Awareness of parasitic zoonotic diseases among pet owners in Cairo, Egypt.

Egyptians are becoming more interested in owning and raising pets; however, most of them lack essential awareness about the risk of zoonotic parasites that could be transmitted. The objective of the present investigation was to evaluate the degree of awareness Egyptian pet owners possess concerning zoonotic parasitic diseases, the risk of transmission, and preventative measures. A cross-sectional study was conducted using an e-survey. Among 246 pet owners, 64.2% (158) were females, and 67.9% (167) belonged to the 20-30 age group. The majority, 78.9% (194), were raising cats. Only 13.8% (34) visited the veterinarian regularly, with significantly higher results among dog owners (p < 0.05). Only 31.3% (77) participants were regularly deworming their pets, and 19.9% (49) were giving their pets prophylaxis against ectoparasites, with significantly higher results among those who visited the veterinarian regularly (p < 0.0001) and among dog owners (p < 0.05). Only 54.1% (133) had heard about the term "zoonoses" before, and about 8.9% (22) of participants showed a history of zoonotic parasitic diseases, with significantly higher results among those who allowed their animals to play with other animals of neighbors and friends (p < 0.05). The obtained results concluded that the surveyed group had a relatively good degree of knowledge regarding pets as a source of zoonotic illness; raising pet owners' awareness regarding the importance of routine medical examinations and minimizing the contact of pets with other stray animals is essential.

Efficacy of silver nanoparticles against Trichinella spiralis in mice and the role of multivitamin in alleviating its toxicity.

Trichinellosis is a worldwide zoonotic disease. The majority of currently available anti-trichinellosis medications exhibit inadequate efficacy. The efficacy of a natively prepared new formulation of silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) was evaluated in the treatment of Trichinella spiralis (T. spiralis) infection in mice alone and combined with multivitamin-mineral (MM). After investigating the product's biological and pharmacological characteristics, its therapeutic dose was estimated to be Ag-NPs at 21.5 mg/kg B.W. This dose was orally inoculated to experimentally infected mice at 3-5 days post-inoculation (dpi) against the mature worms, at 8-10 dpi against the newborn larvae, and at 33-35th dpi against the encapsulated larvae. Each treatment's efficacy was assessed by scarifying control and treated mice 3 days post-treatment. The drug alone or in supplement form has a high trichinocidal effect exceeding that of the reference drug. Early treatment (3-5 dpi) by Ag-NPs or Ag-NPs + MM and albendazole revealed high efficacy against the intestinal stage, reaching 93.3%, 94.7%, and 90.6% for the three treatments, respectively. The materials causing a significant (P-value < 0.001) decrease in the mean encapsulated larvae reached 86.61%, 89.07%, and 88.84%/gm of muscles using the three treatments, respectively. Moreover, all larvae extracted from Ag-NPs-treated groups failed to induce infection post-inoculation in new mice. Additionally, combining the material with MM proved to overcome the reversible adverse effects of silver material on the estimated redox parameters and liver and kidney biomarkers, denoting its ability to alleviate Ag-NP toxicity. In conclusion, the high trichinocidal effect of Ag-NPs against the adult and encapsulated larvae during a short inoculation period introduced Ag-NPs as an alternative to other nematicidal drugs.

A smart economic way to control camel parasites and improve camel production in Egypt.

Treatment of the parasites in camels strategically by administration of the specific drugs (Ivomec 1% SC injection, Amprolium hydrochloride orally, Naganol SC injection and Deltamethrin, poure on) at a specially selected time concerning the transmission season of Nematodes, Coccidia, Trypanosoma, Ticks & mite infection respectively causes relief to the animal from the stress of the parasite, minimizes the number of eggs shedding, and improves its general health conditions. However, the present study designed and applied three selected treatment regimes to 300 parasitically infected and controlled camels in Middle Egypt. The first regime was performed by treating animals two times/year during the peak of infection; the first was in April against internal parasites, and in July against external parasites. The second program was conducted by treating animals three times/year; the first was in March against early-arrived internal parasites, the second was in June against external and internal ones, and the third treatment was in August against the rest of the external parasites. Furthermore, the last suggested regime was applied by applying 4 treatments/year: the first was in February against the internal parasites, the second was in May against the early infection by external parasites as well as the remaining internal parasites, and the third was in July against the external parasite. The fourth treatment was in September to eradicate the remaining internal parasite and keep the animal parasite-free during winter. Treatment was applied to the whole flock; however, the movement of treated and control animals was restricted. The study proved a significant decrease in the incidence and level of parasite burden in animals that received 3 and 4 treatments/year, associated with marked improvement in the mean body score, blood parameters, and rate of pregnancy and its related hormones, as well as enhancement in liver and kidney function parameters. The selection of 3 or 4 treatment regimens will be evaluated concerning their economic cost and total income after another year after each protocol's end.

Dogs as a source for the spreading of enteric parasites including zoonotic ones in Giza Province, Egypt.

To investigate the impact of domestic and stray dogs on the transmission of zoonotic and other parasites to humans in contact with them, fecal samples were collected from 80 domestic dogs that presented at a clinic with health disturbances and 220 randomly selected stray dogs housed in shelters. The parasitological examination of these samples revealed infection by six zoonotic and four non-zoonotic parasites in varying percentages. The zoonotic parasites included Ancylostoma caninum, Toxocara canis, Dipylidium caninum, Echinococcus granulosus, Cryptosporidium species, and Giardia cysts and trophozoites. The other parasites included Toxascaris leonina, Trichuris vulpis, Taenia species eggs, and Isospora canis oocysts. The infection rate was higher in stray dogs (60%) than in domestic dogs (40%). Infected dogs in both groups were generally unhealthy, with poor body condition recorded in 13.8% of domestic dogs and 63.6% of stray dogs. The infection rate was higher (92%) among shelter workers than among domestic dog owners (66.7%). Giardia assemblages A and D from dogs and assemblage A from humans, as well as two isolates of Cryptosporidium canis (C. canis), one from dogs and the other from humans, were submitted in the GenBank with the accession numbers OQ870443, OQ870444, and OQ919265 for Giardia and OQ917532 & OQ915519 for C. canis of dogs & human, respectively. In conclusion, domestic and stray dogs play an essential role in transmitting zoonotic parasites to humans in contact with them, and regular deworming and strict hygienic measures are recommended to minimize their impact on human health.

Trichinocidal activity of a novel formulation of curcumin-olive oil nanocomposite in vitro.

Curcumin-olive oil nanocomposite (CO-NC), a novel formulation of nano-curcumin, was produced and characterized. By evaluating the death rate and DNA damage inflicted on adult Trichinella spiralis (T. spiralis) worms using the comet test and Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis, the effectiveness of the substance against these worms was assessed in vitro. The mortality effects of CO-NC on the parasite adult worms were increased with the upgrading in the concentration and exposure time from 1 to 24 h using concentrations from 10 to 100 ppm. LC50 was determined to be 10.0 ppm/18 h, 20.0 ppm/9 h, 40.0 ppm/6 h, 80.0 ppm/2 h, and 100.0 ppm/1 h, while LC100 was 40.0 ppm/24 h, 80.0 ppm/12 h, and 100.0 ppm/6 h. The comet assay was utilized to examine DNA damage in control and dead worms exposed to varying doses. A direct correlation (P ≤ 0.05) was found between the increase in CO-NC dose and the degree of DNA damage as indicated by alterations in DNA % in the tail segment, tail length (µm), tail moment (µm), and olive tail moment with the control samples. The sub-epidermal layer was detached, the cuticle was partially sloughed off, and the usual creases, ridges, and annulations were altered in the T. spiralis exposed worms. As a result, the tested new trichinocidal drug formulation of nano-curcumin on an oil base was confirmed to be an efficient, secure, and environmentally friendly alternative. The medication has the potential to severely and irreversibly harm the DNA and ultrastructural morphology of adult worms.

Animal hydatid cyst genotypes as a potential substitute for human hydatid cyst as a source of antigen for diagnosis of zoonotichydatidosis.

The Diagnosis of hydatidosis is still an unsolved issue due to difficulties in obtaining of patient's hydatid cyst appropriate for antigen extraction. This study evaluated the suitability of HC protoscolices somatic antigens (HCPsS-Ag) fractions from animal origin to substitute that extracted from HC of patients in diagnosis of hydatidosis using enzyme-linked immunoelectro-transfer blot and Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Eight fractions in HC-G6 from patients react specifically versus HC-G6 infected patient's sera. Five of them (28, 32, 38, 59 and 89 Kilo Dalton (KDa) and two of them (28 KDa and 45 KDa) reacted versus HC-G1 and HC-G4 infected sheep and equine sera, respectively. Six fractions in HCPsS-Ag-G1 of sheep react versus HC-G1 sheep infected sera, four (28, 32, 52 and 58 KDa) and two of them reacted versus HC-G6 and HC-G4 infected patient and equine sera, respectively. Two fractions only in HCPsS-Ag-G4 of equine reacted versus infected human and sheep sera. This fraction displayed the same degree of ELISA value versus different infected sera with a significantly perfect classification for kappa agreement and non-statistically significant difference (p ≥ 0.05) for ELISA Optical density values of the positive samples without cross-reaction versus other parasites antibodies in sera. HCPsS-Ag from HC genotypes that developed in humans and animals as HC-G6 and HC-G1 can substitute each other for diagnosis of infection than antigens extracted from non-zoonotic HC-G4. The fraction at 28 KDa is the only fraction that can be extracted from any animals HC and used in diagnosis of zoonotic hydatidosis.

Do normal Egyptians possess anti-desmoglein 3 antibodies?

BACKGROUND: Pemphigus is a group of autoimmune blistering diseases targeting the cell-cell adhesion molecules, desmogleins (Dsgs). Anti-Dsg antibodies, the hallmark of the disease, were not detected in normal individuals in many populations. In spite of the rarity of pemphigus vulgaris (PV) disease in many parts of the world, PV is not rare in Egypt. The purpose of the present study is to investigate the presence of anti-Dsg3 antibodies in normal Egyptians aiming to determine the reason for the increase in number of patients in Egypt with pemphigus. METHODS: Anti-Dsg3 antibodies were evaluated in 200 normal human sera, 20 first-degree relatives with PV in comparison with 10 patients with PV as controls using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique. RESULTS: Fourteen of 200 (7%) normal individuals and two of 20 (10%) first-degree relatives with PV had anti-Dsg3 antibodies using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique, and 11 of 16 were still positive after confirmation by indirect immunofluorescence. The sera were positive for IgG1, IgG3, and IgG4 subclasses. The presence of IgG4 subclass in normal individuals is suggestive that they may be in the preclinical stage and therefore are at higher risk to develop the PV disease. CONCLUSION: The study proved the presence of anti-Dsg3 antibodies in normal Egyptians with significant relation to some environmental factors. Follow-up of those individuals is necessary to determine who will develop the disease and the triggering factors.

Molluscicidal and Mosquitocidal Activities of the Essential oils of Thymus capitatus Hoff. et Link. and Marrubium vulgare L. / Atividades moluscicida e mosquitocida de óleos essenciais de Thymus capitatus Hoff. et Link. e de Marrubium vulgare L

Steam distillation of essential oils of aerial parts of Thymus capitatus and Marrubium vulgare L. collected at North cost of Egypt yielded 0.5% and 0.2%, respectively. Results of Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analyses of the two samples identified 96.27% and 90.19% of the total oil composition for T. capitatus and M. vulgare, respectively. The two oil samples appeared dominated by the oxygenated constituents (88.22% for T. capitatus and 57.50% for M. vulgare), composed of phenols, mainly carvacrol (32.98%) and thymol (32.82%) in essential oil of T. capitatus, and thymol (34.55%) in essential oil of M. vulgare. It was evaluated the molluscicidal activity of T. capitatus and M. vulgare essential oils on adult and eggs of Biomphalaria alexandrina as well as their mosquitocidal activity on Culex pipiens. The LC50 and LC90 of T. capitatus essential oil against adult snails was 200 and 400 ppm/3hrs, respectively, while for M. vulgare it was 50 and 100 ppm/3hrs, respectively. Moreover, M. vulgare showed LC100 ovicidal activity at 200 ppm/24 hrs while T. capitatus oil showed no ovicidal activity. It was verified mosquitocidal activity, with LC50 and LC90 of 100 and 200 ppm/12hrs respectively for larvae, and 200 and 400 ppm/12hrs respectively for pupae of C. pipiens.

A destilação por arraste a vapor dos óleos essenciais de partes aéreas de Thymus capitatus Hoff. et Link. e de Marrubium vulgare L. coletadas na costa norte do Egito resultaram em rendimento de 0,5% e 0,2%, respectivamente. Resultados de análises por cromatografia gasosa acoplada à espectrometria de massas de ambas as amostras possibilitaram a identificação de 96,27% e 90,19% dos constituintes químicos respectivamente de T. capitatus e M. vulgare. Verificou-se predomínio de constituintes oxigenados (88,22% para T. capitatus e 57,50% para M. vulgare, principalmente fenóis, como carvacrol (32,98%) e timol (32,82%) no óleo essencial de T. capitatus, e timol (34,55%) no óleo essencial de M. vulgare. Avaliou-se a atividade dos óleos essenciais obtidos contra adultos e ovos de Biomphalaria alexandrina, bem como em larvas e pupas de Culex pipiens. A CL50 e CL90 do óleo essencial de T. capitatus em moluscos adultos foi respectivamente 200 e 400 ppm/3hrs, enquanto para o óles essencial de M. vulgare verificou-se CL50 e CL90 de 50 e 100 ppm/3hrs, respectivamente. Além disso, M. vulgare apresentou atividade ovicida, com CL 100 de 200 ppm/24 horas, enquanto o óleo essencial de T. capitatus não demonstrou atividade ovicida. Verificou-se ainda atividade mosquitocida, com CL50 e CL90 de 100 e 200 ppm/12hrs respectivamente para larvas, e 200 e 400 ppm/12hrs contra pupas de C. pipiens.

Molluscicidal and Mosquitocidal activities of the essential oils of Thymus capitatus Hoff. et Link. and Marrubium vulgare L.

Steam distillation of essential oils of aerial parts of Thymus capitatus and Marrubium vulgare L. collected at North cost of Egypt yielded 0.5% and 0.2%, respectively. Results of Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analyses of the two samples identified 96.27% and 90.19% of the total oil composition for T. capitatus and M. vulgare, respectively. The two oil samples appeared dominated by the oxygenated constituents (88.22% for T. capitatus and 57.50% for M. vulgare), composed of phenols, mainly carvacrol (32.98%) and thymol (32.82%) in essential oil of T. capitatus, and thymol (34.55%) in essential oil of M. vulgare. It was evaluated the molluscicidal activity of T. capitatus and M. vulgare essential oils on adult and eggs of Biomphalaria alexandrina as well as their mosquitocidal activity on Culex pipiens. The LC50 and LC90 of T. capitatus essential oil against adult snails was 200 and 400 ppm/3hrs, respectively, while for M. vulgare it was 50 and 100 ppm/3hrs, respectively. Moreover, M. vulgare showed LC100 ovicidal activity at 200 ppm/24 hrs while T. capitatus oil showed no ovicidal activity. It was verified mosquitocidal activity, with LC50 and LC90 of 100 and 200 ppm/12hrs respectively for larvae, and 200 and 400 ppm/12hrs respectively for pupae of C. pipiens.

Detection of protozoal parasites in the stools of diarrhoeic patients using different techniques.

A total of 300 children were selected. A total of 180 apparently healthy children were selected. Each child was given a numerical number and subjected to a medical questionnaire. The rate of infection by the enteric protozoa detected by the four techniques revealed that G. lamblia reached 11.0% by concentration-sedimentation method, 10.3% by Sheather's concentration method and 7.0% (cysts) and 1.7% (vegetative) by direct wet smear. E. histolytica was 3.3% & 3.7% by the two concentration methods respectively. By direct wet smear 2.3% (cysts) and 0.7% (vegetative) were detected. E. coli was 7.3% & 7.0% by the two concentration methods respectively. By the direct wet smear 5.0% (cyst) and 0.3% (vegetative) were detected. Modified Zeihl-Nelsen stain demonstrated 9 cases of C. parvum (3.0%). Mallory and Iron haematoxylin gave the good characterristic colour for G. lamblia, E. histolytica, and E. coli followed by Trichrome. It was worthy to mention that direct smear method detected the low infections' percentage of all the intestinal target parasites in comparison with the four staining techniques.