Phylogenetic evidence of a possible Trichuris globulosa species complex in Arabian camels from Kuwait.

During a 1-year study, Trichuris adults were obtained after necropsy of Arabian camels (Camelus dromedarius) from a slaughterhouse in Kuwait. Morphological and molecular identification was performed to confirm the identity of the Trichuris specimens obtained from C. dromedarius. Fifteen male Trichuris specimens were selected, and molecular identification was performed using mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I, 12S ribosomal RNA, 16S ribosomal RNA genes and the nuclear internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) region. Through phylogenetic analysis, 2 distinct groups were obtained using the mitochondrial genes, where group 1 showed a close relationship to Trichuris globulosa while group 2 showed a close relationship to Trichuris ovis, providing molecular evidence of a possible T. globulosa species complex. Additionally, the nuclear ITS2 region did not provide enough resolution to distinguish between the 2 groups of Trichuris specimens. Observation of morphological characters revealed variations in the shape of the male spicule sheath, where specimens present either a globular posteriorly truncated swelling or the absence of posteriorly truncated swelling. Moreover, the variations in male spicule sheath does not corroborate with the results of molecular data, suggesting the limited use of this character for identification of T. globulosa. In conclusion, molecular analysis suggests a possible species complex in T. globulosa, with the mitochondrial genetic markers successfully differentiating between the 2 groups. The limited use of the male spicule sheath as a diagnostic character for identification of T. globulosa is suggested.

Fate of Cryptosporidium and Giardia through conventional and compact drinking water treatment plants.

Over the past three decades, a notable rise in the occurrence of enteric protozoan pathogens, especially Giardia and Cryptosporidium spp., in drinking water sources has been observed. This rise could be attributed not only to an actual increase in water contamination but also to improvements in detection methods. These waterborne pathogens have played a pivotal role in disease outbreaks and the overall escalation of disease rates in both developed and developing nations worldwide. Consequently, the control of waterborne diseases has become a vital component of public health policies and a primary objective of drinking water treatment plants (DWTPs). Limited studies applied real-time PCR (qPCR) and/or immunofluorescence assay (IFA) for monitoring Giardia and Cryptosporidium spp., particularly in developing countries like Egypt. Water samples from two conventional drinking water treatment plants and two compact units (CUs) were analyzed using both IFA and qPCR methods to detect Giardia and Cryptosporidium. Using qPCR and IFA, the conventional DWTPs showed complete removal of Giardia and Cryptosporidium, whereas Mansheyat Alqanater and Niklah CUs achieved only partial removal. Specifically, Cryptosporidium gene copies removal rates were 33.33% and 60% for Mansheyat Alqanater and Niklah CUs, respectively. Niklah CU also removed 50% of Giardia gene copies, but no Giardia gene copies were removed by Mansheyat Alqanater CU. Using IFA, both Mansheyat Alqanater and Niklah CUs showed a similar removal rate of 50% for Giardia cysts. Additionally, Niklah CU achieved a 50% removal of Cryptosporidium oocysts, whereas Mansheyat Alqanater CU did not show any removal of Cryptosporidium oocysts. Conventional DWTPs were more effective than CUs in removing enteric protozoa. The contamination of drinking water by enteric pathogenic protozoa remains a significant issue globally, leading to increased disease rates. Infectious disease surveillance in drinking water is an important epidemiological tool to monitor the health of a population.

Scanning electron microscopy of Subulura brumpti from domestic chicken Gallus gallus domesticus from Taif, Saudi Arabia.

The nematode Subulura brumpti is described from the caecae of the domestic fowl collected from Taif, Saudi Arabia. The surface topography of the worms is described using scanning electron microscopy. This included the description of mouth opening, sensory papillae, cuticular surface, copulatory spicules and copulatory papillae.

Trypanosoma evansi: detection of Trypanosoma evansi DNA in naturally and experimentally infected animals using TBR(1) & TBR(2) primers.

A polymerase chain reaction (PCR-based) assay was evaluated for detection of Trypanosoma evansi DNA in experimentally infected mice and naturally infected camels, sheep and goats using the set of primers TBr(1) & TBr(2) that amplified 164 bp DNA fragment. The results revealed that PCR-based assay was able to detect T. evansi directly from the blood during both acute and chronic phase of infection in all tested animals and in the blood and tissues of intraperitoneally infected mice depending upon the level of infection in the test samples. PCR was more powerful than CATT/T. evansi and mouse inoculation tests, when detected the infection in mice (24 h) post infection. Present results show that sheep & goats probably play a role in transmission of T. evansi to camels and supported that PCR could be used as a diagnostic tool for epidemiological studies on T. evansi in Egypt.

SEM studies on Trichurus muris from Psammomys obessus from Sinai Peninsula, Egypt.

The whipworm Trichuris muris was recovered from the caecum of the wild rodent Psammomys obessus trapped from Sinai Peninsula, Egypt. The cuticular surface ultrastructure is described using SEM. T. muris is closely related to other Trichuris species but can be distinguished from them mainly by differences in the posterior end of males. Details of the surface such as the bacillary gland, cuticular inflations and several morphological details obtained by scanning electron microscopy confirmed the characteristics that differentiate the species. P. obessus (Cretzschmar, 1828) is considered a new host record and Sinai is considered a new locality for the genus. This may through light on the spread of T. muris between Asia and Africa.

Tapeworms of rock dove and domestic chicken in Taif area, Saudi Arabia.

The present study aimed to identify the tapeworms that parasitize the rock dove Columba livia palastinae and domestic chicken Gallus gallus domesticus in Taif governorate, Saudi Arabia. A total of 115 rock doves and 105 domestic chicken have been examined. Birds were brought in from the wells and farms inside and outside the city of Taif. In rock doves, the percentage of infection was recorded as Cotugnia digonopora 5.21%, Hymenolepis carioca 10.43%, Raillietina echinobothrida 27.82%, Raillietina tetragona 22.6%. The prevalence of infection recorded in Municipal chicken with different types of tapeworms was Cotugnia digonopora 7.61%, Choanotaenia infundibulum 12.38%, Amoebotaenia sphenoides 7.61%, Raillietina echinobothrida 11.42%, Raillietina tetragona 8.57%, Raillietina (Paroniella) kashiwarensis 4.76%. The overall percentage of infected rock pigeons Columba livia palastinae with tapeworms was 66.1% while the percentage of infected chicken Gallus gallus domestica was 52.3%. The study defined and described this species as classification keys in place.

Morphology and ultrastructure of the digenetic trematode Calicophoron microbothrium from a cow in Taif, Saudi Arabia.

Several digenetic trematode flukes belonging to the family Paramphistomidae were recovered from a cow slaughtered at Taif abattoir KSA. Parasites were identified as Calicophoron microbothrium (Family Paramphistomidae) .The surface tegumental structures and the anatomical details of the flukes were studied by making sagittal hand sections in the fluke and observations were made by scanning electron microscopy, which is a very useful technique in case of paramphistomes. This included the description of tegumental surface of the fluke, mouth opening and pharynx, acetabulum, genital atrium, caecum and eggs. Adult C. microbothrium is described for the first time using SEM from Saudi Arabia.

Detection of Wuchereria bancrofti L3 larvae in mosquitoes: a reverse transcriptase PCR assay evaluating infection and infectivity.

BACKGROUND: Detection of filarial DNA in mosquitoes by PCR cannot differentiate infective mosquitoes from infected mosquitoes. In order to evaluate transmission risk an assay is needed that can specifically detect infective L3 stage parasites. We now report the development of an assay that specifically detects the infective stage of Wuchereria bancrofti in mosquitoes. The assay detects an L3-activated mRNA transcript by reverse-transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR). METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: W. bancrofti cuticle-related genes were selected using bioinformatics and screened as potential diagnostic target genes for L3 detection in mosquitoes. Expression profiles were determined using RT-PCR on RNA isolated from mosquitoes collected daily across a two-week period after feeding on infected blood. Conventional multiplex RT-PCR and real-time multiplex RT-PCR assays were developed using an L3-activated cuticlin transcript for L3 detection and a constitutively expressed transcript, tph-1, for 'any-stage' detection. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: This assay can be used to simultaneously detect W. bancrofti infective stage larvae and 'any-stage' larvae in pooled vector mosquitoes. This test may be useful as a tool for assessing changes in transmission potential in the context of filariasis elimination programs.

Cellular and humoral immune responses to recombinant Smp17.7 Schistosoma mansoni antigen.

To determine the immunological responses to S. mansoni antigen rSmp17.7, a total of 184 subjects, 174 patients from a schistosomiasis endemic area, and 10 controls were used. Proliferation, cytokine profile in culture supernatants from antigen-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells and specific IgG1, IgG3, IgG4, IgA, IgM & IgE levels were assessed. The highest stimulation index to rSmp17.7 was detected in S. mansoni patients. The evaluation of the cytokine profile [IL-2, IL-4 & IFN-gamma] in response to this antigen showed a significant increase as demonstrated by ELISA. Specifically, IFN-gamma and IL-2 were significantly detected by flow cytometry. IgG1 and IgM were the only Igs which showed a significant increase. These results highlight the importance of rSmp17.7 as a candidate vaccine for schistosomiasis. The results pave the way to understand the mechanism of schistosome-vaccine efficacy.