Immunosuppressive effect of Babesia bovis immunogens on immunization against foot and mouth disease

The impact of natural infection with Babesia bovis on the immune response to FMD vaccine in calves was studied. Three groups of calves, group [1] were Babesia bovis free and vaccinated with inactivated FMD vaccine, group [2] naturally Babesia bovis infected and vaccinated with inactivated FMD vaccine, while group [3] was kept as non infection non vaccinated control. The humoral immune response of each group was measured by serum neutralization test [SNT] for a period of 16 weeks. Babesia [B.] bovis naturally infected group of calves [gp. 2] showed tendency of lower antibody responses in comparison with uninfected [gp. 1] post vaccination with Foot and Mouth Disease [FMD] vaccine. Parasitaemia of B.bovis infected calves were ranged from 1.5% to 2.5% at time of vaccination accompanied with reduction in packed cell volumes [PCV] up to 23% less than control group. The parasite persisted in the blood of infected calves as carriers with low parasitaernia. Three isolates of B.bovis have been identified. Protein characterization of the three isolates of B.bovis immunogens resulting in immunosuppressive effect was investigated. The isolates identified and propagated in cell culture using microaerophilus stationary phase and characterized by sodium dedocyle sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis [SDS-PAGE] and Western immunoblot. The molecular weights of antigens were varied froml2 to 165 Kilo Daltons [KDa]. The isolates showed totally 30 polypeptide antigens. Nineteen antigens were detected as homologous and common between the isolates, their molecular weights were 160, 152, 132, 110, 85, 77, 70, 67, 60, 49, 45, 40, 39, 35, 33, 30, 23, 18 and 12 KDa. While the other 11 antigenic bands were detected as heterologous and differ between the isolates, their molecular weights were 165, 155, 153, 144, 140, 120, 115, 112, 62, 37 and 20 KDa. Isolates no. I, 2 and 3 contained 24, 28 and 24 out of the 30 immunogens respectively. The immune suppressive effect by reduction in serum neutralizing antibody titers of B.bovis infected calves might be due to one or more of B.bovis common antigens

Risk profiles for sexually transmitted diseases among patients attending the venereal disease clinic at Alexandria Main University Hospital

Risk factors for sexually transmitted diseases [STDs] were assessed among 54 male and 36 female patients attending a venereal disease clinic. Sociodemographic data and information on sexual behaviour/STD history were collected. Patients were examined and specimens taken for laboratory diagnosis. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that the significant predictors of genital infections among the male patients were: being unmarried, having multiple sexual partners, exposure to a symptomatic sexual partner, high frequency of intercourse per week, having repeated episode[s] of STDs and practising coitus interfemoris. In the female patients, exposure to a symptomatic sexual partner and high frequency of intercourse per week were the only significant predictors

Isolation of fungi from European type public toilet seats in Alexandria

Many factors may contribute in the etiology of dermatophyte infections. Mycological study of the water closets in Alexandria City districts was done in a trial to clarify the role of the toilet seats in this regard. Unfortunately, the washing and cleaning facilities in all the studied water closets were found to be nearly nil. Some pathogenic yeasts and fungi, with many other saprophytic ones were isolated from the studied toilet seats. The potentially pathogenic yeast [C and ida albicans] was found with the highest frequency of isolation. Trichophyton rubrum was found to be second to it. The lowest one was found to be the trichophyton mentagrophytes. This may have a sort of relation to the transmission of the dermatophyte infection. Further and more extensive study, including the bacterial flora of the toilet seats may be recommended. Also, hygienic measures of all water closets should have a prime importance

Trichotillomania- trichotillohabitus is a worth-while proposal through dermatopsychiatric study

In this study, careful clinical and psychological analysis was done for nineteen cases of trichotillomania collected along a period of four years. Duration of the disease ranged from 0.9 to 240 months. Most of lesions were found on the frontoparietal region. Ten of the cases were living in bad housing environments. Divorced parents were found in four cases. Overt psychiatric diseases was detectable in four cases, one of them only required special psychiatric care. Emotional upset was detectable in six patients and most of the cases were educated [17 cases] while only two were illiterates. Some neurotic traits were found in nine of the cases. Jealousy from a brother or a sister was positive in 8 cases and disturbed mother of father-child relationship was detectable in 11 cases. Generally, the study showed that trichotillomania commonly occurs with emotional up- sets usually associated with psychosocial family stresses, however, the name, trichotillohabitus, was found to be more preferable than the traditional name trichotillomania which carries a more violent and unrealistic impression