Efficacy of Ixodes ricinus as a vector of zoonotic babesiosis in Sinai Peninsula, Egypt.

Ticks and blood samples were collected every month from March 2009 through April 2010 from different sites in Sinai to detect babesial parasites using PCR assay based on nuclear small subunit rRNA gene. Ticks were found to contain babesial DNA. Sequence determination and analysis of amplified portions of nss-rDNA revealed their identity with B. bovis and a high degree of homology with B. bigemina and B. divergens. The results represent the first genetic evidence of different species of Babesia and identified the role of Ixodes ricinus as a vector of zoonotic B. microti infection. Rodent isolate (HK) and American isolate (GI) were studied in transmission experiments. The present study used in vitro culture of zoonotic Babesia sp. EU1 from blood samples of rodent in Sinai. This study provides an evidence of transovarian and transstadial transmissions of the parasite within I. ricinus, which emphasizes that this tick could be a vector and reservoir of EU1

Echinococcosis granulosus in stray dogs and Echino-IHAT in the hunters in Cairo, Egypt.

A total of fifty stray dogs of both sex and of different ages were examined for natural infection with Echinococcus granulosus after post-mortem. Three main intestinal helminthes were recovered. These were in descending order of abundance Dipylidium caninum, Toxocara canis and E. granulosus. The latter worm was demonstrated in eight of them (16%). The sera of three out of 21 dog-hunters (14.3%) showed positive Echino-IHAT. Two of the hunters suffered Enterobius vermicularis and one of them had Taenia saginata as well. But, the abdominal X-ray of the two hunters was more or less normal and did not show any hydatid cyst.

Q fever (Coxiella burnetii) among man and farm animals in North Sinai, Egypt.

Antibodies against Coxiella burnetii were estimated among sheep, goats and camels (190), their owners (150 patients with pyrexia of unknown origin) and 30 normal individuals in North Sinai over the 2006 by indirect immounofluorescence assay. Nested polymerase chain reaction was used to detect Com-1 gene (genetic target of C. burnetii) encoding a 27-kDa outer membrane protein in the samples. C. burnetii IFA antibodies (IgM & IgG) in patients were 8 (5.3%) and a healthy control (3.3%). The overall was 9 of 180 (5.0%). C. burnetii IgM were detected in 3/150 (2%) patients with positive genome, while IgG were detected in 5/150 patients, only the three who had IgM and IgG had positive genome suffered high fever. C. burnetii antibodies were detected in 20 (22.5%), 12 (16.8%) & 4 (13.3%) of sheep, goats, camels, which total 36/190 (18.9%). The positive genome of these IFA positive animals was 10 (50.0%), 4 (33.3%) & zero (0.0%) respectively. On the other hand, Rhipicephalus sanguineus (dog tick) and Dermacentor andersoni (wood tick) were identified on some Q fever infected animals. The results were discussed.

Effect of insect growth regulators on protein pattern of dermatophagoides farinae and its validity on inducing human alleregens.

Two insect growth regulators, Methorprene and Hydroprene were evaluated as growth hormones on the common house dust mite; Dermatophagoides farinae. The adults and immature stages were treated with 4 concentrations of each regulator as contact and as diet. The data were recorded 30 & 90 days post-exposure. Both compounds significantly suppressed population growth, as compared to > or = 5% acetone controls. Methoprene was more effective than Hydroprene when given in diet by corporation bioassays but, slightly more effective for the 1st 30 days of the contact assays. A second set of contact and diet-incorporation assays was done using a 75% of Methoprene and Hydroprene to determine efficacy on D. farinae population dynamics, at weekly intervals for 13 weeks. The average number of the mites in the untreated control population was increased by more than 10 times than the original ones. On the other hand, the number of treated mites was not significantly increased. This was similar for both the contact and the diet-incorporation bioassays, although the average number of mites/container was significantly higher when the treatment was incorporated in the house dust mite diet than when applied directly as contact. Consequently, the insect growth regulators minimized the allergic efficacy of D. farinae in experimental exposed mice.

Biological and ecological studies on the myiasis producing larvae of Megaselia scalaris with special morphology by scanning electron microscopy.

Laboratory study was conducted on the biology of the phorid fly Megaselia sacalaris. The influence of 3 constant temperatures and various larval densities was researched in the laboratory as these relate to mean life stage rate of development and survival. Flay development on a synthetic diet at 25 degrees C. 75=2% RH and 18 hr photophase was used as the standard. Mean times for development and survival were egg incubation 16.3 h (97.6%); larval period 7.3 days (97.6%); pupal period 9.8 days (95.8%, 91.6%); adult longevity 29.9 days, 24.8 days. Fecundity was 664.8 eggs. One generation required 19.7 days. Data are presented on the influence of 20 degrees C and 15 degrees C on the duration of survival and fecundity life-stages. Theoretical lower thresholds of development for life stages are reported. The adverse effect of larval crowding was reflected at the 100 larvae/10 g diet medium as larval and pupal periods increased. At the 200 larvae/10 g diet medium larval survival declined pupal survival decline began at 100/10 g level. Fecundity was not significant altered. The ultrastructure of the larval stages of M. scalaris was studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Significant changes in morphological features were observed in the anterior and posterior spiracles, but only minimal changes in the labium and mouth-hooks were seen. The ultrastructure of M. scalaris larvae not only provided the chronological transformation of the larval instars, but also can be used to explain their feeding behavior and mode of respiration. Besides, morphological structures useful for specific identification of first and second-instar larvae collected from human corpses may be used in forensic practice.

Allergic reactions in patients suffering from asthma induced by house dust mites which treatment by juvenile hormone.

The effect of Juvenile hormone analogue, Admiral "pyriproxyfen", which acts as a protein de-naturing agent, on the protein patterns of D. farinae was studied on allergic reactions in patients with HDM asthma, and in mice injected twice (within 10 days) with mite crude extracts. Total protein concentrations and protein patterns were different in normal and admiral-treated mites. This may result in reducing the allergenic of treated mites. Histamine release, total immunoglobulin E (IgE), specific immunoglobulin E (S-IgE), eosinophil cationic protein (ECP), and absolute eosinophil count (AEC) were determined for moderate and severe HDM asthma-tics compared to check cases. These parameters had higher levels in asthmatic patients than in normal (check) individuals. Injection of mice with normal adult extracts of D. farinae resulted in significantly higher levels of histamine, S-IgE and ECP than in the check animals. Skin reactions were observed in all of the mice injected with normal or treated D. farinae extracts.

Laboratory and field studies on oribatid mites as intermediate host of Moniezia expansa infecting Egytptian sheep.

Three species of oribatid mites, Scheloribates zaherii, Zygoribatula tadrosi and Z. sayedi from pure colonies were experimentally exposed to infection by allowing them to feed on stool sheep infected with Moniezia expansa. The mites were followed up to the development of the infective cysticercoids. M. expansa was able to achieve sucessfully its larval development in the three species of oribatid mites under laboratory conditions. These were demonstrated after 84, 73 & 69 days post infection, respectively. Z. tadrosi is recorded as inter-mediate host for the first time in Egypt. Six species of oribatid mites, Oppiella nova, S. laevigatus, S. zaherii, Xylobates souchiensis, Epilohmannia pallida aegyptiaca and Z. sayedi, recovered from the sheep infested farm soil, were found naturally infected with different developmental stages of M. expansa.

Peptone-liver (P-L) a new culture medium for the Egyptian Leishmania major.

Leishmania major promastigotes isolated from an Egyptian ZCL patient, was inoculated 4 x 10(6)/ml in a new culture medium, peptone-liver (P-L), with a final concentration of 10% of FCS (fetal calf serum), and incubated at 25+/-1 degrees C. Meanwhile, the same number of promastigotes were inoculated in Schneider's Drosophila medium as control. On the 10th day, number of L. major promastigotes reached 29,25 x 10(6)/ml. The same number was obtained with Schneider's Drosophila medium within four days. The new culture medium or P-L medium is cheap, easily prepared, and gave a very good number of promastigotes as in Schneider's Drosophila medium but in a longer time.

Studies on theileria and babesia infecting live and slaughtered animals in Al Arish and El Hasanah, North Sinai Governorate, Egypt.

During the year 2001, a total of 475 sheep, 200 goats, 135 cattle and 190 camels in El Arich city and El Hassanah center were examined for Babesia ovis and Theileria ovis. Blood films were taken from the vein of the ear. Meanwhile, the animals were examined for tick infestations. B. ovis and Th. ovis were detected in 13 (2.7%), and 14 (2.9%) sheep, 14 (7.0%), and 15 (7.5%) goats, 13 (9.6%), and 11 (8.1%) cattle and 18 (9.5%), and 24 (12.6%) camels respectively. On the other hand, double infection was found in 114 (24%) sheep, 51 (25%) goats, 27 (20%) cattle and 66 (34.7%) camels. Adult ticks were identified as Rhipicephalus appendiculatus, R. bursa, R. turanicus and Haemaphysalis parva on sheep, Hyalomma anatolicum excavatum and Haemaphysalis sulcata on goats, Hyalomma lusitanicum on cattle and Hyalomma dromedarii, H. impeltatum, H. marginitum and H. a. anatolicum on camels. Babesia ovis and/or Theileria ovis were recorded in ticks gut and/or salivary glands in R. appendiculatus (20.%), R. bursa (16.7%), R. turanicus (10%), Haemaphysalis parva (10%), H. a. excavaium (30.%), H. dromedarii (18%), and H. a. anatolicum (6.7%).

The endoparasites of sheep and goats, and shepherd in North Sinai Governorate, Egypt.

Examination of sheep and goats in four areas in North Sinai revealed an overall infection of 12.70% with Fasciola species, 11.8% with Paramphistomum cerve, 12.80% with Moniezia expansa, 47.11% with Trichostrongylus colubriformis, 4.59% Trichuris ovis and 44.85% Coccidia. The highly infected sheep and goats were diagnosed in El Hassanah center (90.49%), followed by Al Arish city (87.31%), then Rafah city (74.39%), and lastly Bir Al Abd (54.71%). The elevation of the overall percent of infection in the four areas was due to Coccidia infection. This parasite was a concomitant infection in nearly all animals. On the other hand, examination of fifteen of the shepherds revealed Ascaris lumbricoides in four, T. colubriformis in three, Fasciala in one, Giardia lamblia in ten and Coccidia in three. Double and rarely, triple infection was seen. The correlation between parasitic infections in sheep and goats, and their shepherd was discussed.