Ultrasound-assisted preparation of anise extract nanoemulsion and its bioactivity against different pathogenic bacteria.

The present work aimed to characterize the nanoemulsion of anise seed extract and to compare its efficacy with the bulk extract against pathogenic bacteria. The anise seeds extract was prepared by cold solvent extraction method using ethanol. Nanoemulsion of anise extract was formulated using ultrasound assisted method and analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and UV-visible spectrophotometry. The antimicrobial activity of the nanoemulsion was tested against seven foodborne pathogenic bacterial species. Results showed that the extract contained anethole (37%), naringenin (21%), and taxifolin (13%) as the major phytochemical components. The average droplet size of the nanoemulsion droplets was measured by dynamic light scattering (DLS) and confirmed by transmission electron microscope to be about 400 nm. Anise extract nanoemulsion showed higher antimicrobial activity against most of the tested pathogens. Anise extract nanoemulsion performed better than bulk extract as an antimicrobial agent against some foodborne pathogenic bacteria.

Influence of Sunflower Whole Seeds or Oil on Ruminal Fermentation, Milk Production, Composition, and Fatty Acid Profile in Lactating Goats.

This study aimed to investigate the effect of sunflower seeds, either as whole or as oil, on rumen fermentation, milk production, milk composition and fatty acids profile in dairy goats. Fifteen lactating Damascus goats were divided randomly into three groups (n = 5) fed a basal diet of concentrate feed mixture and fresh Trifolium alexandrinum at 50:50 on dry matter basis (Control) in addition to 50 g/head/d sunflower seeds whole (SS) or 20 mL/head/d sunflower seeds oil (SO) in a complete randomized design. Milk was sampled every two weeks during 90 days of experimental period for chemical analysis and rumen was sampled at 30, 60, and 90 days of the experiment for ruminal pH, volatile fatty acids (tVFA), and ammonia-N determination. Addition of SO decreased (p = 0.017) ruminal pH, whereas SO and SS increased tVFA (p<0.001) and acetate (p = 0.034) concentrations. Serum glucose increased (p = 0.013) in SO and SS goats vs Control. The SO and SS treated goats had improved milk yield (p = 0.007) and milk fat content (p = 0.002). Moreover, SO increased milk lactose content (p = 0.048) and feed efficiency (p = 0.046) compared to Control. Both of SS and SO increased (p<0.05) milk unsaturated fatty acids content specially conjugated linolenic acid (CLA) vs Control. Addition of SS and SO increased (p = 0. 021) C18:3N3 fatty acid compared to Control diet. Data suggested that addition of either SS or SO to lactating goats ration had beneficial effects on milk yield and milk composition with enhancing milk content of healthy fatty acids (CLA and omega 3), without detrimental effects on animal performance.

Variations in protein and fat contents and their fractions in milk from two species fed different forages.

This study aimed at determining the variations in milk constituents which could be varied by feed and animal species. To achieve this goal, two groups of homoparity Baladi cows and Egyptian buffaloes (n = 20 per species) were used. Each group was divided into two subgroups (n = 10): subgroup I received legume forage (Egyptian clover) and subgroup II received grass forage (sorghum forage). All experimental animals were fed the diet consisting of concentrate, forage and rice straw as 50, 25 and 25% of dry matter intake respectively. Milk samples were taken for analysis. The trial lasted until the 3rd month of parturition. The main results indicated that lactating cattle fed legume forage significantly (p ≤ 0.01) had more content of casein nitrogen (513 mg/100 ml milk), lower content of glutamic acid (23.56 g/100 g milk protein) and more content of cis-9, trans-11 18:2 conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) (0.77 g/100 g milk fat) compared with 433, 26.67 and 0.53, respectively, for cattle fed grass forage. With regard to the species effect, results showed that buffalo milk appeared to contain significantly higher (p ≤ 0.01) contents of casein nitrogen, phenylalanine, glutamic and arachidonic acid compared with cow's milk. However, the latter was significantly (p ≤ 0.01) more in the cis-9, trans-11CLA (0.59 g/100 g milk fat) than that in buffalo milk (0.47 g/100 g milk fat). The results revealed that not only forage type played a critical role in determining the variations of milk nitrogen distribution, milk amino acids and fatty acids but also animal species had a significant effect on these parameters.

On the main reservoir host of Fasciola in Dakahlia Governorate, Egypt.

In the present work, a total of 4180 sheep were obtained from different localities at Dakahlia Governorate. One hundred and eighty male sheep were investigated for Fasciola worms (the adult and juvenile forms) at Mansoura governmental abattoir. Four hundred grazing sheep were screened by the coprological examination from ten centers. The mean number of eggs per gm in a group of ten sheep ranged from 2.9-10.8 egg/gm. The number of worms ranged from 5-84. In the Mansoura abattoir, it was found that 37 sheep were infected (20.56%). Fasciola worms were recovered from the livers in 100%, common bile ducts in 60%, gall bladder in 80%, two sites in 50% and three sites in 40% of infected biliary tracts. According to the coprological examination, the infection rate was the highest in El-Manzalla Center (15.75) and the lowest was in Mansoura Center (3.25%). According to the prevalence and egg output results, it is concluded that sheep are the main reservoir host for fascioliasis among the edible animals in Dakahlia Governorate. However, examination of the non-edible animals and the domestic and wild rodents are ongoing and will be published soon elsewhere.

Diagnostic microarray: an array of possibilities for parasitology.

Parasites affect a majority of the world's population. Despite this fact, dreams of developing vaccines remain far off. Scientists have long studied gene expression as a hallmark of gene activities reflecting current cell conditions. Analyzing differentially expressed genes is a major initiative, and most labs recoil at the amount of time and high costs required obtaining results. By employing microarrays, researchers can decrease their reliance upon time consuming techniques; consequently, microarray is beginning to dominate other molecular diagnostic technologies. Moreover, the ability of microarrays to monitor simultaneous gene expression of thousands of genes and to produce broad arrays of data has the potential to shift the resources of the scientists from data gathering to analyzing data that are already available. As microarray technology improves and its cost decreases, the role of ability to "see" the molecular biology pathways involved in parasite host relationships will place this technology at the forefront of parasite research.

Ivermectin and clorsulon (ivomec super) in treatment of goats naturally infested with scab mites and biting lice.

Five goats naturally infested with Sarcoptes scabiei, Psoroptes ovis and Bovicola caprae were treated with a combination of ivermectin and clorsulon. A subcutaneous injection in a dose of 1 ml/50 kg live weight was given. This provides dose levels of 200 ug ivermectin and 2 mg clorsulon. Four goats were cured from the three ectoparasites within one to two weeks. The last elder goat, which was anaemic and naturally infected with Trichostrongylus colubriformis, was still infested with the two scab mites, but was free from B. caprae. A postal dose of 0.5 ml/50 kg live weight was given one week later (=3 weeks after the 1st injection). This goat was cured within a week, but still passed some T. colibriformis eggs. The result was discussed.

Ecto- and blood parasites affecting Meriones rex trapped in Najran, Saudi Arabia.

Meriones rex or king jird is endemic to Arabia, confined to the south-west of the peninsula. Examination of 25 jirds for arthropod-ectoparasites showed Xenopsylla astia, Ctenocephalides arabicus, Ornithonyssus bacoti and tick nymphs with indices of 0.6, 1.6, 0.64 and 0.24 respectively. The ectoparasites were more on female jirds than on males with indices of 3.8 and 2.0 respectively. Indirect haemagglutination tests for anti-Toxoplsama and anti-Leishmania antibodies showed positive reactions in 5 (20.0%) and 2 (8.0%) jirds respectively. However, neither skin lesion nor protozoal parasites were detected in tissue smears of liver and spleen. The ectoparasites encountered and the sero-positive reactions to Toxoplasma and Leishmania denote that the king jird, Meriones rex is of some medical and veterinary importance.

Two species of tabanids (order: Diptera) in Aswan District, Egypt.

Tabanus taeniola and Haematopota minuscula were trapped on camels and equines at daytime during summer of 2000. Many species of Tabanus and few species of Haematopota were reported before in Egypt. This paper stresses on the medical and veterinary importance of these vectors.

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.

The prevalence of lice infesting students of primary, preparatory and secondary schools in Cairo, Egypt.

Human lice (head and body) are among the arthropod-ectoparasites of worldwide distribution. Examining students in primary, preparatory and secondary schools recorded prevalence rates of 21.86%, 30.38% and 12.94% respectively. The overall rate of the lice infestation in the three schools was 384 out of 1772 or 21.67%. The prevalence rate of lice infestation among males and females were 17.02% & 37.8% (primary school), 27.8% & 33.1% (preparatory school), and 12.0% & 13.9% (secondary school). These totaled 17.7% (males) and 30.26% (females). The overall ratio of head to body lice was 18.2:1. Consequently, lice mainly the head louse, are still a public health problem particularly among female students in the primary and preparatory schools. In the secondary school prevalence rate of the lice infestation was low. So human lice is still a community health problem.

The effect of ivomec super on dogs experimentally infested with Sarcoptes scabiei isolated from a patient.

Scabies infestation is a community health problem worldwide. This is particularly true in overcrowded and unhygienic areas. Seven dogs were experimentally infested with Sarcoptes scabiei freshly recovered from a patient. The dogs after infestation were treated with a mixture of ivermectin and clorsulon (Ivomec Super). The dose given to a single dog was 1 ml/50 kg body weight. This is equivalent to 200 mcg ivermectin and 2 mg clorsulon per Kg body weight. Five of the dogs (71.43%) were completely cured with 1 ml/50 Kg body weight. The remaining two dogs needed each, another injection of the same dose two weeks later. So, ivomec super is effective against the human strain of Sarcoptes scabiei in experementally infested dogs. A general discussion was given.

Control of Musca domestica third instar larvae by the latex of Calotropis procera (Family: Asclepiadaceae).

Calotropis procera (Family: Asclepiadaceae) is known to contain alkaloids, steroids and resinous substance. Different concentrations of its latex were topically applied to the 3rd stage larvae of Musca domestica. A dose of 3 ul (5% of the latex) killed and partially digested the larvae in three hours. The effect of this latex is most probably enzymatic in nature. No doubt, the shift to plant extracts in controlling insect-vectors or pests in general, pave the way to a health environment.

Two types of scab mites infesting man and sheep in North Sinai.

Man and sheep were examined for scab mites infestations. Two types of mites were recovered, Sarcoptes scabiei and Psoroptes ovis. In sheep, 197 out of 939 (20.98%) were infested with S. scabiei (4.05%) and P. ovis (16.93%). The highly infested sheep were recorded in El Hassanah (28.22%) and the least infested ones were in Al Arish (15.85%). In man, 69 out of 790 (8.7%) were infested with S. scabiei (8.1%) and P. ovis (0.63%). The highly infested patients were recorded in El Hassanah (16.2%) followed by Rafah (11.7%), Bir Al-Abd (7.8%), and the least infested one was recorded in Al Arish (4.3%). In man, infestation was seen on one site in 15 patients (21.7%), on two sites in 32 patients (46.4%) and on more than two sites in 22 patients (31.9%). The highly infested site was the upper limbs followed by the lower limbs. Infestation on the face and ear, genital organs and abdomen were also encountered. Infestation on two sites was predominant on the upper and lower limbs followed by the lower limbs and genital organ. The results indicate that transmission of both scab mites, S. scabiei and P. ovis from sheep to man do occur. Infestation with scab mites was high in shepherds (79.7%) than in non shepherd patients (20.3%). However, man was more susceptible to S. scabiei than to P. ovis.

Evaluation of soluble adhesion molecules in the diagnosis of amoebiasis, giardiasis and toxoplasmosis.

A total of 47 patients with toxoplasmosis (21 cases) with amoebic liver abscess (14 cases) and with giardiasis (12 cases) as well as 14 healthy control were subjected to thorough history taking, clinical examination, stool & urine analysis, complete blood picture, ESR, C-reactive protein, ASO, widal test, blood cultures, liver function tests, serum creatinine, hepatitis viral markers, rheumatoid factor, auto-antibodies, stool culture, rectal snip, chest X-ray, abdominal sonar, level of serum adhesion molecules (sICAM-1, sELAM-1), ELISA detection of Toxoplasma antibodies in serum, liver biopsy, detection and counting of Giardia cysts. In toxoplasmosis group, highly significant increase in serum levels of sICAM-1 (P<0.01) and significant increase in serum levels of sELAM-1 (P<0.05) in comparison to control. However, only sICAM-1 levels were significantly increased in IgM cases more than in IgG cases. In amoebic liver abscess group, both sICAM-1 and sELAM-1 significantly increased when compared with control. In giardiasis group, highly significant increase of serum levels of sELAM-1 was noticed than in control group (P<0.01), while sICAM-1 showed no significant difference (P>0.05). There was no correlation between sELAM-1 and number of cysts in the stool (intensity of infection). Soluble forms of adhesion molecules especially sICAM-1 have the potentiality as good markers of endothelial damage, severity of disease and to less extend load of infection.

Clinico-epidemiological study of human fascioliasis in an endemic focus in Dakahlia Governorate, Egypt.

Human fascioliasis is increasing in the Nile Delta particularly in Dakahlia Governorate, where it reached 7.47%. In this study, the tetrad of fascioliasis was established as high eosinophilia (100%), fever (85.6%), painful hepatomegaly (81.93%) and anaemia (100%). The laboratory results showed ESR accelerated in 87%, ALT elevated in 21.5%, AST elevated in 21.9%, S. bilirubin elevated in 16.5%, gamma GT elevated in 80.6%, and SAP elevated in 76.4%. Abdominal ultrasonography showed variable findings, as hepatomegaly, splenomegaly, periportal fibrosis, thickened wall of gall bladder, dilated common bile duct, dilated biliary radicals (partial), dilated common bile duct and biliary radicals (total), Fasciola worms in gall bladder, Fasciola worms in common bile duct, stones in gall bladder, stones in bile duct, cystic lesions in the liver, local lesions in the liver and ascitis. The highest was hepatomegaly in 81.93% of fascioliasis patients and the lowest was biliary dilated radicles (partial) in 0.26%.

Soluble adhesion molecules versus lymphoblast transformation in diagnosis of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis.

Twelve parasitologically proven ZCL patients (one with non-ulcerative lesion and eleven with multiple ulcerative lesions) were subjected to estimation of the levels of lymphoblast transformation (LTT) and soluble adhesion molecules (sICAM-1 & sELAM-1 by ELISA). The results proved high percentage of LTT in relation to number and clinical picture of the ZCL lesions. As to the soluble adhesion molecules, sICAM-1 levels were significantly increased than in normal controls and correlated positively with the number of ulcerative lesions. sELAM-1 levels were not significantly increased than the normal controls, but correlated positively with the number of ulcerative lesions. Consequently, soluble adhesion molecules mainly sICAM-1 is a good marker of endothelial damage in ZCL as related to number and clinical type of lesions.

The pathogenesis of Demodex folliculorum (hair follicular mites) in females with and without rosacea.

In rosacea patients (ages 11-50 years old) 44% were infested with D. folliculorum as compared to normal controls (23.0%). The difference was significant. The mean +/-SD of mite density ranged between 13.2+/-0.9 to 18.2+/-1.2 as compared to normal controls with mite density ranged between 1.4+/-0.25 to 2.4+/-0.3. Demodex infestation in rosacea patients was 66.1% in squamous, 66.7% in erythemato-telangiectate and 83.3% in papulo-pustular rosacea. The highly infested site was check (27.3%) with mean mite density of 25.3+/-1.3, followed by the area around the orbit (23.4%) with a density of 19.0+/-1.2, the area around the nose (19.5%) with mite density of 7.1+/-1.5, then chin (15.6%) with a density of 8.2+/-1.4 and lastly the area around the mouth (14.1%) with a mite density of 14.2+/-1.3. Undoubtedly, infestation with D. folliculorum particularly in large number causes rosacea.

Soluble adhesion molecules as a marker of disease severity in human fascioliasis.

Fasciola gigantica is one of the parasites which affect the liver by producing biliary tract lumen syndrome. Soluble adhesion molecules namely soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) and soluble E-selection (sELAM-1) were assayed in human fascioliasis cases with or without complications. It was found that sICAM-1 and sELAM-1 were significantly increases in complicated cases more than the control group, while only sICAM-1 was significantly increased in complicated cases more than non complicated ones. However, non of both soluble adhesion molecules were significantly elevated in non complicated cases as compared to controls suggesting that sICAM-1 is a useful marker for differentiation between complicated and non complicated cases of human fascioliasis.

Sheep-dog-man. The risk zoonotic cycle in hydatidosis.

Hydatid cyst, the larval cestod of Echinococcus granulosus infects both man and animal. In the last five years, fourteen cases have been surgically treated in the Universities Hospitals of Cairo (9) and Ain Shams (5). The highly infected site was the liver and the least was the spleen. On the other hand, a total of 2,871,510 sheep slaughtered in the governmental abattoirs over five years (1995-1999) showed an overall hydatidosis of 0.33%. The highly infected site was the lung followed by the liver. Cystic infection in other sites rarely occurred. Generally speaking, hydatidosis is not a so dangerous public health problem in Egypt. However, sheep play the important role in dissemination of the disease. This is due to the fact that their cysts are the highly fertile ones as compared to other animal intermediate hosts. So, the risk cycle in hydatidosis is sheep-dog-man.

Camel: a new Egyptian host for Fasciola gigantica.

F. gigantica is a known liver fluke in Egypt. Infection has been reported in sheep, goats, buffaloes, cows and donkeys. Human cases have been reported from several governorates. This paper records camels as an additional host for F. gigantica in Egypt. In such materials worms attained a length of 6.0-6.3 cm.