Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica isolated from Egyptian dairy cattle herds: The prevalence and molecular characteristics.

Background: The pathogens Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica that caused substantial health problems and financial losses were believed to have originated primarily from Egypt's dairy farms. Aim: The purpose of this study was to ascertain the occurrence of E. coli and S. enterica in three large dairy farms located in the Egyptian governorate of Sharkia. Furthermore, biochemical and serological characteristics of the isolated isolates were described. Further analysis revealed that several E. coli serovars had the genes stx1, stx2, eaeA, and hylA, while invA, stn, and hilA genes were found in several S. enterica serotypes using a multi-plex PCR. Methods: A total of 540 samples of fresh raw cow milk, water, feedstuffs, feces, (108 each), as well as swabs from feeders, milker hands and cattle crushes (36 each ), were gathered and analyzed. Results: The recovery of E. coli from various sampling sources was shown to have an overall prevalence of 62.2% (336/540) in the results. Fecal samples had isolated S. enterica, with a frequency of 0.74% (4/540). The existence of various groups of serovars, such as O26, O44, O55, O78 and O111 for E. coli and Salmonella enteritidis, Salmonella typhimurium and Salmonella inganda for S. enterica was revealed by serological identification of the two species. However, it was discovered that a number of E. coli serovars had much higher percentages of the eaeA and hylA genes as well as shiga-toxin types 1 and 2 (stx1 and stx2). The presence of the invA gene, a diagnostic marker for S. enterica was 100% across all serovars. Salmonella enteritidis possessed both the enterotoxin gene (stn) and the hyper-invasive locus gene (hilA). Salmonella typhimurium had the hilA gene, whereas S. inganda had the stn gene. Conclusion: Escherichia coli and S. enterica recovered in this study have significant genetic risk factors for high pathogenicity and virulence, posing a real threat to dairy population productivity and health, which could spread to the general public through milk.

Potential airborne microbial hazards for workers on dairy and beef cattle farms in Egypt.

This study was conducted to determine the concentration and frequency distribution of certain airborne micro-organisms on cattle farms and their potential health hazards to farm workers. The samples (60 air samples and 240 hand and nasal swabs from cattle farm workers) were collected from ten cattle farms (five dairy barns and five beef sheds) located in the Sharkia Governorate of Egypt. Air samples were collected for microbiological examination in liquid media using an all-glass impinger whereas those for fungal examination were placed on agar plates using slit air samplers (aeroscopes). The results showed that the overall means of total culturable bacterial and fungal counts were lower in the air of dairy cattle barns than in beef cattle sheds. Identification of the isolated bacteria revealed the recovery of the following species (from dairy cattle barns versus beef cattle sheds): Staphylococcus epidermidis (26.7% vs 36.7%), S. saprophyticus (20% vs 33.3%), S. aureus (10% vs 16.7%), Enterococcus faecalis (23.3% vs 26.7%), Enterobacter agglomerans (23.3 vs 13.3%), Escherichia coli, (16.7% vs 26.7%), Klebsiella oxytoca, (10% vs 16.7%), K. pneumoniae (3.3% vs 0%), Proteus rettegri (6.7% vs 13.3%), P. mirabilis (10% vs 10%), P. vulgaris (3.3% vs 6.7%), Pseudomonas species (6.7% vs 16.7%), respectively). Mycological examination of air samples revealed the presence of Aspergillus fumigatus (46.7% vs 63.3%), A. niger (20% vs 36.7%), A. flavus (13.3% vs 26.7%), Penicillium citrinum (16.7% vs 23.3%), P. viridicatum (13.3% vs 6.7%), P. capsulatum (3.3% vs 0%), Cladosporium spp. (30% vs 56.7%), Alternaria spp. (13.3 vs 23.3%), Mucor spp. (6.7% vs 16.7%), Fusarium spp. (3.3% vs 10%), Absidia spp. (6.7% vs 10%), Curvilaria spp. (10% vs 3.3%), Rhizopus spp. (6.7% vs 13.3%), Scopulariopsis (3.3% vs 6.7%), Epicoccum spp. (0% vs 3.4%) and yeast (13.3% vs 20%), respectively. In addition, microbiological examinations of farm workers revealed heavy contamination of their hands and noses with most of the micro-organisms detected in the air of cattle farms. The results showed that potential airborne microbial risks in beef cattle sheds were greater than in dairies.

Neurobehavioural effects among workers occupationally exposed to organophosphorous pesticides.

AIMS: To identify neurobehavioural deficits among workers exposed to organophosphorous (OP) pesticides in their occupation. METHODS: This study was conducted during the period when pesticides were applied to cotton crops in the fields in Menoufiya Governorate, Egypt. Fifty two occupationally exposed male workers were compared to 50 unexposed male controls who were similar in age, socioeconomic class, and years of education (> or =12 years). All participants completed a questionnaire (assessing personal, occupational, and medical histories), general and neurological clinical examination, neurobehavioural test battery (including tests for verbal abstraction, problem solving, attention, memory, and visuomotor speed), personality assessment, and serological analysis for serum acetylcholinesterase. RESULTS: After correcting for confounders of age and education, the exposed participants exhibited significantly lower performance than controls on six neurobehavioural tests (Similarities, Digit Symbol, Trailmaking part A and B, Letter Cancellation, Digit Span, and Benton Visual Retention). A longer duration of work with pesticides was associated with lower performance on most neurobehavioural tests after adjusting for multiple comparisons. Although serum acetylcholinesterase was significantly lower in the exposed than the control participants, it was not significantly correlated with either neurobehavioural performance or neurological abnormalities. CONCLUSIONS: Occupational exposure to OP pesticides was associated with deficits in a wider array of neurobehavioural functions than previously reported, perhaps because of higher exposure in this population. Moderate chronic OP exposure may not only affect visuomotor speed as reported previously, but also verbal abstraction, attention, and memory.

The epidemiology of schistosomiasis in Egypt: Gharbia Governorate.

Health questionnaires and parasitologic examinations of urine and stool were performed upon a stratified random sample of 14,344 individuals from 1,952 households in 34 rural communities in Gharbia Governorate of Egypt to investigate the prevalence of, risk factors for, and changing pattern of infection with Schistosoma sp. A subset, every fifth household, of 1,973 subjects had physical and ultrasound examinations to investigate prevalence of and risk factors for morbidity. Community prevalence of Schistosoma mansoni ranged from 17.9% to 79.5% and averaged 37.7%. The geometric mean egg count (GMEC) was 78.9 eggs/gram of feces. The prevalence and intensity of infection was 40-50% and 70-100 eggs/gram of feces in those > or =10 years of age. Schistosoma haematobium was detected in 5 of the 34 communities. The maximum infection rate was 2.8% and mean GMEC in the five communities was 2.1/10 ml of urine. The overall prevalence of S. haematobium in the governorate was 0.3%. Risk factors for infection with S. mansoni were male gender, an age >10 years, living in smaller communities, exposures to canal water, prior therapy for schistosomiasis, or blood in the stool (in children only). Morbidity detected by physical examination or ultrasonography did not correlate with S. mansoni infection in individuals with the exception of periportal fibrosis (PPF, odds ratio [OR] = 1.25). Periportal fibrosis was detected in more than half of the subjects by ultrasonography; 5.3% had grade II lesions and 1.0% had the most severe grade III changes. Risk factors for morbidity as manifested by ultrasonographically detected PPF were similar to those for infection. Periportal fibrosis had a negative relationship with abdominal pain (OR = 0.45) and hepatomegaly detected by physical examination and ultrasonography (ORs = 0.72 and 0.68), but it was associated with splenomegaly (ORs = 4.14 and 3.55). The prevalence of PPF, hepatomegaly, and splenomegaly increased with age. There was no relationship between community burden of schistosomiasis mansoni and any measurements of morbidity with the exception of splenomegaly detected by physical examination (r = 0.40). Schistosoma mansoni has almost completely replaced S. haematobium in Gharbia, which has a high prevalence and moderate intensity of S. mansoni infection. Periportal fibrosis was detected by ultrasonography in more than half of the subjects, and 1 in 16 had grade II and III lesions. The only relationship between PPF and other morbidity findings was its positive relationship with splenomegaly and negative association with hepatomegaly. Hepatic morbidity is common in communities in Gharbia but the role of schistosomiasis mansoni in this is uncertain.

Pesticide monitoring and its health problems in Egypt, a Third World country.

Health profiles for 300 pesticide formulators and 300 pesticide applicators revealed peripheral neuritis (> 40%), psychiatric manifestations (> 40%), electroencephalographic (EEG) changes (> 25%), and hepatorenal dysfunction (> 80%); all these manifestations were confirmed by different diagnostic tools. The frequency of carrier state of hepatitis (HbsAg) was 7.4% and of transitory state was 21.5%. The cytogenetic changes were confirmed by measuring chromosomal aberrations (CAs) among formulators and applicators, and proved to be more than twice those of controls. Pesticides residues among 130 milk, cheese, butter, yoghurt and milk powder samples (DDT, HCH and Dieldrin) were confirmed. Registration schemes, and post-registration programs (monitoring requirements, training needs and control of pesticide and fertilizer imports) should be mandatory.

Psychiatric disorders among Egyptian pesticide applicators and formulators.

Two hundred eight pesticide formulators, 172 pesticide applicators, and 223 control subjects (72 from an urban region matching the pesticide formulators and 151 from a rural area matching the pesticide applicators) underwent psychiatric assessment. The study aimed to screen for psychiatric morbidity using a standardized screening tool, the General Health Questionnaire, and a widely recognized system of diagnosis and classification, the revised third edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Psychiatric Disorders (DSM-III-R). Significantly higher frequencies of psychiatric disorders were found in the exposed groups. The predominant diagnosis was depressive neurosis; the most frequent symptoms were irritability and erectile dysfunction. Theoretical and practical implications of these findings are discussed.

Neuropsychiatric syndromes and occupational exposure to zinc phosphide in Egypt.

Eighty-six workers exposed to zinc phosphide (Zn3P2) pesticide were studied for evidence of neuropsychiatric manifestations. They were evaluated clinically, by electroencephalography (EEG), and, in some cases, by electromyography (EMG). All were males (mean age, 35.8 years; mean duration of exposure to zinc phosphide, 11.3 years). Most presented with one (or more) neuropsychiatric symptom(s), including fear of poisoning, anxiety, impotence, and easy fatigue. About half showed evidence of neuropsychiatric signs, including hyperreflexia, polyneuropathy, lumber radiculopathy, and cervical myelopathy, as well as anxious mood, impaired attention, and psychomotor stimulation. EEG recordings showed abnormal findings in 17.4% of the subjects. The mean age in that group was 39.1 years; mean duration of exposure to Zn3P2 was 15.1 years. EMG studies showed evidence of partial denervation of the anterior tibial group of muscles and flexor digiti minimi in 2 of the 30 workers (6.7%) who underwent EMG examination. Serum levels of zinc (Zn) and cadmium (Ca) were significantly higher in exposed workers than in controls (P < 0.005). Serum copper (Cu), iron (Fe), phosphorus (P), and magnesium (Mg) were significantly lower in exposed workers than in controls. Electrophoretic pattern of globulin showed that gammaglobulin fraction was significantly increased (P < 0.005); alpha2 and beta-globulin were decreased (P < 0.005) in exposed workers. Lipoprotein pattern showed that the total lipids, B-lipoprotein, and B/alpha ratio were significantly increased (P < 0.005) in exposed workers; the alpha1 lipoprotein was decreased. Triglycerides and cholesterol were significantly increased (P < 0.001), and phospholipids and phospholipid/cholesterol ratio were significantly decreased (P < 0.005) in exposed workers compared to controls. The study findings indicated that exposure to Zn3P2 not only caused mild acute and subacute liver cell damage, but also affected renal function and perhaps B-cells of the pancreas. A total of 68.6% of the exposed workers had chest symptoms; only 24.4% presented with chest or cardiac signs. Ventilatory functions were abnormal in 70% of the exposed workers; abnormal ECG findings were present in 12.8%.