Efficacy of ixodes ricinus as a vector of zoonotic babesiosis in Sinai peninsula, Egypt

Ticks and blood samples were collected every month from March 2009 through April 2010 from different sites in Sinai to detect babesial parasites using PCR assay based on nuclear small subunit rRNA gene. Ticks were found to contain babesial DNA. Sequence determination and analysis of amplified portions of nss-rDNA revealed their identity with B. bovis and a high degree of homology with B. bigemina and B. divergens. The results represent the first genetic evidence of different species of Babesia and identified the role of Ixodes ricinus as a vector of zoonotic B. microti infection. Rodent isolate [HK] and American isolate [GI] were studied in transmission experiments. The present study used in vitro culture of zoonotic Babesia sp. EU1 from blood samples of rodent in Sinai. This study provides an evidence of transovarian and transstadial transmissions of the parasite within I. ricinus, which emphasizes that this tick could be a vector and reservoir of EU1

Echinococcosis granulosus in stray dogs and echino-IHAT in the hunters in Cairo, Egypt

A total of fifty stray dogs of both sex and of different ages were examined for natural infection with Echinococcus granulosus after post-mortem. Three main intestinal helminthes were recovered. These were in descending order of abundance Dipylidium caninum, Toxocara canis and E. granulosus. The latter worm was demonstrated in eight of them [16%]. The sera of three out of 21 dog-hunters [14.3%] showed positive Echino IHAT. Two of the hunters suffered Enterobius vermicularis and one of them had Taenia saginata as well. But, the abdominal X-ray of the two hunters was more or less normal and did not show any hydatid cyst

Q fever [coxlella burnet II] lamong man and farm animals in North Sinai, Egypt

Antibodies against Coxiella burnetii were estimated among sheep, goats and camels [190], their owners [150 patients with pyrexia of unknown origin] and 30 normal individuals in North Sinai over the 2006 by indirect immounofluorescence assay. Nested polymerase chain reaction was used to detect Com-1 gene [genetic target of C. burnetii] encoding a 27-kDa outer membrane protein in the samples. C. burnetii IFA antibodies [IgM and IgG] in patients were 8 [5.3%] and a healthy control [3.3%]. The overall was 9 of 180 [5.0%]. C. burnetii IgM were detected in 3/150 [2%] patients with positive genome, while IgG were detected in 5/150 patients, only the three who had IgM and IgG had positive genome suffered high fever. C. burnetii antibodies were detected in 20 [22.5%], 12 [16.8%] and 4 [13.3%] of sheep, goats, camels, which total 36/190 [18.9%]. The positive genome of these IFA positive animals was 10 [50.0%], 4 [33.3%] and zero [0.0%] respectively. On the other hand, Rhi-picephalus sanguineus [dog tick] and Dermacentor andersoni [wood tick] were identified on some Q fever infected animals. The results were discussed

Biological and ecological studies on the myiasis producing larvae of Megaselia scalaris with special morphology by scanning electron microscopy

Laboratory study was conducted on the biology of the phorid fly Megaselia sacalaris. The influence of 3 constant temperatures and various larval densities was researched in the laboratory as these relate to mean life stage rate of development and survival. Flay development on a synthetic diet at 25°C. 75=2% RH and 18 hr photophase was used as the standard. Mean times for development and survival were egg incubation 16.3 h [97.6%]; larval period 7.3 days [97.6%]; pupal period 9.8 days [95.8%, 91.6%]; adult longevity 29.9 days, 24.8 days. Fecundity was 664.8 eggs. One generation required 19.7 days. Data are presented on the influence of 20°C and 15°C on the duration of survival and fecundity life-stages. Theoretical lower thresholds of development for life stages are reported. The adverse effect of larval crowding was reflected at the 100 larvae/10 g diet medium as larval and pupal periods increased. At the 200 larvae/10g diet medium larval survival declined pupal survival decline began at 100/10 g level. Fecundity was not significant altered. The ultrastructure of the larval stages of M. scalaris was studied by scanning electron microscopy [SEM]. Significant changes in morphological features were observed in the anterior and posterior spiracles, but only minimal changes in the labium and mouth-hooks were seen. The ultrastructure of M. scalaris larvae not only provided the chronological transformation of the larval instars, but also can be used to explain their feeding behavior and mode of respiration. Besides, morphological structures useful for specific identification of first and second-instar larvae collected from human corpses may be used in forensic practice

Effect of insect growth regulators on protein pattern of dermatophagoides farinae and its validity on inducing human alleregens

Two insect growth regulators, Methorprene and Hydroprene were evaluated as growth hormones one the common house dust mite; Dermatophagoides farinae. The adults and immature stages were treated with 4 concentrations of each regulator as contact and as diet. The data were recorded 30 and 90 days post- exposure. Both compounds significantly suppressed population growth, as compared to >/= 5% acetone controls. Methoprene was more effective than Hydroprene when given in diet by corporation bioassays but, slightly more effective for the 1st 30 days of the contact assays. A second set of contact and diet -incorporation assays was done using a 75% of Methoprene and Hydroprene to determine efficacy on D. farinae population dynamics, at weekly intervals for 13 weeks. The average number of the mites in the untreated control population was increased by more than 10 times than the original ones. One the other hand, the number of treated mites was not significantly increased. This was similar for both the contact and the diet-incorporation bioassays, although the average number of mites/container was significantly higher when the treatment was incorporated in the house dust mite diet than when applied directly as contact. Consequently, the insect growth regulators minimized the allergic efficacy of D. farinae experimental exposed mice

Allergic reactions in patients suffering from asthma induced by house dust mites which treatment by juvenile hormone

The effect of Juvenile hormone analogue, Admiral "pyriproxyfen", which acts as a protein de-naturing agent, on the protein patterns of D. farinae was studied on allergic reactions in patients with HDM asthma, and in mice injected twice [within 10 days] with mite crude extracts. Total protein concentrations and protein patterns were different in normal and admiral-treated mites. This may result in reducing the allergenic of treated mites. Histamine release, total immunoglobulin E [IgE], specific immunoglobulin E [S-IgE], eosinophil cationic protein [ECP], and absolute eosinophil count [AEC] were determined for moderate and severe HDM asthmatics compared to check cases. These parameters had higher levels in asthmatic patients than in normal [check] individuals. Injection of mice with normal adult extracts of D. farinae resulted in significantly higher levels of histamine, S-IgE and ECP than in the check animals. Skin reactions were observed in all of the mice injected with normal or treated D. farinae extracts

Laboratory and field studies on oribatid mites as intermediate host of moniezia expansa infecting Egyptian sheep

In this study, three species of oribatid mites, Scheloribates zaheri, Zygoribatula tadrosi and Z. Sayedi, from pure colonies were experimentally exposed to infection by allowing them to feed on stool sheep infected with Moniezia expansa. The mites were followed up to the development of the infective cysticercoids. M. expansa was able to achieve successfully its larval development in the three species of oribatid mites under laboratory conditions. They were demonstrated after 84, 73 and 69 days post infection, respectively. Z. tadrosi is recorded as intermediate host for the first time in Egypt. Six species of oribatid mites, Oppiella nova, S. Laevigatus, S. Zaheri, Xylobates souchniensis, Epilohmannia pallida aegyptiaca and Z. sayedi, recovered from the sheep infested farm soil, were found naturally infected with different developmental stages of M. expansa

Peptone-liver [P-L] a new culture medium for the Egyptian leishmania major

Leishmania major promastigotes isolated from an Egyptian ZCL patient was inoculated 4x106/ml in a new culture medium, peptone-liver [P-L], with a total concentration of 10% of FCS [fetal calf serum] and incubated at 25 +/- 1C. Meanwhile, the same number of promastigotes was inoculated in Schneider's Drosophila medium as a control. On the 10th day, the number of L. major promastigotes reached 29.25x106/ml. The same number was obtained with Schneider's Drosophila medium within four days. The new culture medium or P-L medium is cheap, easily prepared and gave a very good number of promastigotes as in Schneider's Drosophila medium, but in a longer time

endoparasites of sheep and goats, and shepherd in north Sinai governorate, Egypt

The examination of sheep and goats in four areas in North Sinai revealed an overall infection of 12.70% with Fasciola species, 11.8% with Paramphistomum cerve, 12.80% with Moniezia expansa, 47.11% with Trichostrongylus colubriformis, 4.59% Trichuris ovis and 44.85% Coccidia. The highly infected sheep and goats were diagnosed in El- Hassanah Center [90.49%], followed by El-Arish City [87.31%], then Rafah City [74.39%] and lastly Bir El-Abd [54.71%]. The elevation of the overall percentage of infection in the four areas was due to Coccidia infection, as this parasite was showed a concomitant infection in nearly all animals. On the other hand, the examination of 15 of the shepherds revealed Ascaris lumbricoides in 5, T. colubriformis in 3, Fasciola in one, Giardia lamblia in 10 and Coccidia in 3. Double and rarely triple infection was seen. The correlation between parasitic infections in sheep and goats as well as their shepherd was discussed

Studies on lice infesting goats in North Sinai

Out of 304 goats, 218 were infested with three species of lice [Bovicola caprae, Linognathus africanus and L. stenopsis]. Infestation with more than one species of lice was also seen. The highly infested season was winter and the least one was spring. The highly infested body site was hip and the least infested one was britch. The economic loss of goats infested with lice was discussed

Study on the effect of Bacillus thuringiensis [B.T. serotype H-14] and its toxins against cephalopina titillator [clark], the Egyptian camel myiasis producing Dipterous fly

Bacillus t. israelensis [B.T. serotype H-14] and its toxins have a marked lethal effect on both the eggs and the newly moulted 3[rd] stage larvae of Cephalopina titillator. The Bacillus was less effective than Bacillus and its toxins on both the eggs and larvae. On the other hand, the larvae were more affected by both Bacillus and Bacillus and its toxins than the eggs. Prolonged exposure time showed more lethal effect

Laboratory evaluation of the insecticidal activity of camphor on the development of oestrus ovis larvae

The essential oil of E. globules leaves or camphor against the maturation of Oestrus ovis larvae was evaluated at the laboratory conditions. Camphor at concentrations 1:0 and 1.1 showed 100% mortality rate. At concentrations of 1:2-1:6 the mortality rate ranged between 45-98%. On the other hand, 38 or 27.5% of the developed pupae emerged to adults but only 36.8% of them were fertile. Camphor is safely used in medicine. So, it is recommended in controlling the zoonotic myiasis producer, O. ovis

Bacillus thuringiensis var. Israelensis [B.T. serotype H-14] against Lucilia sericata third stage larvae

Bacillus thuringiensis var. Israelensis [Bt H-l4] was mixed with minced liver in different concentrations and given to newly moulted third stage larvae of Lucilia sericata. The LC50 was 9 ppm [0.76-1.5] and the slope function was 0.59. This bacterium which is safe and friendly proved to be effective against the myiasis producing L. sericata larvae

efficacy of the volatile oils of three plants for controlling lucilia sericata

Myiasis is one of the most important parasitic diseases, which affects the human welfare. The volatile oils of 3 plants were tested against adult Lucilia sericata. The LC50 was 80 ppm by Anethum graveolens, 180 ppm by Conyza dioscoridis and 130 ppm by Mentha microphylla. The slope functions were 1.9, 1.79, and 2.2, respectively. The whole results discussed

Feather and nest Mites of two common resident birds in two ecologically different Egyptian governorates

Two of the common Egyptian resident birds, house sparrow [Passer d. niloticus] and laughing dove [Streptopelia s. aegyptiaca], were chosen to study their mite fauna. The overall mite index was 4.74 on the house sparrow and 7.22 on the laughing dove. As to mites, 31 species belonging to 23 genera, 17 families and 3 suborders was collected. The common mites on both types of birds were 22 species, 3 species only on house sparrow and 6 species only on laughing dove. The house sparrow served as a host for 25 mite species and the laughing dove served as a host for 28 mite species. The infestation rates of mites on house sparrow ranged between 1.11% to 23.33% and 0.21% to 34.54% in Sharqia and Qalyoubia governorates, respectively. For laughing dove, the mite infestation rates ranged between 0.82% to 50% and 3.45% to 55.17% for both governorates, respectively. Some of the collected mites had medical and/or veterinary importance

Mites infesting two migratory birds, coturnix c. coturnix [quail or simmaan] and sturnus v. vulgaris [starling or zarzuur] with reference to avian zoonosis

The mite fauna of two migratory birds was studied in North Sinai Governorate and Suez Canal Zone. Thirty-one species of mites were recovered from quail and 39 from starling. Both types of birds are hosts for 26 species of mites. Besides, 5 species were only recovered from quail and 13 species from starling. These 44 species belonging to 30 families of 3 suborders [Mesostigmata, Trombidiformes and Sarcoptidiformes]. The mite index on quail ranged between 1.0 to 5.0 in North Sinai Governorate and 1.0 to 17.0 in Suez Canal Zone. The mite index on starling ranged between 1.0 to 4.75 in North Sinai Governorate and 1.0 to 4.5 in Suez Canal Zone. Sixteen of the recovered species of mites were not recorded before on the Egyptian resident birds [house sparrow and laughing dove]. The medical and veterinary importance of avian zoonosis was discussed