Zoonotic ectopic fascioliasis: review and discussion

Ectopic fascioliasis [EF] has direct and indirect effects on both humans and animals. The phenomenon of EF was individual cases in the period from 1950 up to the end of last century. From the period of 2000 up .to 2006, plenty of researches were on EF in the developed and undeveloped countries. Nineteen EF cases infected with the immature and few with the mature worms were 13 females and 6 males. Three cases of lymphatic, pleural and breast fascioliasis reached the adults and laid their eggs in a lymph node in the cervical region pleural cavity and breast tissues. Until recent, knowledge about the ectopic fascioliasis pathway is little. Fasciola hepatica was the commonest species in most cases. The effect of fascioliasis might be direct to liver as ectopic foci or indirect on other organs due to the metabolites and secretory excretory products. All ages and both sexes were EF infected. Watercress topped the list of water plants born encysted metacercariae followed by lettuce, mint, and alfalfa. Nearly 24 million Egyptians at risk and about 800.000 were infected. On the global scale, about 180 million are at risk of infection

new parasitic metacercaria from the land snail Monacha obstructa pfeiffer1842 with critical review on relevant metacercariae belonging to the genus brachylaima dujardin 1843

Out of 328 specimens of the land snail Monacha obstructa, 105 [32%] were infected with a new metacercaria belonging to the genus Brachylaima Dujardin 1843. The present snail is considered as a new host for this parasite in Egypt. Morphological and morpho-metric patterns were elucidated. Number of recovered infective meta-cercariae ranged between 4-35 per kidney of snail host. Metacercariae inhabited only the kidney of infected snails. Total length of mature metacercariae ranged from 1800micro-2050micro [1940micro]. The anterior extremity is dome shaped and ceca were highly expanded, undulating, and filled with masses of brown cells and renal tissues. Metacercariae were fully mature, unencyted and highly active. They were either roaming in pathways inside the kidney or firmly anchored to renal tissues via oral sucker. Oral sucker length/total body length is 1:8.5. The histopathological effects involved disintegration of renal lamellae and formation of numerous necrotic masses. Invading metacercariae faced no host resistance and they were surrounded by a parasitovorus vacuole as a mean of immune-evasion. SEM studies revealed that dorsal surface of ventral sucker area is covered with rows of minute spines, Oral sucker also is provided with a median tongue-like shaped septum. The rest of integument is aspinose. A critical review for relevant metacercariae of genus Brachylaima is provided

Image analysis for the role of pigmented macrophages in fully formed granulomas in the liver of Syrian hamsters experimentally infected with schistosoma mansoni

Pigmented macrophages [PMs] exhibited very prominent role in attacking schistosome eggs and regulating the histoarchitecture of granulomateous reaction during schistosome infection in liver of Syrian hamsters. Macrophages in response to soluble egg antigens [SEA] are attracted to the egg shell primarily then to alive miracidium. These cells also have a potential role in dissolving egg shell and opening the gate for other inflammatory cells to destroy the live miracidia. In some hosts, it has been found that PMs were the only cells attacking schistosome eggs in absence of other inflammatory cells. They also participate in formation of fibrotic capsule around granulomas formed and building the fibrotic scaffold in liver parenchyma. The massive number of PMs attracted to site of trapped schistosome eggs suggested the close relationship between PMs and SEA. The formation of collagen fibers belonging to the family of glycoproteins is stimulated by PMs which lost their roundness and became stretched and in cooperation with other inflammatory cells; they enhance the process of granuloma formation. Image analysis [IA] software program [2008] used herein revealed that average percent of PMs to total inflammatory cells were 2.1 and 6.3 in both control and infected hamsters respectively [P=0.001]. Differences between average values of length, width, perimeter, radius and height were more significant in infected hosts than non infected ones [P=0.001] for all parameters. The average percent of roundness of PMs in controls were 3.77 while it was 2.52 in infected hamsters by mean that some cells lost their roundness and became spindle shaped as well as collagen fibers [P=0.001]. This analysis may lead to better understanding for the processes of granuloma formation and the role played by PMs .The above findings suggest that PMs induce innate proinflammatory response and thus control the outcome of immunopathology in schistosomiasis

Effects of Fasciola Gigantica on kidney of rabbits [Lagomorpha]: biochemical, histopathological and electrophoretic studies by

The effect of Fasciola gigantica on kidney of the rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus was studied. Two animals died with mortality rate of 16.6%. All rabbits were successfully infected and all yielded fasciolid ova. Biochemical studies of infected rabbits revealed that levels of total billirubin, serum creatinine and serum urea were 5.43 mg/dl, 1.40 mg/dl and 72.88 mg/dl respectively [P>0.001 for all values]. Histopathological changes in the kidney of rabbits infected with F. gigantica involved pronounced mesamgio-proliferative glomerulonephritis and membranoproliferative glomeurolnephritis. Other glomerulopathies included atrophid glomeruli accompanied with eosinophilic infiltration around impaired glomeruli with sometimes marked increase in Bowman's space. Necrosis was also observed in different foci in the kidney of infected rabbits. Medullary region exhibited narrowing in renal tubules and so dilatation in renal veins by mean of renal enlargement. Nuclei of Bowman's capsule turned crescent shaped indicating starching of the capsule. Scanning of SPS-PAGE gels of kidney protein for both control and infected rabbits revealed that ten types of protein bands were detected. In control rabbits, the molecular weights [MWs] of detected proteins ranged between 94.55-12.57 KD. In infected rabbits, MWs ranged between 104.35-20.01 KD. All MWs without exception increased in infected animals and it is postulated that such increase was due to immune-complex took place in kidney due to deposition of metabolic products of the fluke among renal parenchyma. Percent amount of detected proteins ranged from 7.2-21.2 and amount in band 9 were the same for both infected and treated rabbits but increases in control rabbits in band number ten. It has been concluded that F. gigantica induced not only hepatic but also renal damage in infected rabbits

Studies on the genus Stylocephalus ellis, 1912 [Apicomplexa: Eugregarinida: Stylocephalidae] in beetles [Coleoptera: tenebrionidae] from El Fayoum governorate, Egypt

Four species of the genus Stylocephalus Ellis, 1912 were recorded and described from beetles in El Fayoum Governorate; S. iongicollis, S. phalloides, S. variabilis and S. eastoni. Both S. phall-oides and S. variabilis were recorded in Zophosis sp. and Pimelia angulata, respectively for the first time in Egypt. Out of 105 Blaps polychresta, 18 [17.14%] were infected with S. longicollis and 57 [54.29%] with S. eastoni. Out of 30 Pimelia angulata, 17 [56.76%] were infected with 5. variabilis and all examined Zophosis sp. [n=67] were infected with S. phalloides. Scanning electron microscopy on S. longicollis revealed morphological features not reported before; three pairs of longitudinal ribs extending from the second fifth till the posterior extremity of old sporont and a minute pore on the anterior tip of epimerite. In S. eastoni, the epimerite-host epithelium relationship revealed that the parasite invades host's gut with the distal part of epimerite. Regarding the gross pathological symptoms, heavily infected hosts showed a sluggish motility, short antennae, swollen abdomen, lack of fat accumulation, and putrid smell in dead beetles

effect of severe cystic hydatidosis on the liver of a Najdi sheep with special reference to the cyst histology and histochemistry

A single case of severe hydatidosis in a liver of a Najdi sheep was studied. The estimated age of the animal was 1.5 years and the liver was infected with 29 cysts and their diameters ranged from 4.0 mm to 5.1 cm. Cysts with a diameter less than 10 mm were immature and those of more than 1.5 cm were fertile and developed protroscoleces. Harvested protroscoleces measured 120 x 60 to 140 x 80 um. Comparative histochemical studies by hematoxylin and eosin, periodic acid Schiff [PAS] and Masson's trichrome stains revealed that the cystic wall consisted of three layers [germinal, laminated and fibrous, respectively]. The thickness varied with each stain. The glycogen and mucopolysaccharide content increased in the infected sheep. Histopathological changes were the formation of fibrotic capsules around biliary tracts and portal vein and also leaky liver was marked in all the sections examined. Meanwhile, pre-malignant changes were seen in the different foci, particularly around the biliary tracts and portal veins. The histochemical structure of the hydatid cyst wall may pave the way for an effective therapeutic treatment

Studies on granuloma formation in Syrian hamsters experimentally infected with schistosoma mansoni

The formation of granuloma in Syrian hamsters was studied. The granulomatous reaction started with accumulation of T-cells which subsequently attract the eosinophils by their products, then aggregation of eosinophils and neutrophils around the living egg[s] to destroy egg shell. Consequently, the eosinophils immediately attack the miracidium and release their cytotoxic products to dissolve it. Later on, the macrophages accumulate, in cooperation with eosinophils, release their fibrogenic factors, stimulate the formation of granulomatous tissue, and fibrosis takes place. The dissolving of both egg shell and miracidium by eosinophilic products proves their ability to deal with both egg shell [hard part] and the miracidium itself [soft part] and this confirms their great ability to play a main role in the immunity against helminthic infection. The different morphological variations of the granuloma are included and the role of other inflammatory cells is also discussed

Axenic in vitro culture of schistosoma mansoni miracidia

Miracidia of Schistosoma mansoni have been grown axenically. The use of saline solution of 0.75% facilitated the shedding of epidermal plates which if occurred promote a rapid sporocystogenesis. Also, the use of a ratio of 1: 3 [fetal calf serum and medium 199], in addition to chernin balanced salt solution [SBSS] was ideal for maintaining sporocysts up to 14 days. All the miracidia shed their epidermal plates 2 hours post cultivation. At the end of the second week post cultivation, the daughter sporocysts measured 690 u in length by 50 u in width. The usage of plastic flat sided flasks with plenty of culture medium was very important for inducing a proper growth of sporocysts