ABSTRACT
Despite, Egypt is started to be considered as an emerging endemic area for cystic echinococcosis (CE), no enough data in the literature about the exact status of the genotype in both animals and humans. Therefore, the present study aims to characterize the underlying genotypes that could be responsible for the transmission cycle and for the growing infectivity. Animal isolates were collected from 47 camels and 6 pigs. Human isolates are 31 CE cases including; 21 of hepatic cases, 5 of pulmonary cases and 5 multiple-organ affection cases. Hot-Start specific PCR followed by DNA sequencing for mitochondrial 12S rRNA gene, revealed G1 genotype in one (3.2%) of 31 human isolate only. G6 genotype was detected in all the 53 (100%) animal isolates and in 30 out of 31 (96.8%) human isolate. The Egyptian G6 strain nucleotide sequence revealed 100% homology with an Argentinean reference strain 99% homology with the Kenyan G6 strain. It was concluded that G6 genotype is the predominant genotype in Egypt.
Subject(s)
Echinococcosis/parasitology , Echinococcosis/veterinary , Echinococcus granulosus/classification , Echinococcus granulosus/genetics , Molecular Typing , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Animals , Camelus , Child , Child, Preschool , Cluster Analysis , DNA, Mitochondrial/chemistry , DNA, Mitochondrial/genetics , DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry , DNA, Ribosomal/genetics , Echinococcus granulosus/isolation & purification , Egypt , Genotype , Humans , Middle Aged , Molecular Sequence Data , Polymerase Chain Reaction , Sequence Analysis, DNA , Swine , Young AdultABSTRACT
Blastocystis hominis is a common intestinal parasite, with a prevalence in developing countries of up to 50%. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of this parasite with urticaria by determining the genotypic isotypes in the Egyptian population. In total, 54 patients with urticaria and 50 controls were enrolled in the study. Stool samples were examined and assessed by PCR. The parasite was detected in a significantly higher number (P < 0.001) of the patient group than the control group. There was no significant difference between the patients with acute and those with chronic urticaria (P = 0.2). The amoeboid form was found in 60.6% of Blastocystis-positive patients with urticaria, but in none of the healthy controls. Subtype 3 was the only isolate found in both the patient and control groups. We recommend treatment for Blastocystis-positive patients with urticaria in developing countries. The prevalence is much lower (around 10%) in developed countries, where treatment should only be considered in the absence of other possible causes of urticaria.
Subject(s)
Blastocystis Infections/epidemiology , Blastocystis hominis , Urticaria/parasitology , Acute Disease , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Blastocystis hominis/genetics , Blastocystis hominis/isolation & purification , Case-Control Studies , Child , Child, Preschool , Chronic Disease , Egypt/epidemiology , Feces/parasitology , Female , Genotype , Humans , Incidence , Male , Middle Aged , Young AdultABSTRACT
Human cystic hydatidosis (cystic echinococcosis) is a chronic zoonotic disease that results from infection with the dog tapeworm Echinococcus granulosus. In Egypt, cystic echinococcosis (CE) is recognized in slaughtered livestock by veterinarians, however, there is little information about human CE infection rates. We describe an immunological assay useful for the diagnosis of human cystic hydatidosis. Sera were collected from surgically confirmed hydatid cases (34), nonendemic subjects free from parasitic infection (20) and from subjects (109) infected with other helminths (Hymenolepis nana, Schistosoma mansoni, Fasciola hepatica and Ancylostoma duodenale). Hydatid cyst fluid (HCF) of camel origin was used as antigen in an ELISA format to measure total E. granulosus specific IgG antibodies and IgG subclasses. Sensitivity measurements of total IgG, and IgG1-4 were 100, 100, 79.4, 61.8 and 55.9%, respectively, whereas respective specificity reached 65.1, 97.7, 98.4, 96.1 and 83. 7%. The diagnostic value of measuring IgG1 (97.7%), as assessed by a rating index (J) for combined sensitivity and specificity, was superior to total IgG (65.1%) and IgG2-4 (77.8, 57.9 and 39.6%, respectively). These findings set the stage for field evaluation of the IgG1 assay in areas endemic with human cystic hydatidosis.
Subject(s)
Echinococcosis/diagnosis , Echinococcosis/immunology , Echinococcus/immunology , Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay , Immunoglobulin G/blood , Adolescent , Adult , Animals , Child , Cysts , Echinococcosis/pathology , Egypt , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Sensitivity and SpecificityABSTRACT
The present study intended to evaluate the usefulness of immunoblot analysis of hydatid cyst fluid (HCF) for diagnostic verification of human cystic echinococcosis (CE). HCF of camel origin was resolved by SDS-PAGE gel electrophoresis and transblotted on nitrocellulose membrane. Immunoglobulin G (IgG) subclass-specific antibody responses in 25 sera from surgically confirmed CE cases, 44 persons with other parasitic infections and 20 normal controls were analyzed. Total IgG and IgG subclass1-4 in CE sera preferentially recognized several polypeptide bands in the range of 14-200 kDa. The most predominant band recognized by total IgG antibodies was at 21 kDa (sensitivity, 96%; specificity, 98.5%; J index, 94.5%), by IgG1 at 38 kDa (sensitivity, 92%; specificity, 100%; J index, 92%) and by IgG3 at 60 kDa (sensitivity, 96%; specificity, 100%; J index 96%). Sera from the normal controls did not recognize any of these polypeptides. These data suggest that detection of any of these polypeptides bands could be used for confirmation of human cystic echinococcosis in Egypt.
