Farm animals' fascioliasis in Ezbet El-Bakly (Tamyia Center) Al-Fayoum Governorate.

To continue the study on fascioliasis in Tamyia Center, some farm animals were investigated for natural infection with Fasciola species by stool examination. The results showed 40% infection in sheep, 20% in buffalos, 6.7% in donkeys and zero% in horses. The overall percentage of infection was 25.5. The sheep (total dose 1800mg) and the donkey (total dose (4500 mg.) were successfully treated with Mirazid. On the other hand, one buffalo was successfully treated by a total dose 7500mg, the seconds one did not cured, but the eggs deposited per gm markedly decreased.

Effects of Solanum nigrum leaves water extract on the penetration and infectivity of Schistosoma mansoni cercariae.

A crude water extract of Solanum nigrum leaves was used as a chemical attenuate to Schistosoma mansoni cercariae prior to infection of Swiss female mice. Cercariae were exposed to 2.5, 5, 7.5 and 10 mg/l concentrations of the extract for 30 min. The effect on the ability of cercariae to penetrate mice skin, as well as, effect on schistosome worm burden after 8 weeks of infection were measured. The observed reduction of cercarial penetration was significant at 7.5 and 10 mg/l concentrations (p < 0.001). The mean number of worm burden declined from 28.5 worms/ mouse in untreated group to 4.4 worms/mouse with 7.5 mg/l treatment (p < 0.01). At a concentration of 10 mg/l, mice had no adult worm. The cercarial infectivity, as measured by the proportion of worms recovered in relation to the number of cercariae administrated, decreased with the increase in the extract concentration and was significant at a concentration of 7.5 mg/l (p < 0.01). The number of schistosome eggs in hepatic tissue decreased in treated mice. The reduction in egg count (per gram liver) was significant at 5 mg/l (p < 0.05) and 7.5 mg/I (p < 0.001). The treatment with Solanum water extract had no effect on female fecundity. These data point to Solanum as a promising agent for the control of schistosomiasis.

Megaselia scalaris causing human intestinal myiasis in Egypt.

Megaselia scalaris is a worldwide distributed insect of medical importance. In a laboratory-based study, stool samples with undefined maggot infestation were examined and the presence of M. scalaris maggots was confirmed. Binocular stereo-microscopy was used for identification of the maggots. Larvae were allowed to develop into adults onto a human stool culture. The larvae and the emerged flies were identified using standard keys. This may be the first report of M. scalaris as a causative agent of human myiasis in Egypt. Details of the third instar larva, pupa and adults were given.

Human giardiasis as an etiology of skin allergy: the role of adhesion molecules and interleukin-6.

The role of adhesion molecules; the intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) as mediators in development of skin allergy caused by giardiasis and the controlling role of the cytokine interleukin (IL)-6 over these adhesion molecules were studied. The work included 25 symptomatic giardiasis patients with skin allergy manifested by diffuse urticaria, pruritus, wheal and erythema, and had positive serum anti-Giardia immunoglobulin (Ig) E measured as mean optical density (OD) value by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), employed as an evidence of allergic sensitization (G.I). They were compared with 30 symptomatic giardiasis patients (G.II) and 20 apparently healthy control subjects (G.III), both latter groups had negative serum anti-Giardia IgE. The mean OD value of anti-Giardia IgE was significantly increased in G.I (P < 0.01) & insignificantly different in GIII (P > 0.05) compared with G.III. Serum levels of soluble forms of adhesion molecules; sICAM-1 & sVCAM-1, and IL-6 were determined by ELISA. sICAM-1 & sVCAM-1 serum levels were significantly increased (P < 0.001) in G.I compared with G.III and showed insignificant difference (P > 0.05) between Gs. II & III. Serum IL-6 significantly increased in G.I (P < 0.001) & G.II (P < 0.05) compared with G.III, and was significantly higher (P < 0.001) in G.I than G.II. Serum IL-6 correlated positively with serum sICAM-1 (P < 0.01) and sVCAM-1 (P < 0.001) in G.I. The results are discussed.

Molluscicidal and cercaricidal efficacy of Acanthus mollis and its binary and tertiary combinations with Solanum nigrum and Iris pseudacorus against Biomphalaria alexandrina.

Molluscicidial activity of leaves of Acanthus mollis against Biomphalaria alexandrina were evaluated. Its petroleum ether extract (LC50 values = 6.92 mg/L) was more potent than Solanum nigrum and Iris pseudacorus extracts. A binary combination (1:1) of A. mollis and S. nigrum, as well as, a binary combination (1:1) of A. mollis and I. pseudacorus extracts showed additive effect on snails (24 hr LC50: 5.09 mg/l and 3.76 mg/l respecttively). A tertiary combination (1:1:1) of A. mollis, S. nigrum and I. pseudacorus extracts (24 hr LC50: 4.01 mg/l) showed good result. Also, petroleum ether extract of A. mollis leaves killed Schistosoma mansoni cercariae at concentrations of 20, 10 and 5 mg/l within 30, 45 min. and an hour respectively. Mortality increased with increasing exposure time and concentration.

Nosocomial sources of cryptosporidial infection in newly admitted patients in Ain Shams University Pediatric Hospital.

Cryptosporidium parvum has a world wide distribution. Numerous nosocomial outbreaks of cryptosporidiosis have occurred, also numerous well documented water born outbreaks have occurred. The present study included 104 patients and 27 contacts, both were subjected to stool examination by MZN stain. ELISA for detection of Cryptosporidium Ag in stool was further carried out for the patients developing diarrhea after admission (12), patients admitted with diarrhea (17), and for contacts. Twenty four water samples collected from Pediatric Hospital, and examined by MZN and ELISA. The results showed that 11.5% of examined cases developed diarrhea after admission. 8% of them were positive for cryptosporidiosis by both MZN and ELISA. 17% (3/27) of the contacts were negative by MZN stain. ELISA was found to be 100% sensitive, 94.1% specific. Water samples were found to be negative for C. parvum.

Cellular immune response in giardiasis.

There was statistically significant difference between all groups of giardiasis patients regarding the grade of CD4 lymphocyte infiltration (P<0.001), being more marked in symptomatic group. The prevalence of flatulence, anorexia and vomiting were more frequent in patients with heavy CD4 lymphocyte infiltration in duodenum. A high statistical significant increase was in the mean OD values of anti-Giardia duodenal secretory IgA in patients with marked CD4 infiltration in duodenum. But, a statistical insignificant difference in mean OD values of anti-Giardia total serum Ig in patients with different grades of CD4 infiltration in symptomatic group. There was statistically significant increased in the mean OD values of anti-Giardia total serum Ig in patients with marked intraepithelial CD8 lymphocyte Infiltration in the duodenum In the asymptomatic group, there was statistically insignificant difference in the mean OD values of anti-Giardia total serum Ig in patients with different grade of intra-epithelial CD8 infiltration in symptomatic group. There is statistically significant increased in the mean OD values of anti-Giardia total serum Ig in patients with marked intra-epithelial CD8 lymphocyte infiltration in the duodenum regarding immunohistochemical staining of Giardia antigen in duodenal biopsies. All the 61 symptomatic giardiasis patients revealed Giardia antigen stains in their duodenal biopsies with a sensitivity of 100% while asymptomatic group a sensitivity of 93.181%. None in the controls showed positive Giardia antigen in the duodenal biopsies with 100% specificity.

Incidence of Parastrongylus cantonensis larvae in different fresh water snails in Dakahlia Governorate.

Samples of snails were collected from different water bodies in Dakahlia governorate to assess a survey on the naturally infected snails and their infection rate with the Parastrongylus cantonensis larvae. The nematode P. cantonensis is associated in the etiology of eosinophilic meningeoencephalitis of man. Lanistes carinatus showed the highest rate of infection with 19-400 larvae per snail. Biomphalaria alexandrina, B. glabrata, Bulinus truncatus, Lymnaea cailliaudi (natalensis), L. alexandrina, and Cleopatra cyclostomoides were found naturally infected with the larvae of P. cantonensis for the first time in Egypt. The number of larvae per infected snail varied depending on the snail type. The highest rate (39.2%) of infected snails was collected from the end canals at Tanneekh and the lowest in the river Nile (12.5%).

Experimental murine toxocariasis larval migration to liver, with a general discussion.

Street dogs were collected from Mansoura District and sacrificed. Toxocara canis worms were extracted from their intestines and females were dissected to collect the uteri ova. Maturation of the eggs developed larvae inside after a month. Male mice were orally infected with different inocula of these infective eggs (larvae-eggs) and sacrificed at 1, 2, 4, 5, 9, 13 & 17 weeks post-infection (P.I.). Gross findings showed hepatomegaly, red spots on the surface, irregularity of the surface, yellowish spots and streaks. Histo-pathological examination revealed mild cellular infiltration in localized foci in group I (mice given 200 infective Toxocara eggs) but extensive in groups II and III (mice given 500 and 1000 infective Toxocara eggs, respectively). Granulomas began to appear mice sacrificed 4 weeks P.I. in the three groups, but it was multiple in group III. Congestion of hepatocytes and sinusoids were detected, fatty degeneration was encountered in group III. Signs of regeneration were reported in group II & III.

Fascioliasis among live and slaugthered animals in nine centers of Dakahlia Governorate.

Fascioliasis is an important zoonotic disease. Infected animals are the main source for human fascioliasis. Consequently, this work clarifies the status of animal fascioliasis in Dakahlia centers based on parasitological examination of cows, buffaloes, sheep and goats. The overall rates of infection were 12.31%, 9.73%, 17.84% and 5.40% respectively. The mean eggs per gram stool were 22, 13.6, 148.3 and 8.6 for cows, buffaloes, sheep and goats. The mean numbers of Fasciola worms/liver/animal were 69.1, 62.7 and 208.1 for cows, buffaloes and sheep respectively. The highly infected sheep was in Manzalla (23.07%), the lowest was in Mataria (6.35%). The highly infected cows was in Manzalla (20.9%), the lowest was in Sherbeen (9.43%). The highly infected buffaloes was in Manzalla (19.29%), the lowest was in Mit Ghamr (4.93%). The relatively highly infected goats was in Manzalla (12.5%) and the lowest was zero in Mit Ghamr. So, sheep are the main reservoir host for environmental pollution and human fascioliasis. On the other hand, the overall partial condemnation of liver was 3.81% (1997), 3.24% (1998), 2.66% (1999) and 2.64% (2000). Regarding the type of animal, it was 6.38% in cows, 1.74% in buffaloes and 1.0% in sheep. It seems that sheep are most susceptible to fascioliasis treatment, followed by buffaloes and lastly cows. The epidemiological role of these farm animals as source for fascioliasis infection to animals and man was discussed.