Comparison between Kato-Katz thick smear and sedimentation techniques in diagnosis of faecal-orally transmitted helminthes and other geohelminthes

Kato-Katz technique is widely used for the diagnosis of Fecal-orally transmitted helminthic infections. It is relatively simple and inexpensive. However, a single slide prepared from a single stool specimen has low sensitivity, particularly in light infections. Therefore, there is a great need for concentration techniques. This study detected an accurate and affordable method for diagnosis of fecal-orally transmitted helminthes and other geohelminthes. The study was carried out on 217 stool samples of different sex and age groups. Stool samples were collected from different urban and rural areas in Sharkia Governorate. Stool samples were examined macroscopically and analyzed by different parasitological techniques: direct wet mount [DWM], Kato-Katz thick smear, spontaneous sedimentation in tube technique [SSTT] and formol ether sedimentation technique [FEC]. The results showed that formol ether sedimentation method detected 59 positive samples followed by spontaneous sedimentation in tube technique [48/59 positive samples]. FEC showed significant difference when compared to direct wet mount and Kato-Katz thick smear. SSTT also showed significant difference when compared to DWM [P <0.05].The overall prevalence of intestinal helminthes was [29.6%] among studied samples in Sharkia Governorate. The commonest helminthic infection was H. nana [12%] followed by E. vemicularis [10%] then A. lumbricoides [3.7%]

Assessing the efficacy of nitazoxanide in treatment of cryptosporidiosis using PCR examination

Cryptosporidiosis is a gastrointestinal disease of humans and other animals, caused by the genus Cryptosporidium spp. It causes persistent diarrhea and malnutrition and is associated with increased mortality. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of nitazoxanide [NTZ] on clearing the oocysts of C. parvum among infected children using both parasitological and PCR techniques.120 children [1-12y] shedding Cryptosporidium oocysts in their stools were enrolled in the study. They were classified on the basis of the immune status into immunocompetent [ICT] and immunocotnpromised [ICZ] groups. Each group were subdivided into two groups one of them received NTZ, and the other received placebo. The efficacy of nitazoxanide was assessed clinically, parasitologically and by nested-PCR technique. At the end of 1 week of treatment, 80% of ICT/ NTZ group and 40% of ICT/ placebo group were free by PCR and 83.3% and 20% respectively were microscopically free. While at the end of 4[th] week, 93.3% of ICT/ NTZ group and 43.3% of ICT/ placebo group were free by PCR and 96.7% and 26.7% respectively were microscopically free. Among the ICZ group, diarrhea was resolved in most patients receiving NTZ within 21 to 28 days of treatment initiation While, it resolved in the ICT group receiving NTZ in most patients within 3 to 5 days of treatment initiation