Isolation of stem cells from the mid gut epithelium of culex pipiens mosquitoes [diptera: culicidae]

Stem cells are undifferentiated cells that remarkable ability to self-renew and produce differentiated cells that support normal development and tissue homeostasis. The authors isolated spherical stem cells from the midgut epithelium of the late third larval instars of Culex pipiens mosquitoes. In vitro, cultivated epithelial stem cells were able to proliferate and differentiate in fresh culture for 48 hr in absence of 20- hydroxyecdysone [20-E]. The stem cells were the most common cells in the initial culture. One hundred of epithelial stem cells had been cultured. After 24 hr became 132 cells, 78% was undifferentiated stem cells and 8.3% and 13.7% was enterocytes and goblet cells respectively. This ratio slightly decreased after de 48 hr to be 74% undifferentiated stem cells, 4.5% enterocytes and 5.6% goblet cells. After 72 hr the undifferentiated stem cells were not able to proliferate .The most differentiated goblet and enterocytes survived few days then died

Effect of Artemesia plant on parasite load and morbidity in murine Schistosomiasis mansoni

The efficacy of Artemesia inculta and A. absinthium, on oogram changes, tissue egg load and hepatic granuloma was evaluated in experimental schistosomiasis mansoni. The ethanol extract of each plant was given in a dose of 800mg/kg b.w. to all treated groups at different time intervals 7 week's, post infection [P.I.] and 24 hrs, 7 and 15 days post infection. Their effect was more obvious when the plant extract was given 24 hrs, 7 and 15 days post infection; where the number of dead ova was 15.95 +/- 0.49 [A. inculta] and 15.80 +/- 0.45 [A. absinthium] compared to 12.03 +/- 0.0 and 14.00 +/- 0.42 when both extracts where given respectively 7 week P.I. Concerning the number of ova/gm liver, the percentage reduction was 38.14% and 43.46% when [A. inculta and A. absinthium] extracts were given 24 hrs, 7 and 15 days post infection compared to 5.25% and 12.78% where both extracts were given respectively 7 weeks P.I. Histopathological effect of A. inculta and A. absinthium, on liver 7 weeks P.I. revealed that granulomas were lobular, cellular with mild fibrous tissue and large in size, while when treatment was 24hrs, 7 and 15 days post infection., smaller granulomas, with more fibrous and normal dilated portal veins, liver architecture was noticed. In conclusion the use of repeated doses of Artemesia plants in the early stages of schistosomiasis infection may be of value in overcoming the recent problem of reinfection, they are less castly and more safe than other antibilharzial drugs, with minimal side effects as revealed by the histopathological studies

Evaluation of molluscicidal and schistosomicidal activity of two species of Egyptiana Plant in schistosomiasis inansoni

The present study showed that the two plants Artemisia absinthium and Artemisia inculta as cold or boiled water suspensions of their dry powder were nontoxic against Biomphalaria Alexandrina snails. On the other hand, the ethanol extracts of A. absinthium and A. inculta were effective as molluscicides against B. Alexandrina, and the LC9O being 250 ppm and 400 ppm respectively, after 24 hours of exposure. It was observed that these LC9O values killed Schistosoma mansoni ova after 15 minutes of exposure. The free living larval stages of S. mansoni [miracidia and cercariae]. were killed after 30 and 45 minutes of exposure to LC90 of A. obsinthium and A. inculta respectively. The use of A. absimthium and A. inculta ethanol extracts for treatment of murine schistosomiasis mansoni was studied using different doses of 500 mg I kg, 700 mg /kg and 800 mg I kg to investigate the effect of either extract against immature stages, each dose was given as single oral dose 24 hours post infection, then 7 days post infection and lastly 15 days post infection. To study the effect of A. absinthium and A. inculta against adult Schistosorna worms, each dose of the ethanol extracts was given 7 weeks post infection as single oral dose. The percentages of reduction in mean worm burden 9 weeks post infection in animals treated with either A. absinthium or A. inculta, 7 weeks post infection with a single oral dose of 800 mg/kg, were 39.5% and 38.7% respectively. Moreover, the percentage of reduction in mean number of worms 9 weeks post infection reached 77.32% and 74.9%, respectively by using the same dose [800 mg/kg] for three successive treatment schedule, 24 hours, 7 days and 15 days post infection. Also, the mean number of eggs excreted in stool was significantly decreased with the use of both plants for the all designated time intervals. It is concluded that treatment with the ethanol extracts of Artemisia plants showed high efficacy when given early and in repeated doses in murine schistosomiasis mansoni