Assessment of microbiological quality of yoghurt sold in el-behera governorate

A total of fifty random samples of yoghurt collected from vendors and wholesale markets in El-Behera Goveraorate to assess their microbiological quality. The pH was determined and microbiological assessments were conducteclm order to ascertain, the Coliforms count, Enterococci count, Staphylococcus aureus count and yeast count and mould count in the examined samples. Results given revealed that the mean values of pH was 4.06 +/- 0.068, the mean value of Coliform count, Enterococci count, Staphylococcus aureus count, yeast count and mould counts were 5.6 x 104 +/- 3.68 x 10[3], 5.8 x 10[4] +/- 5.43 x 10[3], 5.5 x 10[4] +/- 3.45 x 10[3], 5.6 x 10[4] +/- 4.9 x10[3] and 5.3 x 10[4] +/- 3.33 xl0[3] respectively, with respective incidences of 58, 28, 42, 28 and 40%. These findings suggest that yogurt traded in whole sale market in El-Behera Governorate has poor microbiological quality control. This poses danger to public health. Therefore, attention of the appropriate government agencies and manufacturers is needed to ensure that sale of yogurt by vendors is done in most appropriate condition and in a mobile refrigerator to maintain adequate temperature, thereby reduce contamination

parasitological study on the use of biotherapeutic yeast in the treatment of Schistosoma mansoni infected mice

Infection with Schistosoma mansoni induces humoral and T cell mediated responses and leads to a delayed hypersensitivity that result in granulomatous inflammatory disease around the parasite eggs. The nonpathogenic Saccharomyces species have potential as an exogenously administered agent for maintaining colonization resistance during antibiotic therapy, preventing diarrhea and other gastrointestinal diseases as well as its antagonistic activity [in vitro and in vivo] against various bacterial pathogens. Saccharomyces boulardii exerts its immunoprotective effect through the secretion of immunoglobulins. In this work the antibilharzial effect of S. boulardii and Saccharomyces cerevisiae was studied. Both yeast products were given orally to mice for 21 days before infection. Their effects on worm burden, egg count, fecundity and granuloma diameter were elucidated. Both were effective in reducing worm burden and egg count resulting in a significant decrease in granuloma diameter. The obtained data show that S. cerevisiae gave more potent effects on S. mansoni parasitism than S. boulardii

Comparative biochemical study on different types of red meat commonly consumed by Saudi population in Riyadh

Rred meat such as camel, cow, goat and sheep, contain many essential nutrients necessary for healthy growth and development of children, as well as for good health and well-being in adults. In the present work the biochemical characteristics of different types of meats commonly consumed in Saudi Arabia will be investigated in an attempt to determine their nutritive values. Levels of glutathione, vitamins C and E as important antioxidants were measured in the studied meat extracts. In addition, lipid peroxides, glycogen, cholesterol and nitric oxide were also measured. The data show that camel meat has the highest nutritive value being the richest with antioxidants and has the lowest levels of lipid peroxides and cholesterol. Variation in the different measured parameters in camel, goat, cow and sheep meats was discussed in relation to the low incidence of colorectal cancer and to the high rate of cardamom consumption in Saudi Arabian population

Histological and histochemical studies on mice liver treated with curcuma longa or parziquantel

Back ground: The aim of this study is to assess the effect of praziquantel drug and Curcuma longa extract on schistosoma mansoni infection in mice. The parameters targeted in this work were mainly related to the liver which· is essential as the main site of most metabolic pathways as well as detoxification of several drugs and chemicals. The chosen parameters glycogen, alkaline and acid phosphatases [ALP and ACP respectively], in addition to measurements of body weight, liver weight and liver weight/body weight ratio. The histological and histochemical studies on glycogen, ALP and ACP were studied in mice livers to clarify the changes that may occur due to the infection of S.mansoni. Furthermore, the effect of praziquantel drug as the most effective drug against all·schistosome species occurring in man and the curative effect of oil extract of C. longa were tested to evaluate its role in improving the efficiency of the infected livers

Material and Methods: Healthy male albino mice of CD strain of the same age weighting 20-25 g, were used

Results: ALP level was increased with infection. C. Longa treated mice showed a marked reduction more than PZQ-treatment. C. Longa enhanced the concentration of glycogen by elevating it after being reduced by infection while PZQ-treatment revealed more reduction; C. Longa caused enhancement in body weight while PZQ has no effect. The formation of granuloma around schistosome eggs in the liver produced inflammation

Conclusions: C. Longa extract and PZQ were effective in reducing granuloma size in infected-treated mice. C. Longa proved to be highly effective against S. mansoni

Effect of synthesized niclosamide organophosphortus derivatives on some metabolic aspects of Biomphalaria alexandrina snails and its compatibility to Schistosoma mansoni

The Molluscicidal potency of four synthesized Mannich bases and ten organophosphorus derivatives of bayluscide [niclosamide] were determined. Using Biomphalaria alexandrina snail, the intermediate host to Schistosoma mansoni in Egypt, of these derivatives,a single Mannich bases derivative [compound No, 13] showed higher molluscicidal effect than niclosamide, LC[50] 0.4 ppm after 24 hours at 25°C compared with 0.5 ppm for niclosamide. Three other derivatives [No. 15, 12 and 8] showed slightly less effect, their LC[50] 1.9, 3.4 and 4.1 ppm, respectively, Meanwhile, the four compounds showed considerable reducting effect on the cercarial production of schistosome-infected snails previously exposed to LC[5] of each compound before miracidial infection. Thus, the mean periodic number of cercariae/snail [two hours weekly] was found to be 55.8 +/- 41.8, 95.9 +/- 78.9, 162.6 +/- 145 and 209.35 +/- 168.4 cercariae/snail, respectively versus 242 +/- 230.4 and 502 +/- 290.4 in the case of niclosamide-treated and non-treated snails. The effect of the four compounds was tested on the glycolytic enzymes of snails, namely, hexolinase [HK], pyruvate kinase [PK] and glucose phosphate isomerase [GPI]. Much more reduction was recognized in [HK] by compounds No. 8 and 13 in comparison, with niclosamide and nontreated snails, being 2.6 +/- 0.82 and 3.7 +/- 1.6 n moles/min/g tissue versus 3.9 +/- 0.58 and 9.8 +/- 2.7 n moles/min/g tissue in niclosamide-treated and non-treated groups, respectively. PK showed also higher reduction with four compounds namely 15, 13, 12 and 8 compared with niclosamide-treated and non-treated snails, being 0.3 +/- 0.1, 0-.39 +/- 0.29, 0.46 +/- 0.08 and 0.98 +/- 0.138 in comparison with 1.51 +/- 0.52 and 1.8 +/- 0.62, respectively. No considerable change was found in the level of GPI in snails treated with 15, 13, 12 and 8 compounds relative to niclosamide-tested snails. The present results show that reduction in the periodic cercarial production is correlated with the lower level of HK enzyme in treated snails

Spectrophotometric determination of some cephalosporins using palladium [II] chloride

It has been established that cefadroxil [CFD], cephradine [CPHD] and cefotaxime Na [CFTM] react with palladium [II] chloride in the pH range 2.5-6.0 and form yellow water-soluble complexes with maximum absorbance at 337-350 nm. Optimization of the different experimental conditions is described. Beer's law is obeyed in the concentration ranges 1.5 -12.6, 2.0 -14.4 and 3.0 -19.2 microg ml[-1], but the concentration ranges for best accuracy are 1.6-12.5, 2.1-14.4 and 3.2-17.0 microg ml[-1] for CFD, CPHD and CFTM, respectively. The relative standard deviations are less than 2%. The composition and the conditional stability constant of the complex at the optimum pH have been established. The proposed method was used for the determination of the above mentioned drugs in their pharmaceutical preparations with no evidence of interference from excipients. The results were compared statistically with the official method and showed no significant difference between the two methods

On the pathogenicity of attenuated Schistosoma mansoni cercariae released from metabolically disturbed Biomphalaria alexandrina

In this study, Biomphalaria alexandrina was treated with sublethal concentrations [LC10] of the dry powdered leaves Solanum nigrum or the whole dry Ambrosia maritima. The two plants affected the development of schistosome parasite within snails by disturbing the glycolytic flux, the most important metabolic pathway for schistosome-infected snails. Attenuated cercariae released from the treated snails were used to infect male albino mice to evaluate their pathogenicity compared with the control cercariae shed from the untreated snails. Most of the males and females detected in these animals measured 0.4-0.6 and 0.6-1.2 mm, respectively, released from mice infected with normal cercariae. The egg count in the liver and intestine of mice infected with attenuated cercariae was remarkably lower showing a reduced fecundity of worms developed from attenuated cercariae. The number and size of granulomatous reactions showed a remarkable reduction in the attenuated cercariae-infected mice. The biochemical analyses for the pathogenicity achieved with attenuated cercariae showed that while serum aspartate and alanine aminotransferases [AST and ALT] were more or less similar, depleted glycogen and elevated lipid peroxides were normalized when compared with those infected with normal cercariae

Aspects of energy metabolism in parasitic helminths and their molluscan hosts with special reference to schistosoma

Energy metabolism of helminth parasites is reviewed in an attempt to show their preference for aerobic or anaerobic metabolism during their life cycles. -Pathways of energy generation in molluscs are also elucidated. -This review was extended to follow manipulation of energy metabolism of the molluscan hosts during host-parasite association in an attempt to clarify the pathophysiological burden induced by the developing parasite on the hosts. Special attention was given to Schistosoma parasites and their molluscan hosts

HPLC analysis of free amino acids in biomphalaria alexandrina snails under the influence of larval parasitic infection and starvation

The free amino acids composition were determined in control as well as in schistosome miracidial-exposed and cercarial shedding Biomphalaria alexandrina snails using high performance liquid chromatography [HPLC]. Moreover the free amino acids profile of one-week starved snails was also investigated. Two-weeks-post exposure induced marked elevation of most of the investigated amino acids except serine, arginine and threonine. On the other hand, cerearial shedding snails induced depletion of most of the studied amino acids, accompanied by an increase in tyrosine, cystine, phenyl alanine and leucine. Starved snails show altered amino acid profile compared to age-matching control. This study revealed that amino acid profile of the Biomphalaria alexandrina snails is of critical importance for the development of Schistosoma mansoni larvae

Biochemical alterations of the molluscan hosts tissues infected with schistosoma mansoni

As larval trematodes live within tissues of their molluscan hosts and indulge in asexual reproduction on a phenomenal scale, it is not surprising that snail tissues show biochemical changes. Levels of tissue glycogen, lactate, pyruvate and LDH[1] isoenzyme were measured in extracts of whole soft tissues of Biomphalaria alexandrina snails, specific molluscan hosts of Schistosoma mansoni. Moreover, assay of adenine nucleotides [ATP, ADP and AMP] and inorganic phosphate [Pi] was established to evaluate the adenylate energy charge [AEC] and the phosphate potential in trematode-infected snails. These parameters were measured in infected snails over four weeks, at weekly interval post exposure to S. mansoni miracidia and compared to age-matching non-exposed snails. The highest lactate/pyruvate concentration ratio with the lowest LDH[1], isoenzyme activity and glycogen level were observed two weeks post exposure. In addition, the lowest ATP content, ATP/ADP and ATP/AMP concentration ratios were also recorded at the same duration post exposure. The energy charge does not co-vary with ATP level but was slightly manipulated within the non-stressed range, while phosphate potential as a direct measure of oxygen consumption was significantly altered within 1[st], 2[nd] and 3[rd] weeks post exposure. This study clarify the most characteristic pattern of changes induced by the developing parasite. Moreover it reflects the need for an efficient glycolytic flux in the B.alexandrina snails to ensure survival and further development of S mansoni parasite

Effect of different se supplementation on biomphalaria alexandrina snails: the intermediate host of echistosomiasis

A possible method of controlling the parasitic disease schistosomiasis is to kill the intermediate host using the toxic selenium dioxide on the snails Biomphalaria alexandrina. Selenium dioxide [SeO[2]] has therefore been given to the snails in a soluble form in water Se-H[2]O] or in food attractant pellets [Se-P] in order to study the mode of action of selenium on the snails. In this study, transaminases [ALT and AST], lactate dehydrogenase [LDH], adenosine deaminase, AMP deaminase, alkaline phosphatase [ALP] and 5'-nucleotidase [5'-Nu] activities in snail homogenates have been measured., The application of Se in form of food attractant pellets showed a much greater effect on snails ALP and 5'-Nu activities than its applications directly in water. However LDH activity was affected when snails were incubated in water containing SeO[2] more than feeding the animals food attractant pellets containing Se. In general the highest effect of Se on the snails was found in the activity of 5-nucleotidase. The present studies show that selenium supplemented to the snails in food attractant pellets could be a possible method for controlling the snails. However the toxicity of the food pellets needs to be improved

Effect of excess vitamin C on certain biochemical parameters in laboratory bred biomphalaria alexandrina snails

The effect of two concentrations [100 and 200 ppm] of ascorbic acid [which is abundant in lettuce leaves, the principal diet of laboratory bred snails] was studied on DNA and RNA contents, aspartate and alanine aminotransferases in B. alexandrina snails after 72 hrs and 1 week exposure. Furthermore, the effect of vitamin C on egg laying of these snails was investigated. It was observed that excess vitamin C caused a marked decrease in the content of both DNA and RNA. On the other hand, the activity of alanine aminotransferase in tissue homogenate and hemolymph was mostly affected at the dose of 200 ppm ascorbic acid after 72 hrs exposure, while aspartate aminotransferase was slightly affected. In addition, ovulation of snails was reduced by ascorbic acid treatment

Comparative enzymatic studies on 5-azacytidine pre-treated Biomphalaria Alexandrina snails

Biochemical elucidation of the mode of action of 5-azacytidine on Biomphalaria alexandrina snails, the specific intermediate hosts for Schistosoma mansoni was carried out. The effect of 5-azacytidine on the enzymatic activity of Lactate dehydrogenase [LD], Glucose-6 phosphate dehydrogenase [G - 6 - pd] and on the glutathione content in the haemolymph of the snails is reported