Genetic relatedness and diversity of Capillaria species infecting bayad (Bagrus bajad) in upper Egypt.

BACKGROUND: This study investigates the genetic characteristics of Capillaria isolates from the infected fish, Bagrus bajad, and their relation to human Capillaria philippinensis using Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD-PCR) analysis. Fifteen fish Capillaria were isolated and compared to identified human C. philippinensis using six primers: M-are, M-1, G-7, G-11, G-15, and G-18. RESULTS: All six primers successfully amplified DNA, highlighting their efficacy in distinguishing between human and fish Capillaria isolates. The analysis revealed distinctive banding patterns between fish and human isolates, with variations in size and number of DNA fragments. Additionally, genetic similarity analysis showed intriguing patterns of relatedness, with certain pairs exhibiting high similarity percentages. Comparative assessment of RAPD polymorphism demonstrated consistent findings of 100% polymorphism across all primers. The Unweighted Pair Group Method with Arithmetic Mean Algorithm (UPGMA) evaluated the closest relationship between human and fish isolates. These results underscore the utility of RAPD analysis in delineating the genetic diversity among Capillaria isolates from different hosts. CONCLUSION: Overall, this study contributes to our understanding of the genetic variability and relatedness among Capillaria isolates, shedding light on their evolutionary dynamics and zoonotic potential.

Assessment of cattle tick infestation: Molecular insights into Rhipicephalus annulatus and the efficacy of garlic oil and nanoemulsion as acaricidal agents.

Ticks, particularly Rhipicephalus annulatus, pose significant threats to livestock, causing economic losses and transmitting various infectious diseases. This study aimed to evaluate the potential acaricidal properties of garlic oil and its nanoemulsion against ticks infesting cattle, Rhipicephalus annulatus through the evaluation of mortality rate and morphological changes of the treated ticks. The study also included prevalence, risk factors, and molecular confirmation of tick species. Genetic characterization confirmed the identity of R. annulatus. Our results revealed a high prevalence of R. annulatus (46.9%) with a higher risk in male cattle (50%) than females (44.9%) and a nonsignificant high infection (49.1%) in animals ≤ 1 year old. The acaricidal efficiency of garlic oil and its nanoemulsion was concentration and time-dependent. The high concentration of garlic oil (20 mg/L) induced complete mortality within 48 hours. The nanoemulsion formulation enhanced efficacy, particularly at 5 mg/L, which exhibited rapid and substantial acaricidal activity. Scanning electron microscopy revealed morphological alterations induced by garlic oil and its nanoemulsion, including changes to the anterior capitulum, dorsal, and ventral cuticles. The study contributes to the exploration of effective, safe, and eco-friendly alternatives for tick control. Further research is warranted to validate their efficacy under diverse conditions and assess practical strategies.

Light microscopical and parasitological analyses revealed the beneficial effects of silver nanoparticles and various myrrh extracts against Trichinella spiralis infection in mice.

Trichinella spiralis infection is a food-borne zoonotic disease caused by nematodes that dwell in the tissues, presenting a significant public health concern. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of different treatments including silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), myrrh biosynthesized AgNPs "AgNPs synthesized using plant-based green technologies", myrrh extract, and myrrh essential oil, as alternative treatments against T. spiralis infection. Parasitological, histopathological, and cytotoxicity assessments were conducted to investigate the effects of various concentrations of these treatments in reducing the populations of adult worms and larvae during both the intestinal and muscular phases of T. spiralis-infected mice. The results showed that the highest antihelminthic efficacy against the intestinal phase of T. spiralis was achieved by myrrh extract (86.66%), followed closely by AgNPs (84.96%) and myrrh AgNPs (82.51%) at higher concentrations (800 mg/kg for myrrh extract, 40 µg/mL for AgNPs, and 40 µg/mL for myrrh AgNPs). While the group treated with myrrh essential oil showed the lowest percentage of adult reduction (78.14%). However, all treatments demonstrated comparable effects in reducing the larvae population in the muscle phase. Histopathological examination of the tissues revealed compelling evidence of the effectiveness of AgNPs, particularly when prepared with myrrh. Additionally, a comprehensive assessment of the cytotoxicity of AgNPs indicated low toxicity levels. This study supports that AgNPs synthesized using plant-based green technologies hold therapeutic potential for the treatment of T. spiralis infection. These findings present a promising avenue for the development of novel antiparasitic drugs that are both effective and safe. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS: Myrrh extract has the highest antihelminthic efficacy against the intestinal phase of T. spiralis. Histopathological examination of the tissues revealed compelling evidence of the effectiveness of AgNPs, particularly when prepared with myrrh. During intestinal phase of T. spiralis, varying levels of nanoparticle precipitation were detected in the liver, brain, lung, and intestine. During the muscular phase, the highest amount of AgNPs precipitation was detected in the liver, followed by the brain, and lung.