HAV and HEV infection in hospitalised hepatitis patients in Alexandria, Egypt.

A total of 202 serum and stool samples from acute hepatitis patients attending the Fever Hospital of Alexandria, Egypt, have been studied to reveal markers of hepatitis virus infection. Anti-HAV IgM were detected in 21 out of 202 sera (10.4%), whereas 201 sera (99.5%) had anti-HAV IgG. The first age attack was in the class-age 0-9 years with 64.7% of anti-HAV IgM positive sera. Among 202 patients, anti-hepatitis E IgG (sample/over cut off > 1.0) was identified in 90 patients (44.5%). The anti-HEV seropositivity ranged from 17.6% to 60.0% in the different age groups, with the highest level in the class-age 20 29 years. Anti-hepatitis E IgM were identified in 49 patients with the first age attack in the class-age 10-19 years (39.4%). HAV RNA was identified by nested PCR in 7 samples out of 15, whereas HEV RNA was present in 4 out of 75 stool samples. Direct DNA sequence of the latter PCR products confirmed the presence of the HEV genome; comparison of the sequences of the isolates from Egypt with those in data banks revealed the highest homology to the Burma strain. Our data confirm that HAV and HEV are common causes of acute sporadic hepatitis in Alexandria but with different peak age positivity. Occasionally, but not infrequently, dual infections (HAV-HEV and HEV-enteric viruses) were also found. The risk analysis indicates that patients living in rural areas are exposed to a higher risk of hepatitis E infection compared to the urban population, whereas the presence of anti-HEV IgG was significantly associated with consumption of common village water and use of indoor dry pit and oral therapy for schistosomiasis.

Serum antibodies to polioviruses in Alexandria, Egypt.

Random sera, in a total of 192, were collected in the Fever Hospital of Alexandria, Egypt, and analysed for the presence of antibodies against polioviruses. The results show good antibody levels, only three sera (1.5%) were negative for poliovirus type 1, 5 (2.6%) for poliovirus type 2 and 10 (5.2%) for poliovirus type 3; one subject was completely negative.

Evidence of hepatitis E virus replication on cell cultures.

Several human and animal cell lines have been used to grow hepatitis E virus. The strain SAR-55 was adapted only on PLF/PLC/5 cell line without any visible cytopathic effect. The growth of the SAR-55 was monitored by examining the positive and the negative strands of HEV-RNA. Stool samples, obtained from hospitalised acute hepatitis patients at the Fever Hospital of Alexandria (Egypt), were used to confirm the susceptibility of PLF/PLC/5 cells. After more than one-week's cultivation, three stool samples out of 17 IgM anti-HEV positive and 1 from 52 IgG anti-HEV positive patients showed a specific RT-PCR amplification product. The nucleotide sequences of the methyltransferase region of the genome in the isolates revealed the maximum homology with Burma strain with several point mutations.

Microbiological quality of coastal sea water of Alexandria, Egypt.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the quality of the seawater in Alexandria, Egypt. Samples were collected in 6 different points: Kayet Bay, El Shatby, Camp Cesar, Sporting, Beir Massoud and El Max. In total, 24 samples were analyzed. For each point the analysis included estimation of the following parameters: Esherichia coli, total coliform and fecal streptococci, Yersinia, Shigella, Salmonella, bacteriophages and enteric viruses. Just one sample (El Max) was positive for the presence of Salmonella, neither Shigella or Yersinia were isolated from any of the analyzed points. E. coli was identified in 10 samples while the ratio between total coliform and fecal streptococci showed variable results with the exception of El Max that resulted constantly high. Three samples were positive for the presence of enteric viruses: El Shatby, Beir Massoud and Sporting. The analysis of phages showed a variable pollution values.

PIP: The bacteriological virological parameters were evaluated on seawater samples taken at different points on the coast of Alexandria, Egypt. Samples were collected at 6 different points: Kayet Bay, El Shatby, Camp Cesar, Sporting, Beir Massoud, and El Max. A total of 24 samples were analyzed by estimation of the following parameters: Escherichia coli, total coliform and fecal streptococci, Yersinia, Shigella, Salmonella, bacteriophages, and enteric viruses. The virological analysis included the isolation and identification of cytopathogenic enteroviruses and three phages: somatic coliphage, F-specific, and B 40-8. The bacteriophage analysis was performed by the plaque assay method using the double-layer method, whereas the membrane filtration method was used to estimate bacterial populations in the samples. During the summer period no E. coli could be isolated from any point during the study, whereas in autumn E. coli were identified in all the points except for Sporting. E. coli was identified in 65% of the qualitative analyses. The limit was exceeded in 12 samples out of 24; for fecal streptococci, in 15 samples out of 24. The ratio over 4.4 relating to fecal coli and fecal streptococci indicated human fecal pollution. The El Max sample was positive for the presence of Salmonella; neither Shigella nor Yersinia were isolated from any of the analyzed points. In the El Max sample (autumn period), total coliform and fecal streptococci exceeded the European Community (EC) limit, whereas the ratio was 10, confirming human fecal pollution. E. coli was identified in 10 samples, while the ratio between total coliform and fecal streptococci showed variable results with the exception of El Max, which was constantly high. Three samples were positive for the presence of enteric viruses: El Shatby, Beir Massoud, and Sporting. The enteric viruses were confirmed by a secondary passage on cell culture. The analysis of phages showed variable pollution values.

Reactions with pyrrolidine-2,4-diones, III (1). Synthesis of some substituted 3-pyrrolin-2-ones and 4-hydrazonopyrrolidin-2-ones as potential antineoplastic and antimicrobial agents.

The syntheses of 3-bromo-, 3-substituted aminomethyl-, and 3-(4-substituted sulfamylphenylazo)-4-hydroxy-1,5-diphenyl-pyrrolin-2-ones 4,6 and 8 from 1,5-diphenylpyrrolidine-2,4-dione 3 via bromination aminomethylation and diazocoupling, respectively, are described. The preparation of some 1,5-diphenyl-4-(substituted thiosemicarbazono) pyrrolidin-2-ones 10 and their conversion either to 1,5-diphenyl-4-(substituted thiazol-2-ylhydrazono)pyrrolidin-2-ones 12 or to 1,5-diphenyl-4-(3,4-disubstituted-4-thiazolin-2-ylidenehydrazon o)pyrrolidin-2- ones 13, is also reported. Nine compounds were screened against P-388 lymphocytic leukemia in mice but were inactive. Two compounds (6a and 6b) exhibited in vitro activities against some Gram-positive bacteria.

Syntheses and in vitro antimicrobial evaluation of some benzimidazol-2-ylmethylthioureas, benzimidazol-2-ylacetylthiosemicarbazides and products of their condensation with monochloroacetic acid.

N-Benzimidazol-2-ylacetyl-N'-[alkyl- and arylthio (carbamoyl)]hydrazines and N-benzimidazol-2-ylmethyl-N'-alkyl- and -arylthioureas were subjected to condensation with monochloroacetic acid to afford N-benzimidazol-2-ylacetyl-N'-2,3, 4,5-tetrahydro-4-oxo-3-alkyl- and -arylthiazol-2-ylidenehydrazines and 3-benzimidazol-2-ylmethyl-2-alkyl- and arylimino-2,3-dihydrothiazol-4-(5H)ones, respectively. In preliminary antimicrobial testing, some compounds turned out to have significant activity against Staphylococcus aureus.

Isolation and mode of action of a staphylococcin-like substance active against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria.

Screening of non-phage group II Staphylococcus aureus strains for antagonistic substances revealed one particular strain, S. aureus D91, to excrete a substance with a wide spectrum of activity; both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria were susceptible. The staphylococcin-like substance D91 produced by this strain was partially purified by column chromatography on Sephadex G-50, DEAE-cellulose, Phenyl Sepharose CL-4B and Sephadex G-200. A molecular weight of 76000 was estimated by gel filtration. The activity was heat sensitive but was not affected by hydrolytic enzymes except for pronase. The protein character of substance D91 was confirmed by gel electrophoresis and subsequent staining with Coomassie blue. The action exerted on sensitive bacteria was bacteriostatic rather than bactericidal. Biosynthesis of DNA, RNA, protein and polysaccharides were inhibited simultaneously in both Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Active transport of glutamic acid was stopped in both S. cohnii and E. coli, whereas glucose uptake was inhibited in E. coli only. The substance induced a slow efflux of 86Rb+ from proloaded cells of S. cohnii and E. coli. The antagonistic activity of S. aureus D91 was eliminated by ethidium bromide at a rate of 47.6% suggesting that plasmids may be involved in its production.