Molecular identification of coproantigens of Cryptosporidium parvum compared to conventional staining techniques.

To compare the immunologic techniques to the conventional staining methods (mainly modified Ziehl Neelsen = MZN), 93 children (65 immunocompromised and 28 immunocompetent) potentially at risk of Cryptosporidium parvum were studied. Using MZN, a prevalence of 10.7% in diarrhoeic children was found. ELISA coproantigen and detection of 23 KDa band of immunoblotting by serum IgG were sensitive and specific. They gave 85.7% sensitivity, 100% specificity, 100% diagnostic accuracy, 100% positive predictive value and 98.9% negative predicttive value. ELISA detection of serum IgG gave 85.7% sensitivity, 97.7% specificity, 96.8% diagnostic accuracy, 75% positive predictive value and 98.9% negative predictive value. So, 23KDa band determined by ELISA is a valuable sensitive and specific mean of diagnosing cryptosporidiosis as this antigen is a consistent target of humoral immune response.

Detection of genetic variabiltiy in nonhuman isolates of Fasciola hepatica and Fasciola gigantica by the RAPD-PCR technique.

The present study shows the molecular characterization of Fasciola gigantica and F. hepatica isolates collected from cows and sheep, using the random amplified polymorphic DNA fragments-polymerase chain reaction (RAPDs-PCR) technique. Optimal standardization of amplification conditions and thermocyclation were made, using genetic markers. The methodology used compared the genetic pattern between the two species (inter-species) and inside each species (intra-species) between cow and sheep and the amplification fragments were between 135 and 741 base pairs of marker. The results showed genetic variations (polymorphisms) of Fasciola gigantica and F. hepa-tica with amplification fragment based on a 500-400 base pair (bp). Inside each species, there were genetic variations in bovine and ovine and the amplification fragments were between 600 and 400 base pairs (bp). This assay is useful for both individual diagnosis and epidemiological surveys in endemic regions.

Egyptian genotyping of Giardia lamblia.

Out of 105 patients infected with Giardia, 38 patients have Genotype I (36.19%), 13 have Genotype II (12.38%), 10 have Genotype III (9.52%), 16 have mixed Genotype infection (15.24%) and 28 with undetermined Giardia infection by PCR (26.67%). None of the control group gave positive results for Giardia in stool by PCR. So, the sensitivity of the test for detection and identification of Giardia Genotypes from the original stool samples was 73.33% and specificity was 100%. Out of 61 cases in the symptomatic group, the prevalence of Giardia Genotype I was 32.79%, Genotype II was 16.39%, Genotype III was 9.84%, mixed Genotype infection was 16.39% and undetermined Genotype was 24.59% as compared to 40.91%, 6.82%, 9.09%, 13.64% & 29.55% in the asymptomatic group respectively. There is statistically insignificant difference between both groups as regarding the prevalence of the different Giardia Genotypes. (P < or = 0.05). The use of PCR as a routine work for diagnosis of giardiasis is not accepted at least in the developing and under-developing countries due to its high cost, the high quality of technical staff and advanced laboratory equipments required for PCR performance. Its application is usually limited to research activities, the detection of water sources contamination and for the detection of a potential source of Giardia infection in epidemics.

Effect of Ferula assafoetida on experimental murine Schistosoma mansoni infection.

Ferula assafoetida is a hard, resinous, oily herbaceous gum belonging to plant family Umbelliferae. It is used as a traditional medicine in many parts of the world and its wide use in medicine was listed by many authors. In the current study, the effect of F. assafoetida on Schistosoma mansoni in experimentally infected mice is investigated. F. assafoetida was given orally via intragastric tube in an oil-form and a powder-form in different concentrations. Four test groups of 30 mice each were studied. Gs I & II mice were given F. assafoetida in an oil-form in different concentrations at 4 and 6 weeks post infection (PI) respectively. Mice in Gs III & IV were given re-constituted F. assafoetida powder in different concentrations (conc.) at 4 & 6 weeks PI. respectively like the previous groups. Oil-form F. assafoetida was given at conc. of 50, 25 & 15 mg/ml. Powder-form was given at conc. of 32, 16 & 8 mg/ml. A highly significant statistical difference between the test Gs (I, II, III & IV) was recorded in comparison to the infection control G with p value < 0.0001 and also between powder and oil forms of F. assafoetida (p < 0.0001) as regards the mean worm burden and tissue egg count. The highest reduction in worm burden and egg counts was found with powder form of F. assafoetida (Gs III & IV) when compared to oil form (Gs I & II), as confirmed histopathologically and by ultrastructural profile alteration.

The in vitro effect of Assafoetida on Trichomonas vaginalis.

Assafoetida is an oleo-gum resin obtained from the roots and stems of many Ferula species such as F. foetida Regel, F. asafoetida Linn, F. alliacea Boiss. and F. narthex Boiss, family Umbelliferae (carrot family), plants growing indigenously in Iran, Afghanistan and north of India. Assafoetida is commonly used as a flavoring agent in food and as a traditional medicine for many diseases in many parts of the world. In this work, the effect of Assafoetida on growth of Trichomonas vaginalis in vitro was studied and compared to metronidazole as a reference drug. It showed that Assafoetida had a potent antiparasitic effect on T. vaginalis compared to metronidazole, thus, worth further investigation to study its applicability in treatment of parasitic infections.

Dot ELISA for measuring anti-Fasciola IgG isotypes among patients with fascioliasis.

Stool examination using modified Kato thick smear method was performed to detect Fasciola eggs and other parasites. Forty-five patients were proved to have Fasciola infection by passing eggs in their stool samples. Pallor was the major presenting symptom (95.5%) followed by abdominal pain (93.3%) and fever (15.5%). Hepatomegaly was recorded in 86.6% of patients compared to 33.3% with splenomegaly. Abdominal, ultrasonography revealed hepatomegaly in 38 cases (84.4%) and common bile duct dilatation in 35 patients (77.7%). Moreover, 4 cases showed Olympic game rings which are diagnostic. All of patients had positive IgG4 levels, 40 cases were found positives for specific total IgG and 42 cases for IgG1, whereas, only 30 cases had positive IgG2 levels (66.6%). Dot-ELISA showed that IgG2 and IgG4 giving the highest specificity (>99%), followed by IgG1 (90%) and the least specific test was obtained with detection of IgG (85%). From the present work, it was concluded that detection of anti-Fasciola isotypes especially IgG4 is very specific for accurate diagnosis of fascioliasis.

Evaluation of two serological tests in diagnosis of human cases of biliary and ectopic fascioliasis.

In the present study, sera were examined using Fasciola-IHA, F-ELISA and Schistosoma-IHA. The sero-positive schistosomal patients were subjected to rectal snip, while the sero-positive fascioliasis ones were examined radiologically by plain chest X-ray and abdominal ultrasonography. Both F-IHA and F-ELISA gave 100% sensitivity. The specificity of both testes were 90.4% and 100% respectively. With the S-IHA, the parasitologically proven schistosomal mansoni patients gave 95% positivity, while the proven fascioliasis patients gave false positive (8%) with this S-IHA. The radiological findings of the fascioliasis patients confirmed ectopic pleuro-pulmonary infection in five patients. Ascitis was detected in one patient, the pleural effusion and ascitic fluids showed high eosinophils. However, Fasciola eggs were detected in three patients only. Two patients showed hepatic nodules, and another two had hepatic cystic lesions. Three patients had immature Fasciola worms in gall bladder. For diagnosis of human fascioliasis, serological and radiological means should be done side by side with the stool examination. This is particularly true in chronic cases and in schistosomiasis mansoni endemic areas.

A woman and her son with abnormal complicated anthrponotic cutaneous leishmaniasis.

Anthroponotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ACL.) is known to cause single, self-healing and uncomplicated lesion mainly on the face. This paper presents a son and his mother with positive leishmaniasis IHAT (1/128 and 1/1924 respectively). The two isolates by enzymatic electrophoresis characterization proved to be Leishmania tropica that causes ACL. The son had two large ulcerative ACL on his left hand. The mother had a large ulceration and progressive erosion of the soft tissue (the right cheek and right eye) and the cartilage of the nose disfiguring and debilitating her face. The histpathological examination of the biopsy material obtained from the mother but not the material from her son, showed typical pathological picture of the basal cell carcinoma. No doubt, there are progressive changes in the pathogenesis of L. tropica and that it is one of the predisposing factor of the skin cell carcinoma.