antibodies in both vaginal washouts and sera of asymptomatic patients with a sensitivity of 100% and 86.7%, respectively. A defined discrimination between sero-positive and sero-negative individuals was markedly observed for ELISA-vaginal washouts providing a more conclusive diagnosis by this technique

Role of endothelial cell adhesion molecules in the development of allergy in human fascioliasis

The circulating levels of the endothelial cell adhesion molecules [CAMs] [sICAM-1 sVCAM-1 and sE-selectin] in the sera of 18 allergic asthmatic patients, 16 fascioliasis cases [acute and chronic], 24 fascioliasis cases with allergic chest manifestations and 10 apparently healthy control subjects were estimated by ELISA method. Also, IL-4 serum level was evaluated in all groups. Chest allergy in association with fascioliasis included mainly bronchial asthma, beside eosinophilic bronchitis, persistent wheezing and chronic cough. The study provided an evidence that adhesion molecules expression is up- regulated in acute and chronic fascioliasis cases with allergic chest manifestations. SVCAM-1 seemed to be an early indicator of asthma development in human fascioliasis. IL-4 cytokine was suggested to be responsible for the increased expression, especially in the chronic phase of the diseases, yet the role of other cytokines cannot be excluded

Prophylactic efficacy of recombinant IL-12, clindamycin alone or in combination against experimental reactivated toxoplasmosis

Reactivation of experimental chronic toxoplasmosis was induced by daily IM injection of 0.1 ml hydrocortisone acetate [25 mg/ml] per mouse. Administration of clindamycin [5 mg/kg orally], rIL-12 [0.25 micro g i.p] or combination of both was done once weekly for 3 months course starting 2 days post suppression. The prophylactic effect was assessed by determination of both survival rate and brain cyst counts with histopathological examination of brain sections at different time points post suppression besides the influence of these drug regimens on interferon gamma [IFN-delta] production. All immunocompromised untreated mice exhibited increased brain cyst burdens and reduced IFN-delta production and died due to toxoplasmic encephalitis. Neither clindamycin nor rIL-12 prevented reactivation of chronic infection, however, the slight prolongation of survival was observed. Simultaneous administration of clindamycin and r IL-12 resulted in prevention of reactivation in 73.3% of the mice till the end of the experiment. The combination regimen produced significant higher levels of IFN-delta than either drug alone suggesting that both r IL-12 and clindamycin can act additively or synergistically to prevent reactivation of chronic infection with T. gondii most probably through enhancement of IFN-delta production

potential risk of contracting Toxocariasis in heliopolis district, Cairo, Egypt

Out of 600 soil samples collected from 3 sport clubs and 3 public parks within Heliopolis District, 182 samples contained Toxocara species eggs, with an overall prevalence rate of 30.3%. Public parks especially children's sand boxes had the highest percentage of the recovered eggs. Prevalence did not vary greatly from winter to summer, though more viable eggs were noticed in the samples collected in winter. The findings demonstrated the potential risk of contracting toxocariasis [VLM] by children playing in the sand boxes of the investigated areas

Experimental congenital toxocara canis: effect on foetal future immune response

In this study, pregnant female mice were infected with Toxocara canis eggs at different gestational age, then the offspring were next challenged with Toxocara eggs 6 weeks after birth and their immune response was assessed by estimation of the eosinophilic count and serum IgE concentration. The total larval count [TLC], brain parasitism [BP] and reduction% in TLC were used as criteria for the course of infection. It was found that exposure to infection during pregnancy, whether early or late, led not only to transmission of larvae to the fetus, but also to modulation of its immune response and course of infection when next encountered the parasite after birth. The offspring when compared with control from noninfected mothers were hyporesponsive when infection occurred early during pregnancy and they showed high immune responsiveness when infection was induced late in pregnancy. The potential clinical application of these findings was suggested