Metagenomic analysis of the ocular toxoplasmosis in children uveitis from Fayoum governorate, Egypt.

Granulomatous anterior uveitis with single or numerous gelatinous nodules was found in children living in rural Egypt. All ocular diseases were originally thought to be water-born and related to digenic flukes. The current study sought to learn more about the causes of anterior granulomatous uveitis in Egyptian youngsters who used to swim in rural water canals. 50 children with eye lesions that had not responded to medical treatment were recruited. Four samples were surgically extracted and examined using real-time PCR, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and shotgun metagenomic sequencing (SMS). Toxoplasma gondii was detected free within the syncytium's distal section, while the proximal part exhibited active synthesis of a presumably extra-polymeric material, possibly released by the microbial population. Toxoplasma gondii was found in 30 samples. Serologically, distinct anti-Toxoplasma antibodies were not found in 91.6% of patients. SMS showed that the T. gondii ME 49 strain had the greatest percentage (29-25%) in all samples within an Acinetobacter-containing microbial community. These findings suggested that these bacteria entered the body via the exterior route rather than the circulatory route. The lack of genetic evidence for subsequent parasite stages invalidates the prior findings about the assumed trematode stage.

Potential therapeutic effect of platelet-rich plasma and albendazole on the muscular phase of experimental Trichinella spiralis infection.

Trichinellosis is a food-borne parasitic infection causing muscle damage. This study aimed to detect the potential therapeutic effect of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) alone or in combination with albendazole (ALB) on the muscular phase of experimental Trichinella infection in rats. The study was conducted on 70 rats divided into four main groups: healthy non-infected non-treated rats, non-infected rats treated with PRP, infected untreated rats (seven rats in each group), and an infected group of 49 rats. The infected group was further subdivided based on the drug therapy received. The effects of drug therapy were evaluated using parasitological and histopathological analyses. The percent reduction in the number of Trichinella spiralis larvae per gram of muscle in the PRP-treated groups (one, two, and three doses) was 43.1%, 78.8%, and 86.1%, respectively. Groups treated with combined therapy of ALB & PRP (one, two, and three doses) showed overall reduction percentages of 87.7%, 90.9% and 95.2%, respectively. In contrast, the ALB-treated group showed a 69.4% reduction. All results of the abovementioned groups were statistically significant compared to the control-infected non-treated group. The findings of the histopathological analysis were consistent with the parasitological results. Groups receiving combined therapy showed the most significant improvement in terms of the degree of inflammation and fibrosis. It can be concluded that PRP has a modulatory effect on the pathology caused by T. spiralis larvae in the muscular phase of trichinellosis. To our knowledge, this is the first study to investigate the effect of PRP on the muscular phase of T. spiralis infection.

Usefulness of Sunlight and Artificial UV Radiation Versus Chlorine for the Inactivation of Cryptosporidium Oocysts: An in Vivo Animal Study.

BACKGROUND: Cryptosporidium is an important waterborne protozoan. AIM: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of sunlight being the natural source of UV and artificial UV irradiation on Cryptosporidium oocysts versus the effect of chlorination, being the traditional method of water disinfection and to provide an insight into the viability and degree of infectivity of Cryptosporidium oocysts, using an animal model. METHODS: An experimental study including 300 neonatal mice was carried out to investigate the effect of artificial ultraviolet (UV) irradiation and sunlight being the natural source of UV irradiation versus chlorine, the traditionally used water disinfectant on the infectivity of Cryptosporidium oocysts present in water. For each item, nine different exposure times were investigated. Parasitological assessment (Modified Ziehl Neelsen stained stool smears) and histopathological assessment of the excised segments of the small intestine (stained by both Haematoxylin & Eosin and ZN stain) of mice were used to verify the inactivation of oocysts. RESULTS: Cryptosporidium oocysts failed to induce any noticeable infection after 4 hours of artificial UV exposure that provided a UV dose of 10mJ/cm2 and after an 8 hours exposure to sunlight, whereas they showed resistance to disinfection by chlorine. CONCLUSION: The results of the study demonstrate the important role of an 8 hours sunlight exposure of potable water in plastic bottles in achieving complete inactivation of any contaminating Cryptosporidium oocysts, thus offering an applicable, economical and convenient method for the control of cryptosporidiosis especially in developing countries.

Isothermal PCR for Feasible Molecular Diagnosis of Primary Toxoplasmosis in Women Recently Experienced Spontaneous Abortion.

AIM: The current study aimed to assess the practicability of a simple loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) about real-time quantitative PCR to diagnose primary toxoplasmosis among high-risk pregnant women. METHODS: Cloned Toxoplasma samples were used to calculate the analytical sensitivity while specificity was assessed using pooled DNA samples extracted from other parasitic stages. RESULTS: Both techniques showed 100% sensitivity and specificity and then applied to detect recent Toxoplasma infection in peripheral blood of 77 IgG negative women out of a total 139 women lately experienced spontaneous abortion. The 2 techniques obtained positive results in 8 samples confirming primary toxoplasmosis. CONCLUSION: Generally, LAMP assay is a simple, cost-effective molecular technique can be completed in less than half an hour to diagnose primary Toxoplasma infection. The technique can be applied in a minimally equipped laboratory by ordinary workers to screen the vulnerable groups. Further analysis using larger samples with the quantitative approach is recommended to confirm the sensitivity of this emergent molecular technique.