Factors associated with intestinal parasitic infection among school children in Sirt, Libya

A parasitological survey of 601 school children aged 7-14 years in the city of Sirt was carried out. Our objective was to determine the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections and their association with sociodemographic factors and hygienic habit. Data collected via questionnaires. Fecal samples were examined by wet film, Iodine preparation. - concentrations methods and modified Ziehl-Neelsen stain. The prevalence rate of intestinal parasitic infection among the students was 63.6%. Co infection with two or three parasites was seen in 11.4%. The three most common were Giardia lamblia 28.8%, Entamo‚ba histolytica 16.3% and Entamoeba coli 6.3%. Parasitic prevalence was higher in boys, younger age in children with non educated mother and in children who sometimes wash hands after defecation .According to the results, mother education and personal hygiene of the students were the significant associations

Blastocystis hominis among symptomatic and asymptomatec individuals in Talkha center, DaKahlia governorate, Egypt

Blastocystis hominis is now getting acceptance as an agent of human intestinal disease. B. hominis in stool samples of symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals was evaluated as a possible cause of gastro-intestinal troubles. B. hominis was found in 106 [10.1%] out of 1050 individuals examined from six villages and one city in Talkha Center, Dakahlia Governorate. The highest infection rate was in Manshayt El-Badawy village [25.47%], whereas Talkha City showed the lowest rate [4.73%]. Age group 10-20 years had higher infection [13.3%]. In twenty- three symptomatic patients, B. hominis represented the only causative parasitic agent. The most common symptoms were diarrhoea [30.4%], abdominal pain [26.1%], flatulence [21.7%], vomiting [13.1%] and fatigue [8.7%]. High concentrations of B. hominis were found in symptomatic patients than in asymptomatic ones with statistical significant difference [8.2 cells/100 x field versus 3.8 respectively]. The mean number of B. hominis was significantly high in patients complaining of diarrhoea and abdominal pain

Some molecular aspects in schistosomiasis mansoni and toxoplasmosis

The IL-2 and IL-4 cytokines production represent cellular Th1 and Th2 immune responses respectively were associated with chronic schistosomiasis mansoni [stages 1-4] and chronic toxoplasmosis gondii. In the hepatosplenic schistosomiasis, the level of IL-2 and disease stage increased in parallel [P< 0.05, <0.01, <0.01 and <0.001 in stages 1, 2, 3 and 4 respectively], whereas, IL- 4 was highly significantly increased in stage 1 than control [P < 0.001], then decreased to lower levels. The mean concentrations of IL-2 and IL-4 in patients with T. gondii were higher compared to control being more marked in Th-2 [P < 0.001] versus IL-4 [P < 0.01]. The data indicated that there are patterns of cytokine expression characteristic of type 1 and type 2 responses in vivo, with the ultimate goal of being able to manipulate the response to minimize inflammation and fibrosis for clinical benefit

Geoparasites in rural Dakahlia Governorate, apreliminary based study for development of the community-based intervention programs

A prospective study was carried out to detect the rural prevalence and intensity of geoparasites in Dakahlia Governorate, Egypt. A total of 1070 soil samples were collected; 571 [53.4%] were infected with one or more parasites. Only 24% of samples were infected with one parasite, 16.4% and 13% with two, and more than two parasites respectively, and the difference was statistically significant. The geoparasites in a descending order of their prevalence were: E. histolytica cysts [9.2%], Toxocara eggs [9.1%], Giardia cysts [7.9%], Cryptosporidium oocysts [6.1%], Trichostrongvius eggs and larvae [5.6%], isospora oocysts [4.3%], Acanthamoeba cysts [4.1%], Naegleria cysts [3.6%], Dust mites [2.7%], H. diminuta eggs [2.7%], Strongyloides free living adults, rhabditiform and filariform larvae [2.3%], H. nana eggs [1.7%], S. mansoni eggs [1.2%], Ascaris eggs [0.6%], Ancylostoma larvae [0.5%], Taenia eggs [0.4%], Trichocephalus eggs [0.4%] and F. gigantica eggs [0.2%]. The prevalence of parasitic infections was significantly higher [P < 0.001] in fields [63.4%] than streets [47.7%] and indoor-yards samples [35.3%]. The intensity of infections was significantly higher [p< 0.001] in streets than fields and indoor-yards [18.1, 9.7 and 1 parasite / 10gm of soil respectively]