Serum levels of some cytokines and soluble adhesion molecules in normal and patients with malignant malaria in Zambia.

The present study revealed no changes in the serum levels of IL-8 in malaria patients compared with controls. Such result however, does not exclude a role for IL-8 in falciparum malaria, as it is produced by activated endothelial cells that may be captured by receptors on the endothelial surface. This would allow local concentrations of IL-8 to be generated at the vessel wall without being shed into the circulation. The marked elevation of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 in serum of falciparum malaria patients may support the concept that dysfunction of the endothelium is important in the pathophysiology of the disease. Increased level of IL-6 in serum of patients may contribute to endothelial damage and dysfunction by expression of endothelial adhesion molecules that in turn result in infected erythrocytes attraction to the endothelium and pathologic endothelial dysfunction.

Modulation of the pathologic and apoptotic changes of experimental toxoplasmosis by concomitant infection with Trichinella spiralis.

This study shows that Toxoplasma gondii infection is capable of inducing a process of programmed cell death not only in the infected hepatocytes of experimental murine model, but also the neighbouring non-infected cells. However, some cells showed a possible mixed apoptotic and necrotic pattern. Surprisingly, lymphocytes and Kupffer cells in portal sinusoids nearby the parasite vacuoles showed no apparent changes. Toxoplasma in concomitant infection with a different parasite, Trichinella spiralis, clearly mitigate the pathologic and apoptotic changes caused by T. gondii. These findings might help in understanding the problematic biology and immunopathogenesis of T. gondii. The results also augments previous reports by the same authors about the possible protective role of heterologous antigens of one parasite against a biologically and immunologically different parasite.

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.

Evaluation of ELISA kit hypodermosis in serodiagnosis of Przhevalskiana silenus in goats and Cephalopenia titillator in camels.

Myiasis is a problem of Medical and Veterinary importance worldwide. It affects human welfare both directly and indirectly. ELISA kit hypodermosis was evaluated in detecting antibodies against two oestrid larvae, Przhevalskiana silenus in goats and Cephalopina titillator in camels. Both animals were parasitologically proved to have oestrid myiasis infestation. Antibodies against P. silenus were detected in 38 out of 40 (95%) infested goats and negative results among the control group. With C. titillator, antibodies were detected in 39 out of 40 (97.5%) infested camels. But one of the control (10%) gave false seropositivity. ELISA kit hypodermosis diagnosed antibodies against P. silenus in goats and C. titillator in camels. Consequently, there are cross reactions between anti-hypoderma antibodies and antibodies against both Przhevalskiana and Cephalopina. ELISA is confirmed to be an easy and economic tool in diagnosing myiasis infestation when direct examination is not a simple mean and/or for epidemiological studies. The whole results were discussed. Focusing on the clinical pictures and pathogenesis of human myiasis was included to clarify the zoonotic importance of myiasis in Egypt.

Reciprocal heterologous protection between Trichinella spiralis and Toxoplasma gondii concurrently present in experimental murine models.

Mixed parasitic infections have been long seen as a double impact on the host. In this study a different view of polyparasitism is demonstrated. The influence of the immunological environments created by two biologically different parasites on the pathogenesis of each other was evaluated. Swiss albino mice were sequentially infected with the intracellular protozoan Toxoplasma gondii (acute and latent), which elicits a T-helper 1 (Th1)-polarized immune response and the helminth parasite Trichinella spiralis, whose infection is predominated by a Th2 response. The results show a significant heterologous protection from one parasite towards the other. There was a highly significant lower Trichinella muscle larvae burden in mixed infection group compared to single Trichinella infection, in spite of delayed intestinal adult worm expulsion in the mixed infection group. A highly significant lower burden of T. gondii brain cysts in mixed infection compared to single latent Toxoplasma infection was also demonstrated. Concerning the anti-Toxoplasma antibody response, there was a significant lower levels in the latent Toxo-Trich. group compared to the group of latent toxoplasmosis only. These significant lower antibody titers were reproducible by two different assays; dye test and direct agglutination test.

The goat warble fly, Przhevalskiana silenus (Brauer) in north Sinai, Egypt.

During monthly visits to North Sinai, a total of 43 living goats out of 2040 (2.11%) were found infested with Przhevalskiana silenus (Brauer). This was mainly in Winter. Besides, nodule caused of P. silenus larvae were recovered from 32 out of 98 (32.65%) slaughtered goats in Al Arish abattoir mainly in Summer. The overall infestation rate among slaughtered goats was 11.68 percent. On the other hand, adult flies were collected by baited traps from Bir Al Abd and Al Hasanah in late Spring and early Summer. It is concluded that myiasis is a real economic problem which affects the livestock.

In vitro control of Phthirus pubis with four pediculocides: Eurax, Elimite, Licid and Benzanil.

Phthirus pubis, Linnaeus 1758 that causes phthiriasis is a common infestation disease. However, it is commonly be acquired in jails, brothels, and other similar places. The efficacy of four insecticides commercially known as Eurax, Elimite, Licid, and Benzanil was evaluated for controlling pubic lice in vitro. The four test insecticides proved to be very effective. However, they differed in time needed for causing 100 percent mortality and they could be arranged descendingly as follows: Licid, Eurax, Elimite, and Benzanil.

Tumour necrosis factor-alpha (cachectin) in human visceral leishmaniasis.

Generally speaking, the cell mediated immunity plays a pivotal role in the host resistance against the protozoal parasite of the genus Leishmania. The polypeptide hormone cachectin (Tumour Necrosis Factor-alpha) which is produced mainly by macrophages, is a primary mediator in the pathogenesis of infection, injury and inflammation. Depending on its concentration, duration of cell exposure and presence of other mediators in the cellular environment, the net biological effect of this peptide regulatory factor may ultimately be benefit or injury to the host. This work aimed to study the tumour necrosis factor-alpha as measured by Quantikine human immunoassay Kits using ELISA technique in Egyptian visceral leishmaniasis patients (VL). The severity of VL. was measured by IHAT Cellognost Kits. The results showed a certain type of correlation between elevated serum TNF-alpha and human visceral leishmaniasis. It was concluded that TNF-a is an important factor in the pathogenesis of visceral leishmaniasis and may be a marker or an indicator of the VL. activity.

Tumour necrosis factor (TNF-alpha) in zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis.

Generally speaking, the cell mediated immunity plays a pivotal role in the host resistance against the protozoal parasite Leishmania species. On the other hand, TNF-a (Cachectin) is a protein produced mainly by macrophages, with wide range of biological activities and may be important in inflammatory processes. Also, it plays the important role in some infectious diseases. In the present study, TNF-alpha was measured in the sera of 30 parasitologically proved zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ZCL). Serum TNF-alpha was elevated in 4/30 (13.3%) of the patients. However, it was not elevated in 26/30 of the patients as well as in 15 normal control. It was concluded that the TNF-alpha did not correlate with the number, site and/or duration of the lesion (s), but with high serum level of indirect haemagglutination tests associated with the severity of ZCL.