Dissipation kinetics and exposure of spirotetramat and pymetrozine in open fields, a prelude to risk assessment of green bean consumption.

Determination and dissipation kinetics of pymetrozine and spirotetramat in green bean were studied using a QuEChERS method coupled to high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Pymetrozine recoveries ranged between 88.4-93.7%, with relative standard deviation (RSD) of 5.5-14.4%. For spirotetramat the recoveries ranged between 91.7-103.4%, and the RSD were in the range of 3.2 to 12.4%. The limits of quantification (LOQs) were 0.01 mg/kg and 0.005 mg/kg for pymetrozine and spirotetramat, respectively.The developed analytical method was used to study the degradation rates of pymetrozine and spirotetramat in green bean grown in open field. Results showed that pymetrozine and spirotetramat followed the first-order kinetics model with half-lives of 3.3 days and 4.2 days, respectively. Furthermore, risk assessment was carried out which showed that, the chronic risk quotient (RQc) values for pymetrozine and spirotetramat were much lower than 100%. The present results indicated that the health risks posed for consumers by the pymetrozine and spirotetramat residues were negligible at the recommended dosages.

The Effects of Commercially Available Syzygium aromaticum, Anethum graveolens, Lactobacillus acidophilus LB, and Zinc as Alternatives Therapy in Experimental Mice Challenged with Cryptosporidium parvum.

BACKGROUND: Waterborne cryptosporidiosis is the second cause of diarrhea in young children and immunocompromised hosts after rotavirus. Except for nitazoxanide (NTZ), there is no accredited cryptosporidiosis treatment to date. Therefore, there is an urgent need to find an effective and safe treatment for cryptosporidiosis. This study aimed to investigate the possible anti-protozoal effects of Syzygium aromaticum (clove) oil, Anethum graveolens (dill) seeds oil, Lactobacillus acidophilus LB, and zinc against Cryptosporidium parvum in comparison to NTZ. METHODS: Besides the negative control, mice from six experimental groups (T1-T6) were infected with Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts. On the seventh day post-infection (PID), mice from five groups were treated for 8 consecutive days with NTZ, clove oil, dill seed oil, Lactobacillus acidophilus LB, and zinc commercial forms (T2-T5). Oocysts shedding rate, differences of mice body weight, serum IL10, and TNF-α, cryptosporidial antigen, and cd3 at the intestinal mucosa were evaluated at the end of the experiment. RESULTS: The mean of the C. parvum oocysts' shedding rate was significantly lower in all treated groups than in the non-treated group. The oocysts reduction rate was the highest in zinc-treated mice (98.3%), Lactobacillus acidophilus LB and dill-treated groups (95.77%), and the NTZ-treated group (91.55%). Clove oil was the least effective, with a 74.65% reduction rate. Excluding the clove oil-treated group, immunohistochemical analysis revealed the clearance of the Cryptosporidium antigen in the intestinal tissue in all treated groups. CONCLUSION: The study has provided a rational basis for using these safe, cheap, and commercially available alternatives in treating cryptosporidiosis combined with NTZ.

Dengue fever as a reemerging disease in upper Egypt: Diagnosis, vector surveillance and genetic diversity using RT-LAMP assay.

BACKGROUND: The recent increase in dengue virus (DENV) outbreaks and the absence of an effective vaccine have highlighted the importance of developing rapid and effective diagnostic surveillance tests and mosquito-based screening programs. To establish effective control measures for preventing future DENV transmission, the present study was established to identify the main mosquito vector involved in the dengue fever (DF) outbreak in Upper Egypt in 2016 and detect the diversity of dengue virus serotypes circulating in both humans and vectors. METHODS: We investigated the prevalence of DENV infection and circulating serotypes in the sera of 51 humans clinically suspected of DF and 1800 field-collected Aedes aegypti adult female mosquitoes grouped into 36 pooled samples. Both DENV non-structural protein (NS1) immunochromatographic strip assay and loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) were used for screening. RESULTS: Overall, the rate of DENV infection in both human sera and pooled mosquito homogenate was 33.3%, as revealed by rapid dipstick immunochromatographic analysis. However, higher detection rates were observed with RT-LAMP assay of 60.8% and 44.4% for humans and vector mosquitoes, respectively. DENV-1 was the most prevalent serotype in both populations. A combination of two, three, or even four circulating serotypes was found in 87.5% of total positive pooled mosquito samples and 83.87% of DENV-positive human sera. CONCLUSION: The study reinforces the evidence of the reemergence of Aedes aegypti in Upper Egypt, inducing an outbreak of DENV. Mosquito-based surveillance of DENV infection is important to elucidate the viral activity rate and define serotype diversity to understand the virus dynamics in the reinfested area. Up to our knowledge, this is the first report of serotyping of DENV infection in an outbreak in Egypt using RT-LAMP assay.

The protective effect of Lactobacillus acidophilus on experimental animals challenged with Trichinella spiralis; new insights on their feasibility as prophylaxis in Trichinella spiralis endemic area.

Trichinellosis is a common parasitic zoonosis. Complications of anthelmintic drugs combined with steroids raise the urge of alternative protective ways. The study aimed to investigate the protective effects of Lactobacillus acidophilus probiotic on both Trichinella spiralis adults and larvae in experimental animal models. Thirty-six male BALB/c mice were divided into 3 groups: negative control Group (G I); Group (G II) mice were inoculated orally by 500 Trichinella spiralis larvae; tested Group (G III) mice were prophylactic by an oral dose of Lactobacillus acidophilus in commercially available form for seven consecutive days, before infection. Mature worms and encysted larvae were counted on the 5th and 21st day post-infection (dpi), respectively. IL-1, IL-6, IL-10 and TNF-α concentrations were estimated at 5th and 21st dpi of all groups. Significant reductions in mean worms and larvae burden were detected by 62.1% and 73.5% in the prophylactic group compared to the non-prophylactic group. The cytokine profiles were revealed IL-1 and IL-6 up-regulation compared to IL-10 and TNF-α down-regulation in the tested group compared to other groups. Although Lactobacillus acidophilus failed to achieve complete eradication of Trichinella spiralis adults and larvae, it showed powerful effects in reducing parasites and cytokines burdens.

Evidences of brain and lung invasion of a local water Cryptosporidium parvum isolate in comparison to Iowa strain: serological and immunohistochemical cytokine evaluation.

Cryptosporidium spp. is an obligate intracellular parasite that has become a community threat. The pathological consequences of cryptosporidiosis vary not only in different Cryptosporidium species but even among different isolates of the same species. The present study aimed to track the serological and immunohistopathological differences between animals infected by Cryptosporidium parvum "Iowa isolate" (CPI) and Cryptosporidium parvum "water isolate" isolated from a local water supply in Assiut Governorate, Egypt (CPW). Three experimental groups were encountered: negative control group (C), the CPI group and the CPW group; each contains ten Swiss albino mice. Serum cytokine: IL10 and TNF-α were measured. Expression of Cryptosporidium antigen and CD3 in the intestinal, pulmonary and brain tissue were evaluated through immunohistochemical assay. IL10 and TNF-α were elevated in both infected groups, over expression of Cryptosporidium protein and CD3 in the intestinal, pulmonary and brain tissue in CPW infected group compared to Iowa infected one. Multi-organs affection occurred in the CPW indicating more severe pathogenicity and virulence than standard Iowa isolate. The local C. parvum isolate was more virulent than tested Iowa isolate as it spread extra-intestinally to reach brain tissue.

Anti-Toxoplasma IgG Level in Type 2 Diabetic Patients: Does It Affect Glycemic Control?

Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is an important opportunistic parasite which can leads to severe complications, even death in immuno-deficient patients. Diabetes is a systemic disease; considers an important factor that increases susceptibility and risk of various infections in the host by affecting the host's immune system. The aim of the current study was to determine possible relations between toxoplasma IgG antibodies titer and the level of glycemic control and vascular complications in type 2 diabetic patients. In this case control study, serum for 122 samples was analyzed using ELISA for the presence of anti-Toxoplasma- IgG-antibodies (Abs) in both type 2 diabetic patients (62) and controls (60). A1c titer (level of diabetic control) was estimated in all diabetic cases. Full history and examination were performed after all contributors' consents. Anti-Toxoplasma IgG-Abs were detected in 56.45 % of diabetic patients and in 36.67% of the controls. Toxoplasmosis was significantly found more prevalent in diabetics associated with hypertension than controls (P=0.005). Among diabetics, patients with positive anti T. gondii IgG have significant long duration of diabetes versus those with negative anti T. gondii IgG (7.14±2.962 vs.3.26±1.583 years, respectively; P < 0.001). No relations were found between types of diabetic vascular complication, level of glycemic control based on HbA1c level and occurrence of toxoplasmosis. We concluded that despite of high prevalence of anti T. gondii IgG in diabetic patients, it has no relation to diabetic complication and glycemic control.

Antiprotozoal activity of silver nanoparticles against Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts: New insights on their feasibility as a water disinfectant.

Cryptosporidium is a protozoan of extremely medical and veterinary impact; whose oocysts donate a considerable resistant to the water treatment processes. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the impacts of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) on count and viability of the Cryptosporidium parvum (CP) isolated from different tap water samples. The oocysts were exposed to AgNPs at different dosages of 0.05, 0.1 and 1 ppm for several contact times (30 min to 4 h). The results showed a significant decrease in oocyst count and viability in a dose-dependent manner. Additionally, AgNPs at a conc. of 1 ppm for 30 min and 0.1 ppm for 1 h reduced the oocysts by 97.2 and 94.4%, respectively. Comparatively, there was a noticeable increase in the oocyst's viability at 2 and 4 h, which emphasized that the time of contact between AgNPs and CP was not a major influencing factor for successful application of AgNPs in the nano-water treatment.

Virulence of geographically different Cryptosporidium parvum isolates in experimental animal model

Cryptosporidium parvum is a coccidian parasite which causes gastrointestinal disease in humans and a variety of other mammalian species. Several studies have reported different degrees of pathogenicity and virulence among Cryptosporidium species and isolates of the same species as well as evidence of variation in host susceptibility to infection. The study aimed to investigate infectivity and virulence of two Cryptosporidium parvum "Iowa isolate" (CpI) and a "local water isolate" (CpW). Thirty-three Swiss albino mice have been divided into three groups: Negative control Group (C), the CpI group infected with "Iowa isolate "and the CpW group infected with C. parvum oocysts isolated from a local water supply. Infectivity and virulence have been measured by evaluating clinical, parasitological and histological aspects of infection. Significant differences were detected regarding oocysts shedding rate, clinical outcomes, and the histopathological picture of the intestine, lung, and brain. It was concluded that the local water isolate is significantly more virulent than the exported one.