Tracking the Variations in Trace and Heavy Elements in Smoking Products Marketed in Oman and Egypt: Risk Assessment After Implementation of Constraining Protocols.

Tobacco smoking is becoming one of the major worldwide concerns regarding environmental pollution as well as health threats. In 2005, the World Health Organization (WHO) released the Framework Convention On Tobacco Control (FCTC), which outlined protocols for controlling tobacco products. Oman was one of the leading countries to follow these protocols; however, Egypt has only followed these protocols recently in 2020. One of the main challenges in tobacco product control is the variation in their trace element's types and amounts from country to country owing to differences in agriculture techniques and used chemical additives. Smoking releases different toxic metal ions found in them into the air, and hence, analyzing trace amounts of metals in tobacco smoking products is becoming more critical. The proposed research aims to evaluate the current levels of 11 heavy metals (namely, As, Pb, Cd, Co, Cr, Be, Ba, Mn, Ni, Fe, and Hg) in 22 tobacco products available in Egypt and Oman using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy and a direct mercury analyzer. Although some elements such as Be, Co, and Cd were absent, the positive detection of As and Pb and the levels of Ba, Cr, and Ni are still alarming, especially for heavy smokers. The obtained results were then statistically related to previously published data in 2017 to explore the effectiveness of implementing the FCTC protocols within the Egyptian market. The outcomes suggested a positive impact of FCTC protocol implementation in Egypt, besides the lower levels of elemental content for Omani products compared to the Egyptian market.

Seroprevalence of Babesia bovis, B. bigemina, Trypanosoma evansi, and Anaplasma marginale antibodies in cattle in southern Egypt.

Babesia bovis, B. bigemina, Trypanosoma evansi, and Anaplasma marginale infections cause serious diseases in cattle, and are primarily transmitted by arthropod vectors (ticks for B. bovis, B. bigemina, and A. marginale and various types of flies for T. evansi). In the last few years, there have been many reports of a high prevalence of certain protozoan infections in northern Egypt, but no accurate or adequate data are available for the southern regions. Therefore, in this study, we screened for evidence of such diseases in economically important cattle species using serum samples. The seroprevalence of protozoan infections in cattle was determined with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays using species-specific diagnostic antigens. In a total of 301 cattle serum samples, 27 (9.0%), 100 (33.2%), and 127 (42.2%) were positive for specific antibodies against B. bovis, B. bigemina, and T. evansi, respectively. Sera from 90 cattle were also tested for antibodies against A. marginale, and 25 (28%) of them were positive. The highest coinfection rate occurred for B. bigemina and T. evansi with 10.6% (32/301). When age, sex, locality, and breeding system were investigated as predisposing factors, bulls and cattle <3 years old were more vulnerable to B. bovis infections than older animals, and geographic location affected the B. bigemina infection rate. The recorded seroprevalence of hemoprotozoan parasites and A. marginale in cattle suggests that these diseases have the potential capacity to detrimentally affect meat and milk production in southern Egypt.

Serological detection and epidemiology of Neospora caninum and Cryptosporidium parvum antibodies in cattle in southern Egypt.

Neospora caninum and Cryptosporidium parvum are intracellular protozoan parasites that are distributed worldwide and of major economical concern in cattle industry. N. caninum can cause abortion storms and high culling rates, whereas C. parvum has zoonotic implications and can cause diarrhea in calves. There are currently no data on the prevalence of neosporosis and cryptosporidiosis in humans or animals in southern Egypt. Prevalence of these two infections was determined in a sample of cattle from two different areas in southern Egypt, Sohag and Qena, using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. A total 301 cattle were sampled, of which 18.9% were positive for N. caninum, 35.9% were positive for C. parvum and 10.0% were positive for both. Geographical location and breeding system were considered as potential risk factors for C. parvum infection. A higher prevalence of infection was identified on small scale farms, compared with larger, intensive systems, with a prevalence of 50.2% compared with 37.8%, respectively. Animals in Sohag had a significantly higher prevalence compared with Qena, with a seroprevalence of 46.1% compared with 31.6%, respectively. In brief, marked seroprevalence recorded in this study indicates a high incidence of N. caninum and C. parvum infections in cattle, and this necessitates the application of more effective strategies for combating these types of infections on farms in Egypt.

Seroprevalence and epidemiology of Toxoplasma gondii in farm animals in different regions of Egypt.

Toxoplasmosis is a cosmopolitan protozoan disease that has been recorded in a wide range of vertebrate hosts, including humans. In response to the paucity of available data, this study was undertaken to comprehensively establish the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii among various farm animals in different localities of Egypt. The latex agglutination test and TgGRA7-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were used to screen the investigated animals for anti-T. gondii IgG antibodies. When only samples with simultaneously positive results for both the latex agglutination test and the TgGRA7-based ELISA were considered positive, 174 (26.7%) of 652 serum samples from different animals were seropositive. The prevalence of antibodies according to species was: sheep 38.7%, goats 28.7%, cattle 23.6%, and donkeys 22.6%. Thus, prevalence rate was significantly higher in sheep than in cattle or donkeys. The prevalence was also significantly higher in Kafr El Sheikh than in the other governorates investigated (Qena, Sohag, Minoufiya, and Matrouh). No significant differences were observed in age, sex, locality, or breeding system when evaluated as predisposing factors for T. gondii infection in cattle. In conclusion, this study demonstrates the high prevalence for T. gondii-specific antibodies among different animal species in southern and northern localities of Egypt, and provides valuable new data on the prevalence of T. gondii in donkeys, which are used as a food for carnivorous animals, particularly in the feline family, at Giza Zoo, Egypt.

Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency in Africa and the Middle East, despite year-round sunny days.

Exposure to sunlight, specifically ultraviolet B (UVB), is essential for cutaneous vitamin D synthesis. Despite significant daily sunlight availability in Africa and the Middle East, persons living in these regions are frequently vitamin D insufficient or deficient. Vitamin D insufficiency (25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) between 15 and 20 ng/mL (37.5-50 nmol/L)) has been described in various population groups, ranging from 5% to 80%. Risk factors include traditional dress and avoidance of sunlight exposure, and multiple dietary factors as a result of specific cultural beliefs. Vitamin D resistance due to calcium deficiency mechanisms has been described in similar population groups, which may lead to hypovitaminosis D. Should the new diseases related to hypovitaminosis D prove to be truly associated, Africa and the Middle East will become an epicentre for many of these conditions. Urgent attention will need to be paid to cultural dress and dietary behaviours if hypovitaminosis D is to be taken seriously. Should such factors not be correctable, new strategies for supplementation or food fortification will have to be devised.

Naturally occurring toxoplasma antibodies in serum and milk of lactating women.

Serum and milk of lactating women were tested for toxoplasmosis using specific-IgG IFAT. Apparently healthy 70 women were selected: 54 from rural and 16 from urban areas. Serum and milk were simultaneously collected from each one. Sera were positive in 22 (31.4%) of the total 70; including 16 (29.6%) and 6 (37.5%) of rural and urban groups respectively. No statistical significant difference was found for positivity and titre levels between the two groups (P greater than 0.05). Milk was positive in 12 (17.1%) of the 70 women; including 10 (18.5%) and 2 (12.5%) from rural and urban groups respectively, having no statistical significant difference (P greater than 0.05). Comparing serum and milk for positivity and titre levels, also there was no statistical significant difference (P greater than 0.05). It is concluded that relatively low antibody levels in serum could be excreted in milk and may be protective for suckling babies. Occurrence of antibodies in serum and milk are homogeneously distributed between rural and urban inhabitants.

Prevalence of Giardia lamblia antibodies in serum and milk in lactating women from different social classes in Egypt.

Prevalence and levels of systemic and milk antibodies to G. lamblia in the different social classes of the population were studied using the IFAT and nor-partigen immunoglobulin plates. Blood and milk samples were collected simultaneously from lactating women in urban (Cairo) and rural (Benha) areas. Serum IgG was present in 90% of rural low standard mothers, 58% of urban moderate standard mothers, and 25% or urban high standard mothers (P less than 0.01, P less than 0.001 and P less than 0.01). Antilog of mean of antibody titers was significantly higher in the low standard rural mothers than in the urban moderate and high standard ones. Specific secretory IgA antibody in milk was found in 71% of rural low standard mothers, 31% of urban moderate standard mothers, and 16.6% of urban high standard mothers (P less than 0.001, P less than 0.01 and P greater than 0.05). The antilog of mean S-IgA titers was also higher in the low standard rural mothers. The titer levels of S-IgA in the three classes did not show any correlation with the quantitative levels of total IgA in milk, while specific IgG showed a positive correlation with the total serum IgG in the low standard rural mothers only (P less than 0.05). This study documented the widely different antibody response to G. lamblia in individuals living in different social classes.

PIP: Total IgG and secretory IgA antibodies, and specific IgG and S-IgA antibodies against Giardia lamblia were assayed in serum and milk respectively from 118 Egyptian mothers. The women were selected from 3 social classes: 24 of upper class from Cleopatra Hospital, Cairo, 52 of moderate social class from Ain Shams Maternity Hospital, Cairo, and 42 of low social class from Maternal and Infant Welfare Centers in rural Benha. Total IgG and S-IgA antibodies were assayed with the nor-partigen method, and specific G. lamblia antibodies with an indirect fluorescent antibody method. IgG antibodies in serum specific for G. lamblia were present in 62.7% of the total group: 90% from the low, 58% of the moderate, and 25% of the high social groups, all significantly different. Mean total IgG levels were 15.42, 19.81 and 33.5 g/L in the 3 groups (n.s.). Secretory IgA antibodies specific for G. lamblia occurred in 42.3% of the total milk samples: in 71% of the low, 31% of the moderate, and 16.6% of the high social class groups (low group significantly different from moderate and high groups). The mean total IgA level in the milk samples did not differ from normal. While the specific IgG titers were positively correlated with the total IgG content in serum, milk total S-IgA levels were not significantly correlated with specific anti-Giardia lamblia S-IgA titers. These results were similar to those reported from other contexts, and support the advice that women breastfeed their infants through age 2 to confer immunity against Giardia parasites.

Study of congenital toxoplasmosis in Egyptian newborns.

Five hundred cord blood samples of normal, full term, apparently healthy newborns of both sexes and of different social classes were studied for Toxoplasma antibodies. Eighty nine cases (17.8%) showed a seropositivity for IgG antibodies while specific IgM antibodies were found in 3 cases. A significant higher percentage of seropositivity was found among newborns whose mothers had a previous history of abortion (p less than 0.01), still birth, prematurity or delivery of infants with congenital anomalies (p less than 0.001). The relation between seropositivity and maternal lymphadenopathy and/or fever during pregnancy was highly significant (p less than 0.001). Also, a highly significant (p 0.001) relationship was observed between mothers' contact with cats and seropositivity for toxoplasmosis. No statistical differences were found in the seropositivity between the 2 social classes studied, nor between the sexes. The study ensured that the problem of congenital toxoplasmosis in Egypt should be seriously considered and emphasized the importance of serological screening before and during pregnancy for those women who are at greater risk and of newborns.