Immunization against experimental trichinosis using T. spiralis larvae and hydatid fluid antigens.

Immunization of mice against T. spiralis infection using T. spiralis larval glycoproteins as homogenous antigen and crude hydatid fluid as heterogenous antigen showed a marked reduction in larvae burden and a significant rise of serum IgE in immunized mice infected with T. spiralis larvae as compared with control group. More reduction was observed with immunization with homogenous T. spiralis larval antigen compared with heterogenous hydatid fluid antigen. The reduction in larval burden with rise of serum IgE begins after the third week of immunization.

Some immunological studies on amoebiasis.

Studies of immunoglobulins pattern in 64 patients with different clinical symptoms of amoebiasis revealed that IgG showed no rise in patients with acute amoebic dysentery and asymptomatic cyst passers, while it was significantly increased in patients with active hepatic amoebiasis. IgM, IgA and IgE were significantly increased in both acute amoebic dysentery and active hepatic amoebiasis, but no significant changes in asymptomatic cyst passers. ELISA (depended on level of IgG) was valid and reliable in diagnosis of active hepatic amoebiasis (100%), IHAT (depended on level of IgM) gave 72.7% and 46.9% in patients with acute amoebic dysentery and active hepatic amoebiasis respectively.

The relation between ABO blood groups, HLA typing and giardiasis in children.

A total of 455 children were chosen randomly and surveyed for giardiasis by stool examination using several techniques. A case control study design was adopted where 91 cases of giardiasis (symptomatic and asymptomatic) and 101 children giardiasis free were examined. ABO blood groups and HLA typing were investigated. It was concluded that blood group A was more susceptible to giardiasis especially asymptomatic form, while blood group B was less susceptible to giardiasis. On the other hand, there was no association between AB or O and giardiasis. But, there was a strong association between HLA A10, A11, B5, B7 and B17 phenotypes and symptomatic giardiasis and an association as well between HLA B7, B17, Bw14 and Bw40 and asymptomatic giardiasis.

The efficacy of IHAT, IFAT and Dot-ELISA in sero-diagnosis of toxoplasmosis in complicated pregnancies.

Studying of 72 pregnant women having congenital anomalies, stillbirth and repeated abortion of first and second trimesters showed Toxoplasma antibodies with high titre by IFAT and Dot-ELISA. Analysis of the results showed a positive correlation between IFAT and Dot-ELISA but not with IHAT. However, Dot-ELISA is simple, sensitive and specific.

The effect of cyclosporin A (CSA) on murine visceral toxocariasis canis.

Swiss mice experimentally infected with T. canis were treated by Cyclosporin A (CSA). The direct antiparasitic effect was noticed when administered on the same day of infection and was more effective when repeated for eight weeks. Although immunosuppression of CSA increased the susceptibility of mice to T. canis larvae, its direct antiparasitic effect was more effective and led to diminution of living T. canis larvae. Cellular immunity was inhibited as revealed by diminution of T. lymphocytes by decreased lymphocytes migration inhibition percentage on repeated administration of CSA for four weeks.

Evaluation of adult Schistosoma mansoni and cercarial antigens in serodiagnosis of schistosomiasis using IHAT and ELISA.

Examination of 200 bilharzial cases divided into four groups and 50 normal controls to evaluate the efficiency of adult Schistosoma mansoni and cercarial antigens in serodiagnosis of schistosomiasis using IHAT and ELISA revealed that IHA test showed high sensitivity that decreased with the progress of clinical status of the disease if adult worm antigen was utilized. Also IHAT adult antigen was more sensitive for serodiagnosis than with cercarial antigen, while ELISA is less sensitive using both cercarial and adult antigens.

Evaluation of two different antigens in immunodiagnosis of bancroftian filariasis using ELISA and IHAT.

Crude W. bancrofti microfilarial and L. carinii adult antigens were tried in ELISA and IHAT for immunodiagnosis of bancroftian filariasis. Both tests gave a higher positive reactions with microfilaraemic, clinical filariasis and endemic normal sera respectively. ELISA using W. bancrofti microfilarial antigen appears to be more sensitive.

A preliminary study on vaginal trichomonal antigens using CIEP and modified ELISA.

The enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and counter-immunoelectrophoresis (CIEP) were used to detect T. vaginalis antigens in vaginal discharge of 47 infected women and 35 controls. Rabbit antisera raised against T. vaginalis were used as antitrichomonal antibodies. The sensitivity of ELISA was 95.7% and specificity was 91.4 in contrast to 68.1 and 77.1% for CIEP. So ELISA could be applied for epidemiological study and immunodiagnosis of vaginal trichomoniasis.

The role of the load and duration of Schistosoma mansoni infection in immune complex mediated schistosomal nephropathy in hamsters.

A significant proteinuria, impairment renal function tests and increased Schistosomal immune complex were observed in infected hamsters by injection of 150 cercariae or more but not in the controls and the hamsters infected with 100 cercariae. There was a significant correlation between these changes and duration of infection and the number of adult worm recovered from the mesenteric circulation Histopathological evaluation showed appearance of circulating immune complex and IgG deposits by the 9th-week following infection, mesangial proliferative glomeriolonephritis appeared in the renal biopsies. There was a significant correlation between the pathologic changes and duration and the load of S. mansoni infection. It is clear that both immune complex deposition and amyloidosis stand as major pathogenic mechanisms that deposited in mesangium and along peripheral capillary lining.

Antibodies against some zoonotic parasites in commensal rodents trapped from Dakahlia Governorate, Egypt.

A sero-survey for antibodies against leishmaniasis, toxoplasmosis, amoebiasis and schistosomiasis was carried out among four commensal rodents (R. norvegicus, R. rattus, M. musculus and A. cahirinus) trapped from different areas in Dakahlia Governorate. The results showed different rates of antibodies as indicated by the indirect haemagglutination tests. The percentage of seropositive reactions was 8.6 for leishmaniasis, 11.6 for toxoplasmosis, 8.8 for amoebiasis and 5.03 for schistosomiasis. The role played by these rodents as reservoir hosts of zoonotic parasites were discussed.

Some histopathological and histochemical aspects of human ancylostomiasis.

Using Watson's intestinal capsule small intestinal mucosal biopsies were taken from 30 patients with parasitologically proved pure ancylostomiasis and 12 normal controls. Biopsies were examined pathologically and histochemically for the enzymes, Alkaline phosphatase, succinic dehydrogenase, non specific esterases and acid phosphatase. The study revealed normal histological as well as normal enzymatic activity of the intestinal mucosa.

Immunoglobulin pattern of schistosomiasis mansoni in patients with chronic renal failure.

In hepatosplenic Schistosomiasis with chronic renal failure, it was found that the serum immunoglobulin G and M show significant increase while there was a controversy about IgA. In chronic renal failure without Schistosomiasis, it was found that the immunoglobulin G, M and A levels show non-significant changes.

Immunization against experimental visceral toxocariasis canis.

Immunization of rabbits against visceral toxocariasis using T. canis larval glycoproteins showed a marked reduction in the larvae burden and a significant rise of serum IgE in immunized rabbits infected with Toxocara canis as compared with non-immunized infected control group. More reduction of larval burden was observed after larger doses of T. canis larvated eggs inoculation.

Serum and intestinal immunoglobulins in heterophyiasis.

Serum and intestinal immunoglobulins are determined in 50 patients with heterophyiasis. The most outstanding findings were highly elevated IgE levels in serum but not in intestinal contents. Increased serum IgM, IgG and IgE were detected, while only intestinal IgM, IgG and IgA were elevated. An inverse relationship between serum and intestinal IgM, IgG and IgA and the load of infection was proved.

A microfilaria in a stray cat from Assiut, Egypt.

During a survey for helminth parasites among stray cats in Assiut area, microfilariae were detected. The morphology of the microfilarias was described.