Epidemiological exploration of fleas and molecular identification of flea-borne viruses in Egyptian small ruminants.

The study aimed to investigate molecularly the presence of flea-borne viruses in infested small ruminants with fleas. It was carried out in Egypt's Northern West Coast (NWC) and South Sinai Governorate (SSG). Three specific primers were used targeting genes, ORF103 (for Capripoxvirus and Lumpy skin disease virus), NS3 (for Bluetongue virus), and Rdrp (for Coronavirus), followed by gene sequencing and phylogenetic analyses. The results revealed that 78.94% of sheep and 65.63% of goats were infested in the NWC area, whereas 49.76% of sheep and 77.8% of goats were infested in the SSG region. Sheep were preferable hosts for flea infestations (58.9%) to goats (41.1%) in the two studied areas. Sex and age of the animals had no effects on the infestation rate (p > 0.05). The season and site of infestation on animals were significantly different between the two areas (p < 0.05). Ctenocephalides felis predominated in NWC and Ctenocephalides canis in SSG, and males of both flea species were more prevalent than females. Molecular analysis of flea DNA revealed the presence of Capripoxvirus in all tested samples, while other viral infections were absent. Gene sequencing identified three isolates as sheeppox viruses, and one as goatpox virus. The findings suggest that Capripoxvirus is adapted to fleas and may be transmitted to animals through infestation. This underscores the need for ongoing surveillance of other pathogens in different regions of Egypt.

Case-controlled study on indirect hyperbilirubinemia in exclusively breast fed neonates and mutations of the bilirubin Uridine Diphosphate-Glucuronyl transferase gene 1A1.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to investigate the association of neonatal indirect hyperbilirubinemia in exclusively breast-fed infants with UGT1A1 (Uridine Diphosphate-Glucuronyl transferase 1A1) polymorphism. METHODS: 50 neonates were classified into 2 groups: 1) 30 full term neonates with indirect hyperbilirubinemia (gestational age (GA) 39.5 ± 1.2 weeks); 2) 20 apparently healthy full-term neonates. Group 1 was further subdivided based on percentage of body weight lost: (A) less than 10%; (B) 10% or more. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant decrease in weight at sample collection and significant increase in indirect bilirubin level in patients group compared to control group, there was statistically significant difference as regard to genotype frequency [G/G, G/A, A/A], and allele frequency (A,G) between patients and control group. There was statistically significant increase in indirect bilirubin level in G/A - A/A genotypes. By comparing subgroup (A) and subgroup (B), there was statistically significant increase in total bilirubin level in subgroup (B). There was statistically high significant difference regarding genotype frequency (G/G, G/A, A/A) and allele frequency (G, A) between subgroup A and B. Multiple stepwise regression analysis was done using hyperbilirubinemia as a dependent factor and body weight loss, genotype (G/A) and allele (A) as independent factors. Body weight loss, genotype (G/A) and allele (A) was found to be significant independent predictors for hyperbilirubinemia. CONCLUSION: The results of the present study revealed that UGT1A1 polymorphism can be used as a novel predictor for neonatal hyperbilirubinemia in breast fed full term neonates.