ABSTRACT
Toxoplasma antibodies were detected in sera of 700 cases; 500 were collected randomly from individuals attending the outpatient clinics of Benha University Hospitals of different ages and sexes and 200 from suspected inpatients from Obstetric, Opthalmology, Internal Medicine and Surgery Departments. The indirect fluorescent antibody technique was performed. The results were correlated with the clinical picture, age, sex and residence. The general positivity rate was 14.57%; in the random group, 11.2% and in suspected group, 23% (P < 0.001). Toxoplasma antibodies were more in females than in males in random group especially above 40 years old but with no obvious difference in rural and urban areas. In the suspected group, Toxoplasma positivity were 24% in Obstetric cases; 15% in hepatosplenomegalic cases, 17.5% in prolonged fever cases, 28.57% in ophthalmic cases and 40% in localised lymphadenopathy cases.
Subject(s)
Antibodies, Protozoan/blood , Toxoplasma/immunology , Toxoplasmosis/epidemiology , Adolescent , Adult , Animals , Child , Egypt/epidemiology , Female , Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect , Hospitals, University , Humans , Inpatients , Male , Outpatients , Prevalence , Seroepidemiologic Studies , Toxoplasmosis/immunologyABSTRACT
A total of 239 rodents were collected from El-Khanka, Shebin El-Kanater, El-Kanater, Shoubra El Khima, Qualiob, Tokh, Benha and Kafr-Shokr and identified as Mus musculus (30), Rattus rattus (78), Rattus norvegicus (35), Arvicanthus niloticus (62) and Acomys cahirinus (34). Examination of these rodents showed the presence of cutaneous lesions in two R. rattus, three R. norvegicus and one A. cahirinus which showed no Leishmania parasites neither by smear nor by culture. On examination of the liver, spleen and bone marrow parasitologically, the spleen of two R. norvegicus grew promastigotes, one was lost and the other was typed. Serological examination of rodents revealed antileishmanial antibodies in one A. niloticus and in two R. norvegicus by IHAT and in one R. rattus by Dot-ELISA. A total of 33 stray dogs trapped from El-Khanka Shebin El-Kanater and Qualiob were free from natural Leishmania infection as indicated clinically, parasitologically and serologically.
Subject(s)
Disease Reservoirs , Dogs/parasitology , Leishmaniasis/transmission , Rodentia/parasitology , Animals , Egypt , RatsABSTRACT
Liver biopsy examination of 106 patients showed 47 with pure bilharzial liver, 16 with chronic persistent hepatitis, 19 with chronic persistent hepatitis associated with bilharzial liver, 14 with chronic active hepatitis and 10 with chronic active bilharzial liver. There was significant correlation between intensity of infection and bilharzial affection of the liver.
Subject(s)
Liver/pathology , Schistosomiasis mansoni/pathology , Biopsy , Feces/parasitology , Humans , Parasite Egg Count , Schistosomiasis mansoni/parasitologyABSTRACT
Among school children in a rural area the serological diagnosis (ELISA) was more accurate than the parasitological tests. The mean total leucocytic and eosinophilic counts, and the blastogenic response to S. mansoni egg antigen were significantly higher in early than in chronic schistosomal cases. Blastogenic response to mitogens and S. mansoni adults preparation was insignificantly different.
Subject(s)
Eosinophils , Lymphocyte Activation , Schistosomiasis mansoni/blood , Acute Disease , Adolescent , Chronic Disease , Humans , Immunity, Cellular , Leukocyte Count , Schistosomiasis mansoni/immunologyABSTRACT
The mean values of IgG and IgA were significantly higher in bilharzial patients than in the non bilharzial ones. The mean IgG level in patients with S. mansoni was significantly higher than that in patients with negative stool while the reverse was true as regards IgA. Among the bilharzial patients the mean values of IgG, IgM and IgA were significantly higher in C.A.H. and C.A.H. bilharziasis than in patients with pure bilharziasis, C.P.H. and C.P.H. with bilharziasis. It might be concluded that the altered immune response produced by schistosomiasis, the frequent exposure to the hepatitis B. virus and the bilharzial hepatitis lesions, all may pave the way for development of severe diseases e.g. chronic active hepatitis and liver cirrhosis.
Subject(s)
Hepatitis/immunology , Immunoglobulins/analysis , Schistosomiasis mansoni/immunology , Chronic Disease , Hepatitis/complications , Humans , Schistosomiasis mansoni/complicationsABSTRACT
The frequency of HBSAg in bilharzial patients (7%) was significantly higher than that in non bilharzial ones (2-5%). The presence of insulted liver by bilharzial, non bilharzial (C.P.H. and C.A.H.) or both (C.P.H. with bilharzia and C.A.H. with bilharzia) lesions have no role in changing the incidence of HBSAg in sera of bilharzial patients.
Subject(s)
Hepatitis B Surface Antigens/analysis , Hepatitis B/complications , Schistosomiasis/immunology , Egypt , Humans , Schistosomiasis/complicationsABSTRACT
We describe a dot enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (dot-ELISA) as a field applicable tool for the rapid diagnosis of schistosomiasis. This antibody capture assay is performed using 50 ng protein of crude Schistosoma mansoni egg antigen (SEA) in 1 microliter volumes per dot. Sera (1 microliter/dot) at 1:40 dilution were optimal. Dot-ELISA results were completely comparable to micro-ELISA.
