Preliminary study on oral transmission of plasmodium falciparum

In order to assess the possibility of the oral transmission of human Plasmodium falciparum to animals, 40 male Swiss albino mice were orally inoculated with human blood parasitized with Plasmodium falciparum [infected group] and another 12 mice were inoculated with non-infected human blood [control group]. Ten infected mice and three non-infected control ones were sacrificed weekly at first, second, third and fourth week from the beginning of infection. It was observed that out of 40 infected mice, 18 acquired malaria as demonstrated by the observation of parasites in their blood and all control mice were negative for malaria parasite. So, it can be concluded that human Plasmodium falciparum may be transmitted to mice by the ingestion of infected blood

Cryptosporidium parvum and microsporidial species in obstructive biliary diseases

Biliary and duodenal aspirates were collected from 60 patients to detect Cryptosporidium parvum [C. parvum] and microsporidial species in obstructive biliary diseases. Patients were classified into three groups: Group I, benign obstructive biliary diseases [30 cases]; Group II, malignant obstructive biliary diseases [30 cases] and Group III, ten normal persons served as controls. C. parvum oocysts were detected in higher percentage in malignant obstructive biliary diseases than benign obstructive biliary diseases, but no oocysts were detected in stool samples. Microspora was also detected in higher percentage in group II than group I. Concerning types of obstructive biliary diseases in benign type, C. parvum and microspora were detected with a higher percentage in calcular type than stricture or dyskinesia. In malignant obstructive group, a higher percentage of C. parvum oocysts was detected in carcinoma of biliary tree