Zoonotic brucellosis: an underestimated or misdiagnosed disease in Egypt

Over six months, 329 suggestive consecutive brucellosis human cases were diagnosed in attending the out-patients clinics of Al Azhar and Ain Shams Universities Hospitals and Giza Governorate Farmers. They were 100 females and 229 males with ages ranged between 15-65 years old. A total of 213 [64.75%] were working in dairy farm and/or consumed raw milk, 16 [14.85%] used home slaughtering of sheep, and 100 [30.4%] were working in Giza Government slaughter-house. Clinically and by ELISA-IgM 259 out of 329 the subjects were proven brucellosis patients [77.8%]. Besides, other patients had toxoplasmosis, or Schistosomiasis mansoni or fascioliasis. Double infection was encountered with toxoplasmosis and either schistosomiasis or fascioliasis. The causes of endemic liver parasitosis that may give false-clinical diagnosis were excluded. Signs and symptoms of brucellosis patients were fever [91.5%], chills [84.1%], Myalgia [69.5%], headache [58.2%], fatigue [77.2%], anorexia [54.1%], tachycardia [38.6%], hepato-and/or splenomegaly [46.2%], lymphadenopaqthy [19.6%] lower back abdominal pain [8.8%] and/or constitutive symptoms [13.1%]

Trypanosoma evansi in dromedary camel: with a case report of zoonosis in greater Cairo, Egypt

Trypanosoma evansi [Steel, 1885] Balbiani, is the cause of trypanosomiasis [Surra] which multiples in the blood and body fluids. The incubation period varies from 7-15 days. The mortality rate was up to 20% and fatality rate may reach up to 100% in untreated camels. Three hundred randomly selected camels were 200 males 4-6 years old and 100 females 10-15 years. They were examined clinically and diagnosed by Giemsa stained blood smear, anti-trypanosomiasis-antibodies by ELISA and urine Thymol turbidity test for natural infection with T. evani [Surra]. The results showed that camels were naturally infected with T. evansi as indicated by stained blood film examination and/or ELISA. Infection in males was 6.0% [stained blood smears], 8.0% [ELISA] and 5.0% [urine thymol turbidity test]. In females the infection rate was 9.0%, 24.0% and 12% respectively. By correlation with suggestive clinical manifestations, ELISA proved to be more sensitive and specific [13.3%] than stained blood films [10.0%] and urine Thymol turbidity test [7.3%]. Regarding humans, one out of 30 was positive as indicated by ELISA and stained blood smear but was negative by urine thymol turbidity test. The human case was successfully treated as indicated clinically, parasitologically and serologically. This is the first reported Egyptian human case of trypanosomiasis evansi, a neglected zoonosis

Interleukin [IL]-12, IL-5 and total IgE in hepatosplenic schistosomiasis with or without asthma

There are a number of similarities between protective immune responses against schistosomiasis and asthma. Both are associated with elevated concentrations of IgE and eosinophilia. Chronic schistosomiasis is liked to Th1 like response with involvement of pro-inflammatory cytokines in schistosomal hepatosplenic disease process resulting in low level of IL-S. Meanwhile, association with asthma could modulate the immune response with shift to Th2 side resulting in marked elevation of IL-5 and eosinophilia. This work evaluated the levels of serum IgE, IL-5 and IL-12 in Schistosoma mansoni-infected asthmatic patients. A total of 100 subjects selected from Al-Azhar University's Hospitals were divided into three groups GI: 50 patients with hepatosplenic schistosomiasis associated with asthma. GII: 25 patients with hepatosplenic schistosomiasis without apparent asthma. GIII: 25 patients with neither bilharzial liver cirrhosis nor asthma as control group. All patients were subjected to full history taking and clinical examination, pulmonary function tests, total serum IgE, bilharzial antibody titre, stool and urine examination for parasites, liver function tests and serum IL-5 and IL-12. The results showed very high level of the total serum IgE in GI and GII compared to GIII. There was high significant difference in peripheral blood eosinophil%. GI and GII gave highest levels, IL-5 was elevated in GI, but low GII, IL-12 was high in GII than GI