Mirazid alone or combined with Paromomycin in treating cryptosporidiosis parvum in immunocompetent hospitalized patients.

Sixty cryptosporidiosis patients from Mansoura University Hospitals, 36 males and 24 females, with age from few months to ten years (mean age 6.1) were divided into three cross-matched groups of 20 patients each. All patients received the glutamine-based oral rehydration solution with 111 mmol/l glutamine, 20 mg zinc acetate once a day and vitamin A supplementation (200,000 IU) once a day for 2 weeks. For cryptosporidiosis treatment, G1 received Mirazid (10 mg/kg for 2 weeks), G2 received Paromomycin (500 mg qid for 2 weeks), and G3 received a combination of Mirazid (10 mg/kg) and Paromomycin (500 mg) for two weeks. The result was assessed according to the scales: 0 = no improvement, 1 = symptoms began improvement (reduction of diarrhea frequency and stool volume, less abdominal pain, less nausea & vomiting), 2 = diarrhea eradication, 3 = weight gain, 4 = oocyst counts reduction, 5 = reduction in diarrhea and oocyst counts, 6 = eradication of diarrhea and oocysts. G3 showed significantly higher difference than G1 & G2 in the 1st week (p = .036, 0.025 respectively), no significant difference in 2nd week, a significantly higher difference than in G1 (0.003), & G2 (0.006) in 3rd week, and a significantly higher difference than G1 (0.014), & G2 (0.01) in 4th week, but without significant differences in oocyst shedding in the 3 groups.

Helminthes of synanthropic rodents (Rodentia: Muridae) from Dakahlia and Menoufia, Egypt.

A cross-sectional survey was conducted to monitor and compare the prevalence of helminthes in rodents from Dakahlia and Menoufia governorates. The domestic rodents (271) were Rattus norvegicus, Rattus rattus frugivorous, Rattus r. alexandrinus, & Mus musculus. The overall prevalence of helminthes was 52.8%. In Dakahlia, 72/145 rats (49.6%) were infected. The highest prevalence of infection was in R. r. frugivorous 43 (60.4%), then R. r. alexandrinus 44 (47.7%), R. norvegicus 38 (44.7%), and the lowest was M. musculus 20 (40%). In Menoufia, 71/126 rats (56.3%) were infected. The highest prevalence of infection was in R. r. frugivorous 36 (77.7%), then M. musculus 27 (48.1%), R. norvegicus 23 (47.8%), and the lowest was in R. r. alexandrinus 40 (47.5%). A total of 24 species of helminthes (11 trematodes, 4 cestodes & 10 nematodes) were identified among the 271 rodents. The commonest trematode was Mesostephanus aegypticus followed by Stictodora tridactyla. The commonest cestode was Hymenolepis diminuta followed by Taenia taeniaformis. The commonest nematode was Capillaria hepatica followed by Trichurus muris. Given the zoonotic potential of rodents' parasites and since several residential, commercial, and agricultural sites exist in the examined geographic areas, the potential health risk should not be ignored.

Zoonotic hydatidosis in donkeys: post mortum examination in the Zoo, Giza, Egypt.

A total of 17 out of 160 donkeys slaughtered had hepatic hydatidosis as proved macroscopically and microscopically. The epidemiology of zoonotic echinococcosis/hydatidosis was reviewed and discussed.

The potential reservoir role of donkeys and horses in zoonotic fascioliasis in Gharbia Governorate, Egypt.

No doubt, fascioliasis tops all the zoonotic helminthes worldwide. In Egypt, human fascioliasis is increasing. The incidence and prevalence of fascioliasis in the Egyptian farm animals are well documented. However, none in Egypt has focused on the potential role of other domestic farm animals. A preliminary coprologic examination of donkeys and horses was done in eight centers of Gharbia governorate. The overall rate of infection in donkeys was 3.03%, in horses was 1.5%, and in mules 0.0%. Horses 2/74 (2.70%) and 1/26 (3.86%) were infected in Zefta and El Mahala El Kobra centers respectively. None of the horses was infected in other six centers. On the other hand, donkeys showed infection rates of 4.6%, 7.6% and 9.09% in the centers of Santa, Zefta and El Mahala El Kobra respectively. So, fascioliasis infected donkeys and horses were in Zefta and El Mahala El Kobra respectively. The latter center was the relatively highly infected one, followed by Zefta and lastly Santa (donkeys only). According to the population density of donkeys and horses in Gharbia governorate, donkeys represent the 41h rank in number. So, donkeys and to a very less extend, horses should be considered within the preventive and control measures of zoonotic fascioliasis.