Giardia duodenalis assemblages in Egyptian children with diarrhea.

Giardia duodenalis is considered the most common cause of parasitic diarrhea worldwide. Genetic studies revealed that at least eight assemblages (A-H) exist. Of these assemblages, A and B are found primarily in human beings and occasionally in animals. The association between clinical symptoms and G. duodenalis assemblages is controversial. The aim of the present study was to determine the assemblages of G. duodenalis prevalent among Egyptian children with diarrhea. Therefore, 96 positive stool samples for Giardia by light microscopy were subjected to multilocus genotyping targeting the triose phosphate isomerase (tpi), ß-giardin (bg), and glutamate dehydrogenase (gdh) genes. Amplified polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products were then purified, sequenced, and aligned with reference strains to determine the assemblages of the Giardia isolates. Out of the 96 microscopically positive stool samples for Giardia, 77 (80 %) were successfully amplified and sequenced at least at one locus. Of these, 21 (27.3 %) were shown to be assemblage A, 54 (70.1 %) assemblage B, while discordant sequence typing results were observed in 2 (2.6 %) samples. AII was the predominant subassemblage of assemblage A, while it was generally difficult to further classify assemblage B. It was concluded that infection with assemblage B was more common than that with assemblage A. No associations between epidemiological information and assemblage were detected, except with age. Although infections with assemblage B were more frequently associated with abdominal pain and acute diarrhea than with assemblage A, the difference was not statistically significant.

Evaluation of the IgG4 in Egyptian bancroftian filariasis.

The IgG4 response against antigen extracts from Wuchereria bancrofti microfilariae and Dirofilaria immitis adult worms was determined by ELISA in 65 Egyptian adult male patients suffering from different clinical manifestations of W. bancrofti infection. They were divided into microfilaremic (n-35) and amicrofilaremic (n = 30) and these divisions were subdivided into early asymptomatic, hydrocele and late chronic elephantiasis subgroups. The IgG4 responses were significantly higher in early asymptomatic patients whether microfilaremic or amicrofilaremic than in hydrocele or in chronic elephantiasis (P < 0.05) & (P < 0.001) respectively. The IgG4 response was slightly higher in microfilaremic than in amicrofilaremic subjects. The mean OD value of IgG4 among the microfilaremics against the microfilaria antigen in early asymptomatic patients (0.840 nm) was lower than the IgG4 response against the adult antigen in the same group (0.960 nm), while among the early asymptomatic amicrofilaremics it was the same (0.690 nm) in both microfilaria and adult antigens.

An experimental vaccine providing heterologous protection for Leishmania species in murine model.

Five groups each of 20 BALB/C mice were immunized by heat killed L. donovani promastigotes. Two groups served as control. Each group of mice was subdivided into 2 equal subgroups and challenged with either L. donovani or L. major. The results revealed a high cross reactivity paralleled by a high cross protection between L. donovani and L. major. Heat killed L. donovani promastigotes super-passed other tested SDS-PAGE fractionated and eluted L. d. fractions identified by immune BALB/c mice in providing protection against both L. donovani and L. major. The percentage of protection (reduction in parasite burden) offered by each vaccine was as follows: 80.21%, 36.11%, 9.29%, 33.44% and 17.48% respectively against challenge infection with L. donovani and 3.012 x 10(4), 1.095 x 10(4), 6.054 x 10(2), 2.409 x 10(4), and 3.34 x 10(2), respectively against challenge infection with L. major.

The efficacy of the volatile oils of three plants for controlling Lucilia sericata.

Myiasis is one of the most important parasitic diseases, which affects the human welfare. The volatile oils of three plants were tested against adult Lucilia sericata. The LC50 was 80 ppm by Anethum graveolens, 180 ppm by Conyza dioscoridis and 130 ppm by Mentha microphylla. The slope functions were 1.9, 1.79 and 2.2 respectively. The whole results were discussed.

Value of the quantitative buffy coat capillary tube test (QBC) in the microscopic diagnosis of bancroftian filariasis.

The diagnostic performance of the commerical quantitative buffy coat capillary tube technique was compared with the standard diagnosis of filariasis by microscopical examination of Giemsa stained thick blood films. The comparison was conducted among 83 subjects. The QBC test was highly sensitive than the thick blood film in detection of microfilaraemic patients. The percentage of positive cases among 35 subjects with fever and enlarged lymph nodes in the axilla or in the groin was 48.6% versus 42.8% by thick blood film. The sensitivity was 94.4% versus 83.3% in 18 subjects with lymphatic varices or hydrocele. The sensitivity of the QBC capillary tubes was poor (20%) versus 6.6% among 30 filarial patients with different degrees of lymphatic edema. It is concluded that the QBC capillary test is very simple, rapid and convenient as a diagnostic method for microfilaraemic patients but not suggested to be used neither in the quantitation of the parasite numbers or in species identification.

The quantitative buffy coat capillary tubes versus thin and thick blood films in the diagnosis of malaria in Saudi Arabia.

The Quantitative Buffy Coat (QBC) capillary tube was compared with both the thin and thick films in the diagnosis of malaria among three groups of hospitalized patients. Group (1) comprised subjects with no symptoms or signs, group (2) comprised patients with fever and rigors of unknown cause, and group (3) comprised treated malarial patients consulting the hospital for a follow up. The QBC test showed more sensitivity than the two conventional methods in the three groups as follows: in group (1) the QBC was positive in 14.2% compared to 9% only in either thin or thick blood films. In group (2) the positivity was 95.1% compared to 79.3% & 76.8% in the thin and thick blood films respectively. In group (3) the sensitivity was 22.9% compared to only 5.7% in both of the thin and thick blood films. The authors found that the QBC technique in addition to its high sensitivity is very practical, reliable, simple and easy to perform. No doubt, the thin blood film still the method of choice in species identification of malaria parasites.

Evaluation of ELISA, IFAT and trichinoscopy in experimental trichinosis: comparing larval antigens prepared from rat and pig muscles.

Two antigens were prepared, the first one was crude larval antigens derived from pigs and rats. The two antigens were tested by the enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The 2nd one, was two cuticular larval antigens derived from pigs and rats and were tested by the indirect immunofluorescent antibody test (IFAT). Both tests were used to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of these different antigens. Serum samples from infected rats and pigs were tested with different antigens by ELISA and IFAT. At the end of experiment, all animals were killed and use trichinoscopy to reveal sensitivity and specificity versus ELISA and IFAT.

Oestrus ovis (sheep nasal fly) infesting the eyes and the nose of a camel keeper family.

Myiasis is a medical and veterinary health problem in many animal rearing countries. It is not a new problem in Egypt. A family of five persons were infested in the eyes (5) and nose (2) with the larvae of Oestrus ovis. It is concluded that the physicians in the MOH rural health units should keep in mind opthalmomyiasis when dealing with non specific catarrhal conjunctivitis particularly those people who are concerned with rearing of farm animals.

Some myiasis producers in Cairo and Giza abattoirs.

The most important insects from medical point of view, are the blood suckers or the insect-borne diseases. Still others, almost non-blood suckers, but may attack man and animal to deposit their eggs or larvae causing pathogenic condition known as myiasis. In the present paper, a total of nine myiasis producing dipterous flies were collected from Cairo and Giza abattoirs. They were: Musca d. vicina, Calliphora vicina, Chrysomyia albiceps, C. marginalis, Lucilia sericata, L. cuprina, Sarcophaga haemorrhoidalis, Wohlfahrtia magnifica and Oestrus ovis. Their role as myiasis producers in man and animal was discussed.

Evaluation of dot ELISA technique in the serodiagnosis of schistosomiasis in Egypt.

A simplified dot enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (dot ELISA) was evaluated as a recent diagnostic test for schistosomiasis in Egypt. 160 individuals with early intestinal, urinary and mixed schistosomiasis were subjected to this study. Another 27 sera of patients suffering from other parasitosis were included for the cross activity reaction. The test was compared with 2 common serological tests for schistosomiasis in Egypt, circumoval precipitin test (COPT) and indirect haemagglutination test (IHAT). The dot ELISA was shown to have a sensitivity of 99%, specificity of 98% and the highest diagnostic accuracy 98%. The data indicated that the dot ELISA is an accurate and rapid technique for the detection of antischistosomal antibodies.

The relation between intestinal troubles and parasitic infection in Cairo.

Stool and urine from 320 subjects in Ain shams region, and 200 subjects in Nasr city were collected and examined for parasites. All these subjects were suffering from abdominal troubles. The results revealed a marked relation between parasitic infection and abdominal troubles, especially in Ain shams region (80%), and to a lesser extent in Nasr City (51%). The commonest parasite in Ain shams was Giardia lamblia (20.3%), and in Nasr city was E. histolytica (13%).

Specific immunoglobulins in schistosomiasis.

Specific and total immunoglobulins antibodies levels to Schistosoma antigens were determined in 44 patients with S. mansoni infection. No Significant increase was observed in parasitic specific IgG, IgM, and IgA levels in both acute and chronic infections. On the other hand, Significant increased specific IgE antibodies was demonstrated in both acute and chronic infections of bilharziasis. The results revealed that increased immunoglobulins was not Specific to Schistosomiasis infection. Also, No correlation was observed between clinical course of the infection and immunoglobulins levels.

Relationship between schistosomiasis and arthropathy.

This study was carried out to suggest criteria for diagnosing arthritis associated with schistosomiasis. 180 cases were classified into three clinical groups, 120 schistosomal arthritic group (I), 20 schistosomal non-arthritic (II), 20 arthritic non-schistosomal (III) and 20 controls (IV). Four tests were done to exclude other causes of arthritis namely, Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), Rose-Waaler test (RW) for rheumatoid factor (RF), antinuclear antibody test (ANA) and determination of serum uric acid (SUA) level. A history, clinical examination, urine and stool examination, intradermal test (IDT), indirect haemagglutination test (IHAT), circumoval precipitin test (COPT) and complete blood picture, were performed for all groups. 20 patients were selected randomly from group I and received praziquantel to be followed up 6 months later. Bilharzial ova were found in the excreta of group I and II. The percentage of positive IDT, IHAT and COPT in I & II was 90.8%, 90%, 88.3% and 85% respectively. Blood picture showed mild anaemia and from low to moderate eosinophilia. ESR was moderately raised. RF positivity was 6.6%, 10%, 65% and 5% in the four groups respectively. ANA positivity was 1.6%, 0%, 50% and 0% respectively. There was a marked improvement of arthritic manifestations after praziquantel in 90% of cases.