ABSTRACT
Currently enzootic avian influenza H5N1, H9N2, and H5N8 viruses were introduced into poultry in Egypt in 2006, 2011, and 2016, respectively. Infections with H5N1 and H9N2 were reported among poultry-exposed humans. We followed 2,402 persons from households raising backyard poultry from 5 villages in Egypt during August 2015-March 2019. We collected demographic, exposure, and health condition data and annual serum samples from each participant and obtained swab samples from participants reporting influenza-like illness symptoms. We performed serologic and molecular analyses and detected 4 cases of infection with H5N1 and 3 cases with H9N2. We detected very low seroprevalence of H5N1 antibodies and no H5N8 antibodies among the cohort; up to 11% had H9 antibodies. None of the exposure, health status, or demographic variables were related to being seropositive. Our findings indicate that avian influenza remains a public health risk in Eqypt, but infections may go undetected because of their mild or asymptomatic nature.
Subject(s)
Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype , Influenza A Virus, H9N2 Subtype , Influenza in Birds , Influenza, Human , Animals , Egypt/epidemiology , Humans , Incidence , Influenza in Birds/epidemiology , Influenza, Human/epidemiology , Poultry , Seroepidemiologic StudiesABSTRACT
This study assessed levels of growth hormone, albumin and ferritin in human fascioliasis and schistosomiasis. Forty three patients and ten healthy parasite free subjects were included as controls. All were subjected to clinical, parasitological, and haematological examinations. Serum growth hormone (GH) levels were measured by an immunoenzymometric assay. Statistical analysis revealed significant elevation in GH levels in acute and chronic fascioliasis patients compared to controls. Serum albumin was significantly low in schistosomiasis patients compared to controls. Non-significant changes in serum ferritin were in all patients. The results were critically discussed on the light of the work done before.
Subject(s)
Fascioliasis/blood , Ferritins/blood , Growth Hormone/blood , Schistosomiasis/blood , Serum Albumin/analysis , Adult , Animals , Case-Control Studies , Fascioliasis/epidemiology , Female , Humans , Male , Schistosomiasis/epidemiologyABSTRACT
The study assessed changes in fasting serum gastrin level in early schistosomiasis and chronic fascioliasis in 52 patients. Forty patients had either schistosomiasis or fascioliasis alone. Twelve patients had combined infection with both parasitosis. Also, ten healthy parasite free individuals were selected as a control. All were clinically examined and subjected to stool analysis, liver function tests and sero-diagnosis for H. pylori. Serum gastrin was measured by radioimmunoassay and showed significant elevation in all patients (with schistosomiasis, fascioliasis or both parasites) compared to controls. A significantly higher serum gastrin level was detected among patients with combined infection relative to either with schistosomiasis or fascioliasis. Alkaline phosphatase activity increased significantly in all patients as compared to control. The activity of the enzyme had significant positive correlation with egg counts in patients with either parasite and with serum gastrin level in those with combined infection. The results were discussed.
