A study on Trichomoniasis vaginalis and female infertility.

A total of 280 patients, 240 infertile and 40 pregnant were subjected to thorough history taking, general and local examination for exclusion of organic lesion, laboratory investigations to exclude parasitic, bacterial and fungal infections. Sterile vaginal swab from the posterior fornix was taken, and examined by wet smear preparation, Giemsa staining and cultivation on C.P.L.M. medium for trichomoniasis infection. The mean age of the infertile group was 25.75+/-3.92, and of the control group was 21.6+/-2.38 (in years). The mean duration of infertility was 2.81+/-1.51 (years). Out of 240 infertile women, 18.75% complained of discharge, 17.5% itching, 15.42% dysuria, 14.58% dyspareunia, and 10% had cervical lesion. Of the 40 controls, 5% complained of discharge, 2.5% complained of itching, dysuria, dyspareunia, but none had cervical lesion. Of the total cases (280), 36 (12.9%) had T. vaginalis. The clinical data observed were significantly higher among the infertile group than the control group. Cultures were positive in 14.58% of the infertile group and 2.5% in the control group. The difference between the 2 groups was statistically significant. No doubt, T. vaginalis plays an important role in female infertility.

Studies on patients with Schistosomiasis mansoni, HCV and/or typhoid fever.

Two groups of patients were studied. First one included 50 schistosomiasis mansoni patients, 30 with simple infection, 10 with splenomegaly and with ascites. Second group included 111 patients of whom 20 with pure S. mansoni, 27 with pure HCV infection, 54 with mixed infection of schistosomiasis and HCV and 10 with schistosomiasis, HCV and typhoid fever. Serum transaminases and anti-HCV antibodies performed, showed anti-HCV raised levels in 10% of simple schistosomiasis, 60% in splenomegalic patients, 80% in ascites patients, and 7.1% in controls. Liver function tests in first group were within normal range except in those with ascites. In second group, liver function tests was norma in pure schistosomiasis patients, in pure HCV patients serum bilirubin was normal in 22.2%, AST, ALT and alkaline phosphatase were higher. In mixed infection, serum bilirubin was normal in 18.5%, serum transaminases were higher and alkaline phosphatase was normal among 77.7%. Patients with typhoid fever, HCV and schistosomiasis (12.6%) showed significant increase of liver function as compared with each of pure HCV or HCV and schistosomasis. Results were discussed.

Evaluation of five stains in diagnosing human intestinal coccidiosis.

Three hundreds cases over the year 1998 complaining of diarrhoea were examined. The stools were examined by the traditional diagnostic methods and confirmed to be free from intestinal parasites. Cryptosporidium parvum, Isospora belli and Cyclospora cayetanensis were detected by using different types of faecal stains namely modified Ziehl-Neelsen, Kinyoun acid-fast, Auramine-rhodamine, Gomori's trichrome and Giemsa. The number of positive cases were 87 C. parvum (29%), 5 cases L. belli (1.7%) and 12 cases C. cayetanensis (4%). This study showed that the sensitivity of modified Ziehl-Neelsen and Kinyoun Acid-fast were very high (100%) in comparison with the other stains.

Histochemical and pathological studies on biopsied materials from patients with Ancylostoma duodenale infection.

Ancylostoma duodenale is still the dominant hookworm species in the Mediterranean area, India, China and Japan. In the present study, biopsied materials were taken from the small intestine of 30 patients infected only with A. duodenale and 12 cross matched controls. The results showed some pathological changes in severely infected cases. However, normal or insignificant changes were seen in the enzymatic activity of the intestinal mucosa.

The helminthic parasites of rodents in Dakahlia Governorate, with reference to their Egyptian helminth fauna.

No doubt, rodents are among the most important reservoirs of zoonotic diseases. This paper aimed to survey the helminth fauna of the different species of rodents in Dakahlia Governorate. Eight species of rodents were encountered in the different centers examined. A total of fifteen species of helminthic parasites were found. They belong to four classes: Trematoda five species: H. heterophyes, H. pumilio, H. yokogawai, S. tridactyla and E. callawayensis, Cestoidea three species: H diminuta, H. nana and T. taeniaeformis, Nematoda six species: A. cantonensis, T. muris, C. hepatica, S. obvelata, S. muris, S. ratti, and Archiacanthocephala one species: M. moniliformis. The medical and/or veterinary importance of these parasites were discussed. It was concluded that rodents are the most serious source of zoonotic parasites.

The effect of cyclosporin A (CSA) on murine visceral toxocariasis canis.

Swiss mice experimentally infected with T. canis were treated by Cyclosporin A (CSA). The direct antiparasitic effect was noticed when administered on the same day of infection and was more effective when repeated for eight weeks. Although immunosuppression of CSA increased the susceptibility of mice to T. canis larvae, its direct antiparasitic effect was more effective and led to diminution of living T. canis larvae. Cellular immunity was inhibited as revealed by diminution of T. lymphocytes by decreased lymphocytes migration inhibition percentage on repeated administration of CSA for four weeks.

The effect of the initial inoculum dose and post-infection period on larval dispersal in experimental murine toxocariasis.

The distribution of Toxocara canis larvae throughout the tissues of mice was studied in three groups of fourty mice each using three inocula sizes, (200/500 and 1000 eggs/mice). The results obtained revealed a significant interaction between the duration of infection, the inoculum size and the dispersal rate of larvae through the examined organs of experimented with mice.

Malabsorption syndrome in patients with cryptosporidiosis.

Out of 130 patients presenting with gastroenteritis, oocysts of Cryptosporidium species were detected in the faecal samples of 10 persons (7.69%). The prevalence of the parasite was higher among rural inhabitants (11.47%) than city dwellers (4.35%), particularly in the young age. The parasite lead to impairment of the intestinal absorptive function as indicated by the significant change in the fat in stools and the decreased excretion of D-xylose.

Human fascioliasis: a parasitic health problem in Dakahlia Governorate, Egypt.

Fascioliasis has a cosmopolitan distribution and is prevalent in sheep-raising countries. Now, it is an increasingly important parasite of man in the Mediterranean countries. In Dakahlia G., human fascioliasis has imposed itself as a parasitic health problem. In this paper, 23 human cases were selected to throw some light on the signs, symptoms and diagnosis of the disease. It was concluded that painful hepatomegaly, fever, anaemia and marked eosinophilia are tetrad suggesting fascioliasis in patient who has consumed watercress as green salade. Data concerning treatment and follow up will be published later.

Toxocara canis antibodies by counter immuno-electrophoresis.

Counter immunoelectrophoresis was used for anti-toxocaral antibodies in mice experimentally infected with Toxocara canis using adult worm antigen. The test seems to be valuable and gives good information about the infected rate.

Serum and intestinal immunoglobulins in heterophyiasis.

Serum and intestinal immunoglobulins are determined in 50 patients with heterophyiasis. The most outstanding findings were highly elevated IgE levels in serum but not in intestinal contents. Increased serum IgM, IgG and IgE were detected, while only intestinal IgM, IgG and IgA were elevated. An inverse relationship between serum and intestinal IgM, IgG and IgA and the load of infection was proved.