Trypanosoma evansi in dromedary camel: with a case report of zoonosis in greater Cairo, Egypt.

Trypanosoma evansi (Steel, 1885) Balbiani, is the cause of trypanosomiasis (Surra) which multiples in the blood and body fluids. The incubation period varies from 7-15 days. The mortality rate was up to 20% and fatality rate may reach up to 100% in untreated camels. Three hundred randomly selected camels were 200 males 4-6 years old and 100 females 10-15 years. They were examined clinically and diagnosed by Giemsa stained blood smear, anti- trypanosomiasis-antibodies by ELISA and urine Thymol turbidity test for natural infection with T. evani (Surra). The results showed that camels were naturally infected with T. evansi as indicated by stained blood film examination and/or ELISA. Infection in males was 6.0% (stained blood smears), 8.0% (ELISA) and 5.0% (urine thymol turbidity test). In females the infection rate was 9.0%, 24.0% and 12% respectively. By correlation with suggestive clinical manifestations, ELISA proved to be more sensitive and specific (13.3%) than stained blood films (10.0%) and urine Thymol turbidity test (7.3%). Regarding humans, one out of 30 was positive as indicated by ELISA and stained blood smear but was negative by urine thymol turbidity test. The human case was successfully treated as indicated clinically, parasitologically and serologically. This is the first reported Egyptian human case of trypanosomiasis evansi, a neglected zoonosis.

A study on the prevalence of house dust mites in Al-Arish city, North Sinai Governorate, Egypt.

Free living mites comprise a huge and various groups of tiny arthropods in the class Arachida, mainly of the Pyroglyphidae family. Exposure to allergens derived from house dust mite (HDM) feces is a postulated risk factor for allergic sensitization, asthma development and asthma morbidity. However, practical and effective method to mitigate these allergens in low-income, urban home environments remains elusive. It well known that (HDM) physiology is greatly affected by hydrothermal microclimatic condition. El Arish has subtropical climate and warm humid summer, such situation are favourable to proliferate house dust mites. As no valid data are available for house dust mites fauna of El Arish, this study was carried out to determine the prevalence and contamination rates of homes in El Arish city. Samples of house dust collected in 2008 from 50 houses in El Arish city were subjected to acarological examination. Acri were found in (34.6 %) of the samples collected from these homes. Results indicated that dust mites were present in all humid environments. Also, hypersensitivity to dust mites was common among patients with asthma.

Anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in working donkeys and donkey's milk in greater Cairo, Egypt.

Toxoplasma gondii is one of the important zoonotic parasites of worldwide zoological & geographical distribution. ELISA prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in Egyptian locally bred working donkeys in greater Cairo was evaluated. The donkeys were 75 females & 25 males aged between 3-10 years. The results showed that ELISA antibodies of T. gondii were found in 45 out of 100 (45%) working donkeys. Donkeys' milk obtained from fifteen pregnant females was T. gondii positive in seven (46.3%). The zoonotic role of donkeys and their milk were discussed.

Studies on zoonotic cryptosporidiosis parvum in Ismailia Governorate, Egypt.

A total of 390 stool samples from children less than 8 years old attending the MOHP central hospital in Ismailia District were examined for cryptosporidiosis. Stools were subjected to direct wet smear method and Sheather's sugar flotation and stained with Modified Z.N. Among the 390 children 204 were diarrheic of whom C. parvum was positive in 68 (33.3%). The highest infection rate was 26/46 among children less than 2 months, 40/150 among children less than 2 years and 2/8 among children less than 7 years. Of these children the clinical pictures ranged from diarrhea (20.7%), to dehydration (20%), abdominal pain and mild fever (19.2%), and the lowest was tenesmus (6.25%). The infection rate was 88.2% among cryptosporidiosis children compared to 11.8% that not in contact with animals. Water samples examined showed was 0.0% in bottled water up to 9.33% in water tank. C. parvum in farm animals was 20.9% in sheep, 22.5% in buffaloes, 23.7% in cows and 25.9% in goats.

External and intestinal parasites of pet dogs with reference to zoonotic toxocariasis.

Examination of 3000 pet dogs over two years at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine revealed external and internal parasites. The external parasites were Rhipicephalus sanguineus, Ctenocephalus felis, Sarcoptes canis, and Sarcoptes scabiei. The internal parasites were Echinococcus granulosus, Dipylidium caninum, rare Heterophyes heterophyes, and Toxocara canis. Toxocara eggs were detected in 9.83%. The results were discussed with reference to zoonotic toxocariasis.

ELISA-seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in draught horses in Greater Cairo, Egypt.

Toxoplasma gondii is one of the important zoonotic parasites of worldwide. In this paper the seroprevalence of T. gondii in draught horses (3-15 years) including 90 males and 10 females in the first half of the year 2009 was studied. The result showed that the overall ELISA-T. gondii antibodies were 25% of the horses in Greater Cairo, 50% (females) and 22.2% (males).

Cystic hydatidosis: a zoonotic silent health problem.

Examination of five hundred pet dogs revealed Echinococcus granulosus in nine dogs, Dipylidium caninum in twenty dogs, and Toxocara canis in thirty dogs. The risky role played by pet dogs in the transmission and spreading of zoonotic cystic hydatidosis was discussed.

Zoonotic hydatidosis in donkeys: post mortum examination in the Zoo, Giza, Egypt.

A total of 17 out of 160 donkeys slaughtered had hepatic hydatidosis as proved macroscopically and microscopically. The epidemiology of zoonotic echinococcosis/hydatidosis was reviewed and discussed.

Human hydatidosis granulosus in greater Cairo, Egypt: with general review.

In this study, human cases (41) of proved hydatidosis granulosus were obtained from Al Kasr Al Aini University Hospitals from 2000-2006. They were 22 females with ages from 8 to 70 years and 19 males with ages from 5 to 75 years. The highly infected organ was the liver. Infection in other organs as lung, spleen, brain, eye, pelvic and bones of upper and lower limbs were reported. Most of the hydatidosis patients were from governorates of Giza (24 cases), Qalyobia (7 cases), Cairo (5 cases), Bani-Swef (3 cases), Sharkia (1 case) and Demiatta (1 case). Biopsies of infected liver and lung were processed for the histopathological studies and photographed. The results were discussed on the light of work done before Egypt.

Echinococcosis (zoonotic hydatidosis) in street dogs in urban and rural areas, Dakahlia Governorate, Egypt.

A total of one hundred and ninety street dogs were captured from urban area, Mansoura district and three hundreds and fifty from rural area, Met El-Korama and adjacent villages (Manshet El-Badawy, Talka Center). The overall prevalence of Echinoccocus granulosus was 5%, with a worm burden ranging from 4 to 1010 (mean = 421). The prevalence was 6% in rural locality and 3.2% in urban locality. E. granulosus in dogs was significantly higher in rural areas but, without significant difference in puppies and males. The overall sensitivity was 61.5% and specificity was 97.5%. Apart from E. granulosus, dogs were also, infected with Taenia sp., Diplydium caninum, Toxocara canis, Trichurus vulpis and Ancylostoma caninum. The major cross-reactions were with Taenia sp., and D. caninum. Significantly, no correlation was found between ELISA on dogs' sera and E. granulosus burden.

Zoonotic fascioliasis in donkeys: ELISA (Fges) and postmortum examination in the Zoo, Giza, Egypt.

In Egypt, zoonotic fascioliasis is increasing. In this study, postmortum examination of 88 donkeys used as gargantuan meal in the Zoo at Giza revealed hepatic fascioliasis in 15 (17.05%). The serum examination for anti-Fasciola antibodies by ELISA showed positivity in 12/15 with crude worm antigen, and positivity in 14/15 with locally prepared Fasciola excretory-secretory (Fges) antigen. The zoonotic role of animal fascioliasis was discussed.

Hydatidosis granulosus in Egyptian slaughtered animals in the years 2000-2005.

Hydatidosis was investigated among camels, sheep, goats, and pigs in Egyptian official abattoirs, from August 2000 to August 2005, and among cows and buffaloes were in Mansoura official abattoirs, in the year 2005. One hundred randomly chosen animals of each species were subjected to serologic and histopathologic examinations for infections. The overall five years hydatidosis prevalence was 2.53%, 0.3% & 0.68% in camels, sheep & goats, and pigs respectively. The 2005 year prevalence in cows and buffaloes was 6.4% in Mansoura. There was a significant difference between animals regarding liver infection, but the difference was highly significant for lung infection. A highly significant difference in hydatid cysts size was between pigs and other animals species (p< 0.000) and a significant difference between macroscopic findings in pigs and camels (p=0.018). A high significant difference was between histopathology in all animals species except pigs and sheep & goats (p=0.089). IHAT showed highly significant difference between camels and other animals species (p<0.000). A significant histopathologic positive correlation was between positive IHAT and fertility (Pearson correlation =0.148, p=0.003). The results were photographed and discussed.

Some parasitic flukes infecting farm animals in Al-Santa Center, Gharbia Governorate, Egypt.

A total of 213 farm animals in the vicinity of Al-Santa Center (73 cattle, 90 buffaloes and 50 sheep) were coprologic examined for natural infection with trematod-parasites. The results showed that cattle were infected with Fasciola sp (21.8%) and Paramphistomum sp. (7.3%), buffaloes were infected with Fasciola sp. (17.7%) and Paramphistomum sp. (10%), while sheep were infected with Fasciola sp. (30%), D. dendriticum (5%) and Paramphistomum sp. (4%). The three animal species were treated for paramphistomiasis with a total dose of 1800, 6000 and 7500 mgm of Oleo-resin solution of Commiphora molmol (dose of 6 ml of 10gm% equal to 2 Mirazid. The cure was 100% in sheep 80% in cattle and 44.4% in buffaloes. High dose for both cattle and buffaloes to reach 100% cure rate was not tried.

Farm animals' fascioliasis in Ezbet El-Bakly (Tamyia Center) Al-Fayoum Governorate.

To continue the study on fascioliasis in Tamyia Center, some farm animals were investigated for natural infection with Fasciola species by stool examination. The results showed 40% infection in sheep, 20% in buffalos, 6.7% in donkeys and zero% in horses. The overall percentage of infection was 25.5. The sheep (total dose 1800mg) and the donkey (total dose (4500 mg.) were successfully treated with Mirazid. On the other hand, one buffalo was successfully treated by a total dose 7500mg, the seconds one did not cured, but the eggs deposited per gm markedly decreased.

Efficacy of Commiphora molmol (Mirazid) against sheep naturally infected with monieziasis expansa in Al-Santa Center, Gharbia Governorate, Egypt.

The efficacy of Commiphora molmol or Myrrh (Mirazid) was evaluated in treating sheep naturally infected with Moniezia expansa. Total doses of one, two or three capsules (300 mg each) were given for one, two, three, four, five, six, seven and eight successive days on an empty stomach an hour before offering their breakfast. Every day the stools of the three groups were examined microscopically and macroscopically for eggs and/or gravid segments. When the stool was negative, the treatment was stopped. That sheep group was examined macroscopically after being slaughtered for adult worms in intestine. A total dose of 3600 mg given as three capsules per days for four days gave a cure rate of 100.0% with no clinical side effects. A dose of 4800 mg given as two capsules per day for eight days gave a cure rate of 100.0% with no clinical side effects. On the other hand, a total dose of 2400 given as one capsule per day for eight days gave a cure rate 40.0%. Consequently, Myrrh extract of the medicinal plant, Commiphora molmol (Mirazid) proved to be safe and very effective in sheep monieziasis expansa.

A preliminary study on dicrocoeliasis in Egypt, with a general review.

Dicrocoelium dendriticum (D. dendriticum) is a lancet-shape liver fluke that affects sheep and mammals including man. Human and animal infections have been world widely reported particularly in some of the Eastern Mediterranean sheep raising countries. Infection is acquired by eating the second intermediate host (17 species of ants) with raw fruits, vegetables, herbs or even with the drinking water. As for the first intermediate host, there is about 54 different species of land snails. In spite of the fact that both the first and second intermediate hosts of D. dendriticum are available in Egypt, data about human and animal dicrocoeliasis is lacking. This investigation is a preliminary study to report on the presence of D. dendriticum (in sheep, goats and man in North Sinai Governorate) in Egypt.

Efficacy of Mirazid (Commiphora molmol) against fascioliasis in Egyptian sheep.

The efficacy of Mirazid (Commiphora molmol or Myrrh) was evaluated in sheep naturally infected with fascioliasis. Total doses of one or two capsules (300 mg each) were given for one, two or three successive days on an empty stomach an hour before breakfast. A total dose of 600 mg gave a cure rate of 83.3%, while a total dose of 900 to 1200 mg gave a complete cure rate (100%), with no clinical side effect. The cure rate was achieved by stool examination and/or macroscopically on slaughtering the sheep. Mirazid proved to be safe and very effective in sheep fascioliasis in Gharbia Governorate.

Treatment of Egyptian dicrocoeliasis in man and animals with Mirazid.

Two human cases with dicrocoeliasis dendriticum were successfully treated one with Praziquantel (25mg/kg 3 times daily after meals, for four successive days) and second with Mirazid (2 capsules of 300 mg. each, daily an hour before breakfast, for six successive days) as indicated clinically and parasitologically. On the other hand, one imported sheep and two locally bred goats naturally infected with D. dendriticum were successfully treated with Oleo-resin solution (dose of 6 ml of 10 gm% equal to 2 Mirazid capsules before breakfast) per os once daily for four successive days. The animals were slaughtered on 5th day. Mirazid (capsule or Oleo-resin solution) was effective against dicrocoeliasis in man and animal respectively.

The potential reservoir role of donkeys and horses in zoonotic fascioliasis in Gharbia Governorate, Egypt.

No doubt, fascioliasis tops all the zoonotic helminthes worldwide. In Egypt, human fascioliasis is increasing. The incidence and prevalence of fascioliasis in the Egyptian farm animals are well documented. However, none in Egypt has focused on the potential role of other domestic farm animals. A preliminary coprologic examination of donkeys and horses was done in eight centers of Gharbia governorate. The overall rate of infection in donkeys was 3.03%, in horses was 1.5%, and in mules 0.0%. Horses 2/74 (2.70%) and 1/26 (3.86%) were infected in Zefta and El Mahala El Kobra centers respectively. None of the horses was infected in other six centers. On the other hand, donkeys showed infection rates of 4.6%, 7.6% and 9.09% in the centers of Santa, Zefta and El Mahala El Kobra respectively. So, fascioliasis infected donkeys and horses were in Zefta and El Mahala El Kobra respectively. The latter center was the relatively highly infected one, followed by Zefta and lastly Santa (donkeys only). According to the population density of donkeys and horses in Gharbia governorate, donkeys represent the 41h rank in number. So, donkeys and to a very less extend, horses should be considered within the preventive and control measures of zoonotic fascioliasis.