Toxocariasis as a cause of renal disease in children in Sharkia Governorate, Egypt.

Eighty four children (40 males and 44 female) suffering from renal troubles were chosen as well as 20 healthy children as a control group. Urine and stool of patients were examined and chosen to be free from parasitic infections other than Toxocara. Each child was subjected to history taking, full clinical examination, urine analysis, kidney function tests and differential leucocytic count, examination of sera and urine by ELISA and microprecipitin tests for Toxocara antibodies. ELISA revealed 10.7% of patients to be seropositive for toxocariasis versus 5.3% in control group. This difference was statistically insignificant P > 0.05. In urine, ELISA revealed 2 positive cases out of the 84 patients, while it was negative in control group. These 2 cases were suffering from nephrotic syndrome. Microprecipitin test in sera was positive in 9.5% of patients and negative in control group. It was also negative in urine of patients and control group. Eosinophilia was found in 66.6% of seropositive patients. IgG antibodies to Toxocara were detected in males more than females between the age of 2-7 years, but insignificant (P > 0.05). It was also found in 77.7% of rural compared to 22.2% of urban areas. This difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). It was concluded that toxocariasis should not be missed in the differential diagnosis of such renal diseases especially those who are not responds to the traditional management.

P 53 suppressor gene and cathepsin D expression in correlation with cellular and humoral immunity in cutaneous leishmaniasis.

A total of fifteen clinically and parasitologically proven adult cases of cutaneous leishmaniasis were studied for the demonstration of premalignant factor(s). The levels of antibodies against Leishmania parasite were measured with the indirect haemagglutination test (IHAT) and evaluated with the results of lymphoblast transformation test (LTT), a tumour suppressor gene (P53) and an asportic proteinase enzyme (Cathepsin D). Three patients (females) refused to be biopsied. The results showed a direct correlation between elevation of IHAT in 7/12 patients (Titers 1/128 to 1/512) and elevation of LTT in 7/12 patients (82 to 90%). On the other hand, two males with low (?) seropositive IHAT (1/64) and low LTT (20 & 40%) gave positive P53 antibody and moderate (1) and marked (1) degrees Cathepsin D. So, it is concluded that cutaneous leishmaniasis infection particularly chronic one favours the premalignant changes in the granulomatous lesions.

Prevalence of congenital and acquired toxoplasmic uveitis as evidenced by two serologic methods.

Anti Toxoplasma antibodies were sought in 34 patients with uveitis and 20 healthy individuals by IHAT and IFAT. The total sero-positivity rate was 26.5%. The prevalence was significantly higher among patients with posterior (42.9%) than with anterior uveitis (7.1%) and control (10%) indicating significant role of Toxoplasma as an aetiologic agent of posterior uveitis. 14.4% of patients with seropositive uveitis were considered to be due to primarily acquired Toxoplasma infection as evidenced by their significant higher IFAT mean titre (576.7 +/- 322.1) than IHAT (48 +/- 18.5). The reported toxoplasmic anterior uveitis case is most probably secondary to posterior involvement.

Toxoplasmosis and pregnancy: an analytical study in Zagazig, Egypt.

The sera of 72 women with a history of abortion (sporadic or habitual abortion) or perinatal complications were examined for Toxoplasma antibodies using indirect immunofluorescent antibody test (IFAT). It was found that 27.8% of them were positive for toxoplasmosis with geometric mean titre of 1/64. Also sera of 34 women with normal obstetric history as a control group were examined. 11.8% of them were positive for toxoplasmosis with geometric mean titre 1/16. The difference between the control group and complicated group was found to be statistically significant. The histopathological picture of placenta of positive cases showed characteristics of toxoplasmic placentosis with detection of the organism in fixed paraffin sections using HX and E, PAS or Giemsa stains.

Serological studies on toxoplasmosis in Zagazig slaughterhouse.

This study intended to estimate the prevalence of Toxoplasma antibodies among farm animals in Zagazig slaughterhouses using indirect haemagglutination test (I.H.A.T.) and to evaluate the occupational exposure to infected animals and meat among abattoir workers. 25% of the tested animals were seropositive 19.2% of the exposed persons showed positive reactions while in a control group it was 12% with statistically insignificant difference.

The role of single sample detection of specific anti-Toxoplasma IgM in accurate evaluation of seroconversion during acquired toxoplasmosis.

Specific IgM anti-Toxoplasma antibodies were sought in 94 serum samples by means of D.S. IgM ELISA. These antibodies were detected in all cases of acute toxoplasmic lymphadenopathy, but up to 13 months from onset of symptoms and in out of 20 patients with chronic toxoplasmosis and in one out of 20 seronegative individuals. They were neither detected in samples from 4 infants with high IgG IFAT titres associated with hydrocephalus and cerebral calcification, nor in samples from patients containing rheumatoid factors and those with lymphoma or infectious mononucleosis. Thus the detection of IgM antibodies seems non decisive mean for identifying infected infants and for determination of the exact date of acquiring the infection.

Cell-mediated immune response in experimental infection with H. heterophyes.

Experimental infection of puppies with Heterophyes heterophyes was associated with marked cell-mediated immune response that manifested itself by increase of T-cell count and leucocyte migration. The degree of cell-mediated immune response was inversely proportional to the intensity of infection. The significance of the results was discussed.

Echinococcosis in camels as revealed by indirect haemagglutination test in Belbas.

This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of Echinococcus antibodies in camels using the indirect haemagglutination test (I.H.A.T.). Out of 100 camels, 27 camels were seropositive.

Effect of some anthelmintics on Hymenolepis nana in albino mice.

Mebendazole and emetine (orally and parenterally) were used to treat mice infected with H. nana. Yomesan, in a single oral dose, was also used as a standardized well-known cesticidal drug. Emetine had a marked effect on cysticercoids leading to highly significant reduction in their number. Also, it caused complete removal of adult worms in infected mice. Mebendazole had no effect on the cysticercoid stage, but it caused significant reduction in the number of adult worms. Yomesan, showed a marked lethal effect on both the cysticercoids and adult worms leading to highly significant reduction in their number.

Identification of species and biotypes of the brucella genus in apparently healthy and aborted ewes and goats in Egypt.

Brucella micro-organisms was absent in the vaginal swabs collected from apparently healthy ewes. Such incidence among the genital tract of aborted ewes was 4.84%. Among goats, brucella species represented 7.04% in aborted goats, while it was recovered in lower percentage (0.92%) from the vaginal swabs of apparently healthy goats. Br. melitensis biotype "3" was the sole species recovered from aborted ewes, while biotypes "3" and "2" could be obtained from clinically healthy and aborted foeti of goats. The predilection seats of brucella in the genital tracts of aborted animals and their foeti were discussed in details.

Evaluation of serodiagnostic methods for brucellosis among sheep and goats in Egypt.

A total of 1246 animals (778 sheep and 468 goats) were examined for detection of brucellosis using serum tube agglutination test (SAT), complement fixation test (CFT) as well as Abortus Bang Ring test (ABR-test) have been conducted on both dairy ewes and goats. Eighteen ovine sera played positive serum agglutination reactions (2.31%). Out of the total 468 goat's serum samples examined, 22 (4.70%) gave a positive titers and 2 (0.43%) gave doubtful reactions. The reactors of sheep to the CFT was 2.44% and the incidence was lower in rams (1.63%) than among ewes (2.97%). Seven out of the 339 ewe's milk samples were positive to ABR-test (2.06%), 7 were doubtful (2.06%). Out of 354 goat's milk samples examined, 14 were positive to ABR-test (3.96%). CFT was considered to be a reliable procedure for detecting brucella infected animals particularly in male more than the SAT. Among dairy ewes, both tests were identical in their results.

Mastitis concomitant with traumatic reticulo-peritonitis in buffaloes.

Out of 500 dairy buffaloes examined for traumatic reticulitis in two farms, 51 buffaloes (10.2 %) were diagnosed as having the syndrome in its subacute and chronic forms. Of this 51 diseased animals, 39 had idiopathic mastitis (76.5 %). This high percentage of mastitis cases associated with traumatic reticulitis is considered as being four times the incidence of primary mastitis (20 %) in cattle. It is most likely that secondary mastitis is due to the contiguous spread of bacteria from the infected focus favoured by the devitalising effect of the foreign body syndrome.