possibility of congenital infection with a acanthamoeba culbertsoni

Acanthamoeba culbertsoni is one of the free-living amoebae, which are known to be pathogenic to man, causing granulomatous amoebic encephalitis [GAE]. In this study, Acanthamoeba culbertsoni was isolated from a water sample of El-Mahmoudia Canal in Alexandria, in July 1993. This was used to infect mice intranasally to study the histopathological picture of the brain and lungs. The neuropathological features included chronic granulomatous encephalitis, in which cysts and trophozoites were found. Associated Acanthamoeba pneumonitis with massive consolidation was also observed. Congenital infection of offsprings was reported for the first time in this study

Schistosoma haematobium [Egyptian strain] transmission microscopy of normal and praziquantel treated worms

The ultrastructure of the tegument and subtegumental structures of S. haematobium worms was examined by TEM. The effect of praziquantel on residual worms, which remained after a curative dose was also studied. The male S. haematobium worms were characterized by deep tortuous pits and sharp apically directed spines. Spherical and elliptical bodies were also observed. The esophageal tegument was described. The effect of praziquantel on the male worms revealed flattening of spines and their disappearance in some regions as well as disruption and vacuolization of the tegument in others

Scanning electron microscopy of normal and praziquantel treated schistosoma haematobium worms [Egyptian strain]

The ultrastructure of the tegument of S. haematobium was examined before and after treatment with Praziquantel using scanning electron microscopy. The surface of the adult male worms prior to treatment showed numerous tubercles with apically directed spines and the lateral border showed highly pitted folds. The oral and ventral suckers showed well developed spines. Praziquantel administration caused various structural changes in the various groups studied. Blebs and spine deformities appeared as early as half an hr. after administration. Changes were also observed when the drug was administered prior to worm maturation resulting in generalized deformities in the worms which survived treatment, loss of spines and tegumental swellings

indirect fluorescent antibody technique and the enzyme linked immunosorbent assay in the diagnosis of toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis

The study was conducted on 32 patients, 12 of whom had retinochoroiditis by fundus examination. Cases with suspected toxoplasmic reitnochoroiditis gave positive results with both IFAT and ELISA showing a good agreement between the clinical examination and the serodiagnostic tests. In patients with no fundus lesions, five gave positive ELISA and IFAT suggesting the occurrence of toxoplasmosis in other organs. Also, four patients gave positive ELISA readings with negative IFAT denoting that cross reaction may occur with other infections