Potential role of interleukin 4 and 12 as adjuvants to tegumental antigen in a vaccination model for murine Schistosomiasis mansoni

Vaccine strategies represent an essential component for the future control of schistosomiasis. A variety of vaccines from different Schistosoma stages and different adjuvants have been identified to induce a level of host protective immune response as a trial to decrease morbidity. This work aimed to evaluate IL4 and IL12 as adjuvant for Schistosoma mansoni tegumental antigens [TA] vaccines prior to challenge of infection by S. mansoni. Sodium dodecyl sulfate [SDS] was selected for extraction of tegumental proteins. Ten groups of BALB/c mice [7 mice in each group] were classified into 4 control groups G1: non infected non vaccinated; G2: infected only; G3: given IL4 and G4: given IL12. The other 6 groups included G5: vaccinated by TA in a dose of 40 ug; G6: vaccinated by TA in a dose of 55 ug; G7: vaccinated by TA dose 40 ug and 100 ug of IL4; G8: vaccinated by TA dose 55 ug and 100 ug of IL4; G9: vaccinated by TA dose 40 ug and 100 ug of IL12 and G10: vaccinated by TA dose 55 ug and 100 ug of IL12. Booster doses were given for all groups after 2 and 4 weeks. Two weeks after the last booster dose mice in all tested groups were infected by S. mansoni cercariae [100 cercariae/mouse] via tail immersion technique. Seven weeks post infection [PI], mice were sacrificed and parasitological parameters [worm burdens, liver and stool egg counts] were studied to evaluate the impact of this vaccination model. Histopathological studies by Haematoxylin and Eosin [HE] and Feulgen stains were also performed. The use of IL12 as an adjuvant to TA revealed a significant reduction in worm burden, liver egg count and decreased ova count in stools as compared to their corresponding controls. In addition, histopathological examination of liver sections in the tested groups given IL12 showed decrease in the size and number of granuloma with decrease of liver cell apoptosis. On the other hand, both parasitological and histopathological results of the tested groups given to IL4 as an adjuvant to TA were contradictory. IL 12 potentiated the protective effect of S. mansoni tegumental antigen vaccine and posed as a useful adjuvant, while IL4 was less effective. TA is an efficient model for future studies in molecular identification of novel candidate tegumental proteins

Correlation of ELISA copro-antigen and oocysts count to the severity of cryptosporidiosis parvum in children

A total of one thousand and fifty [1050] young children from Mansoura Pediatric Hospital, July 2005 to July 2006 were examined for cryptosporidiosis. Detailed history was taken from each participant, stool examination by direct smear, Formalin-ether sedimentation, Sheather's floatation, modified Ziehl-Nelseen [MZN] stain, Cryptospordium oocysts count, coproantigen detection by ELISA. Other infections were excluded. Out of 1050 children examined, cryptosporidial oocysts were detected in 90 cases by modified Zeihl Nelseen [MZN] stain, and coproantigen ELISA added another 10 cases. There was a significant difference between age group [1-2 years], rural locality, nutrition status, and diarrhea regarding Cryptosporidium infection. There was highly significant difference in malnourished children regarding Cryptosporidium oocysts and ELISA-OD. There is a significant positive correlation between oocysts count, ELISA-OD and malnutrition. Only diarrhea had a highly significant difference in relation to other symptoms in both mean oocysts count and ELISA-OD. There was highly significant positive correlation between symptoms, oocysts count and ELISA-OD

Prevalence of echinococcosis in street dogs in tripole district, Libya

Cystic echinococcosis due to E. granulosus is a serious public health and livestock economy problem in Libya. Kato thick smear examination of 50 street dogs stools showed that they had Echinococcus granulosus [58%], Taenia spp. [14%], Diplydium caninum [16%], Toxocara canis [121%] and 20% were parasite-free. The stool examination using Kato thick smear was more sensitive and more specific that the indirect haemaggltination test. The results were discussed with general review of the disease in Libya

New trends in diagnosis and treatment of chronic intestinal strongyloidiasis stercoralis in Egyptian patients

Strongyloidiasis, caused by strongyloides stercoralis, is diagnosis considered as a challenge to clinician and laboratory technician. Because the autoinfective larvae are difficult to eradicate one regimen dose may be insufficient and retreatment of patients on two occasions, at 1 and 2 months after the initial treatment dose was recommended. This retreatment regimen has yet to be proven in clinical trials. This study was performed on 24 patients who completed the study and having Strongyloides larvae in their stool obtained from Mansoura University Hospitals. Each stool sample was examined by direct saline smear, the formalinether sedimentation technique and agar plate culture patients were treated Mirazid double course for a month to be followed up by stool examination by traditional method and plate culture for three consecutive months. In this study five cases out of 24 were asymptomatic [20.8%]. Symptoms include abdominal manifestations as and vomiting [16.7%], epigastric pain and nausea [12.5], generalized abdominal pain [12.5%], chronic diarrhea [16.7%], irregular bowel habit [8.3%], and urticaria with abdominal pain [4.2%], Agar plate culture gave 100% positivity, even in cases were negative by coprological either direct smear and/or sediment tation technique. All cases were cured by Mirazid given for one month except there resistant cases. Only one cases responded to repeated course of Mirazid, while the other two cases still had larvae in their stool by agar culure plate. On combined therapy of both Mirazid and Mebendazole, larvae could be eliminated from their stool as approved by agar plate culture.

Intestinal parasites in Dakahlia Governorate with different techniques in diagnosing protozoa

A total of 318 patients attending Mansoura University Hos-pitals' Clinics, were subjected to stool examination by direct wet smear, formol ether concentration, original formol-tween con-centration, modified formol-tween concentration, modified sheather's sugar floatation, potassium hydroxide concentration and Gomori's Tirchrome stain, and modified Kinyoun's acid-fast-sta-in and Ryan's Tirchrome blue stain for Microsporidia. The inte-stinal helminthes in a descending order of abundance were: S. mansoni [5.3%], Fasciola sp. [4.8%], H heterophyes [4.2%], Hymenolepis nana [3.9%], trichostrongylus sp. [2.6%], A. lum-bricoides [1.8%], strongyloides stercoralis [1.5%], H. diminuta [1.4%], Taenia saginata [1.1%], E. vermicularis [by smear; 1.1%], T. trichura [0.7%] and lastly A. duodenale [0.1%]. The inte-stinal protozoa in a descending order of abundance were Blasto-cystis hominis [22.4%], Giaradia lamblia [19.6], Entamoeba histolytical E. dispar [19%], Iodamoeba butschlii [16%], Crypto-sporidium parvum [14.3%], E. coli [9.7%], isospora hominis [7.7%], Endolimax nana [6.9%], E. hartmani [5.9%], Dien-tamoeba fragilis [5.1], chilomastix mesnili [5.1%], tricho monas hominis [4.2%], Cyclospora cayetanensis [4.2%], Mic-rosporidia spores [3.2%], Enteromonas hominis [1.9%] and Em-badomonas intestinalis [1.3%]. The results were discussed.