Effects of the putative probiotics Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus pumilus, and Bacillus subtilis on white leg shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei, immune response, gut histology, water quality, and growth performance.

Background: A commercially significant species in the aquaculture sector globally, particularly in Egypt, is Litopenaeus vannamei. Aim: The experiment's objective was to ascertain how Sanolife PRO-F impacted the growth, water quality, immunological response, and intestinal morphometry of L. vannamei. Methods: In the current investigation, which lasted 12 weeks, Sanolife PRO-F was administered to shrimp post-larvae at diet doses of 0 (control), 1 (group one), 2 (group two), and 3 (group three) g/kg diet, respectively. Each experimental group had three repetitions. Results: In the current study, shrimp fed on probiotic-treated diets showed a considerable improvement in growth performance measures and survival rate, and the nonspecific immune response was also enhanced. Shrimp fed probiotic diets had longer and more intestinal villi overall. Shrimp fed on the G2 and G3 diets showed no appreciable differences in growth or intestinal morphology. With the G2 and G3 diet, the water had lower concentrations of nitrite and ammonia. Conclusion: The study's findings indicate that Sanolife PRO-F treatment at 2-3 g/kg feed promotes the growth of shrimp, immunological response, gut health and function, and water quality.

Evaluation of "Myrrh extract" against Schistosoma mansoni: a histological study.

This study investigated the effect of myrrh extract on different developmental stages of Schistosoma mansoni. Sixty albino mice were used and divided into three main groups: GI (control group), GII (infected group) and GIII (infected-treated group). The last group was further divided into 3 subgroups where the drug was administered in a dose of 500 mg/kg body weight for 5 days starting on the 1st day PI for IIIA, on the 21st day PI for IIIB and on the 45th day PI for IIIC. A morphometric study was performed for the mean number and perimeter of granulomas. In GII, typical bilharzial granulomas were frequently encountered in the portal tracts with numerous eosinophils, collagen fiber deposition and reticular fiber condensation. Hepatocytes revealed vacuolation, nuclear affection and depletion of glycogen. In GIII, granulomas were less frequently observed with apparent decrease of eosinophils. The maximum effect of the drug was observed in SGs IIIB and IIIC as detected by significant decrease in the mean number and size of granulomas, paucity of eosinophils, decreased fibrosis and reticular fibers and the restoration of the glycogen content in the hepatocytes. The present data proved that myrrh has a valuable schistosomicidal effect against different stages of S. mansoni. This chemotherapeutic effect was more evident when the drug was given to infected mice on the 21st as well as on the 45th day PI.

Efficacy of volatile oils (curzerene, furanoeudesma-1, 3-diene and lindestrene) on avian coccidiosis under laboratory conditions.

The coccidicidal efficacy of volatile oils (curzerene, furanoeudesma-1, 3-diene and lindestrene) against unsporulated and sporulated chicken Eimeria species oocysts was tested in three concentrations: 1, 2 & 3 microg/ml. Marked reduction in the number of living oocysts was recorded in exposed groups. The concentration of 3 microg/ml volatile oils induced the highest destructive effect. 58.1% of viable unsporulated oocysts were destroyed. A mean number of 153,800 oocysts was the difference between the total number of the produced oocysts per gram faeces in the group infected with exposed oocysts and that of the group infected with non exposed oocysts being less in the exposed group with more reduction in the vitality of shedding oocysts in the former group. At the meantime, the postmortem and histopathological microscopical examination of the intestine and caecum of the tested group revealed a reduction in the intestinal lesions in the group infected with the exposed oocysts.

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.

Mirazid in treatment of human hymenolepiasis.

The efficacy and safety of Mirazid in treatment of human hymenolepiosis were carried out in a rural village in Talkha Center (Dakahlia G.). Kato thick smear stool examination showed 51 cases of Hymenolepis nana (9 of them had concomitant parasitosis), two cases of H. dimninuta. Mirazid was given in a dose of 10 mg/kg/d for nine consecutive days an hour before breakfast for hymenolepiosis cases, as capsule for adults and suppository for children. All cases were subjected to history taking before treatment and six weeks post-treatment and stool examination was repeated as well weekly for six weeks post-treatment. There was overt clinical improvement. Side effects were negligible. Parasitologic cure rate was 40/41 or 95.2% for H. nana one week post-treatment, and 100% for H. diminuta one week post-treatment, up to six weeks follow-up for all treated patients. Two unresponded H. nana patients were cured by another Mirazid course.

New trends in diagnosis and treatment of chronic intestinal strongyloidiasis stercoralis in Egyptian patients.

Strongyloidiasis, caused by Strongyloides stercoralis, is diagnosis considered as a challenge to clinician and laboratory technician. Because the auto-infective larvae are difficult to eradicate, one regimen dose may be in-sufficient and re-treatment of patients on two occasions, at 1 and 2 months after the initial treatment dose was recommended. This re-treatment regimen has yet to be proven in clinical trials. This study was performed on 24 patients who completed the study and having Strongyloides larvae in their stool obtained from Mansoura University Hospitals. Each stool sample was examined by direct saline smear, the formalin-ether sedimentation technique and agar plate culture. Patients were treated with Mirazid double course for a month to be followed up by stool examination by traditional method and agar plate culture for three consecutive months. In this study five cases out of 24 were asymptomatic (20.8%). Symptoms include abdominal manifestations as nausea and vomiting (16.7%), epi-gastric pain and nausea (12.5%), generalized abdominal pain (12.5%), chronic diarrhea (16.7%), irregular bowel habit (8.3%), and urticaria with abdominal pain (4.2%). Agar plate culture gave 100% positivity, even in cases were negative by coprological methods either direct smear and/or sedimenttation technique. All cases were cured by Mirazid given for one month except three resistant cases. Only one case responded to repeated course of Mirazid, while the other two cases still had larvae in their stool by agar culture plate. On combined therapy of both Mirazid and Mebendazole, larvae could be eliminated from their stool as approved by agar plate culture.

Light microscopic study of the effect of new antischistosmal drug (myrrh extract) on the liver of mice.

The efficacy of purified oleo-resin extract of myrrh derived from Commiphora molmol tree, (known as Mirazid) was studied against an Egyptian strain of Schistosoma mansoni in mice. Seventy adult male mice were used in this study. They were divided into 4 groups: G.I: consisted of control noninfected nontreated mice. G.II: comprised the noninfected treated mice and was subdivided into two subgroups, subgroup II-A: included mice which received Myrrh extract dissolved in cremophore EL and subgroup II-B: included mice which were treated with cremophore EL. G.III: consisted of the infected nontreated animals and G.IV: included infected mice which were treated with myrrh extract. The drug was given 8 weeks post infection in a dose of 500 mg/kg body weight/day for 5 successive days. All animals were sacrificed after 12 weeks from the beginning of the experiment. Liver paraffin sections were prepared and stained with H&E, Masson's Trichrome stain, PAS stain and Wilder's technique. A morphometric study was performed for the mean number and perimeter of the granulomas. Area percentage of the total collagen content around central veins as well as in portal areas was also estimated. The livers of the animals in G.II which received either myrrh extract (subgroup II-A) or cremophore EL (subgroup II-B) showed a more or less normal histological profile when compared to G.I (noninfected-nontreated group). G.IV (Infected treated G.) showed complete preservation of the hepatic architecture. Most of the hepatocytes appeared almost normal. The reticular network in the central part of the granulomas as well as in the portal tracts appeared rarefied. The hepatic reticular network was preserved. A significant decrease in the number and size of granulomas with significant reduction in the collagen content deposition in portal tracts and around central veins was detected when compared to G.III (infected nontreated mice). The data of this study proved the efficacy of myrrh as a promising antischistosomal drug.

Spot light survey on fresh-water snails of medical importance in Al Fayoum Governorate, Egypt.

In a survey carried out during Summer and Autumn of 2004, for snails of medical importance, nine species were recovered. These were Biomphalaria alexandrina, B. glabrata, B. pfeifferi, Bulinus truncatus, B. forskalii, Lymnaea natalensis, Bellamya (=Vivipara) unicolor, Physa acuta and Hydrobia musaensis. Parasitological examination revealed that B. alexandrina, B. glabrata and L. natalensis harboured immature stages of their concerned trematode parasites. Moreover, P. acuta harboured the immature stage of the nematode parasite Parastrongylus cantonensis.

Effect of myrrh extract on the liver of normal and bilharzially infected mice. An ultrastructural study.

In the present work, the efficacy of purified oloe-resin extract of myrrh derived from Commiphora molmol tree (commercially known as Mirazid) as a new, natural antischistosomal drug was investigated. The effect of myrrh on the ultrastructural profile of the non infected normal mice liver was also studied. Sixty male mice were used throughout this work and they were divided into 3 main groups (20 animals each): group I, non infected control animals, group II, infected animals and group III, infected animals treated with myrrh extract 8 weeks post infection (500 mg/kg body weight). The drug was given orally on an empty stomach after overnight fasting for five successive days. All animals were sacrificed after 12 weeks from the beginning of the experiment and small pieces of the liver were excised and prepared for ultrastructural study. The liver of the non infected animals which received myrrh extract (group IA) showed a more or less normal ultrastructural profile. Infected groups showed alterations of the ultrastructure of most of the hepatocytes with extensive intercellular fibrosis with abundant granulomas in the portal tract. In the infected treated group, most of the hepatocytes showed normal organelles with numerous microvilli extending into patent spaces of Disse. Marked reduction of granulomas in the portal areas and amelioration of intercellular fibrosis was also observed. On the basis of the observed results, it was concluded that myrrh extract has a promising antischistosomal non hepatotoxic activity.

Study of some immune aspects in patients with fascioliasis before and after Chommiphora molmol (Mirazid) treatment.

This study was planned to evaluate the in vitro production of IL-1 beta and IL-4 by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and total IgE in patients with fascioliasis before and 3 months after treatment with purified extract of myrrh from Commiphora molmol tree (Mirazid), to determine the role of these variables in immunopathogenesis of the disease in relation to this new drug. The study was carried out in Departments of Tropical Medicine, Al-Azhar University Hospitals in the period from March 2002 to November 2003. A total of 35 patients with chronic fascioliasis with age range from 9-45 years in addition to 10 healthy subjects with matched age and sex serving as controls were studied. Serum IgE and in vitro IL-1 and IL-4 were estimated by enzyme immuno-assay (ELISA) before and 3 months after therapy. Results revealed significant increase in IL-1 beta in patients before treatment than control (p<0.001) but it decreased significantly after therapy (p<0.001) to reach the control level (p=0.16). In contrast, IL-4 was significantly lower than control before therapy (p=0.04) and increased significantly after treatment (p<0.001) to reach normal levels as control (p=0.59). Total IgE was significantly elevated in patients before treatment (p<0.001) and it did decrease significantly with treatment (p<0.001), although it remained significantly higher than the control level. In conclusion, Mirazid is an effective fasciolicidal drug. IL-1 may be involved in disease immunopathogenesis and the depressed IL-4 may be a phenomenon of parasite immune suppression. Complete decline of total IgE is not an early criterion of cure.

Evaluation of schistosomicidal activity of myrrh extract: parasitological and histological study.

Ninety mice were divided into three main groups: G. I (non-infected control), G. II (infected non treated control) and G. III (infected treated), which was further subdivided into 4 subgroups: IIIA, IIIB, IIIC & IIID, where the drug was administered in a dose of 500 mg/kg body weight for five days before infection for subgroup IIIA, on the 1st day post infection (PI) for subgroup IIIB, 21 days PI for subgroup IIIC and 45 days post infection for subgroup IIID. All animals were sacrificed 80 days after the start of the experiment. Anti-schistosomal activity was assessed parasitologically by estimating the percentage reducetion of worm burden, egg count/gm tissues (liver & intestine), and the oogram pattern; histologically & histopathologically by examination of jejunum using different stains. The percentage reduction of worm burden was 30.35%, 64.54%, 76.92% and 98.46% respectively when compared to the infected non-treated control G. The maximum effect of the drug was observed in subgroups IIIC & IIID. Also, there was marked reduction in the egg count in tissues (liver & intestine). In addition the oogram pattern showed that myrrh had high antischistosomal activity. The histologically and histopathologically infected untreated (GII), when compared to non-infected non-treated control G. showed apparent shortening and flattening of the jejunal villi with focal loss of the epithelial covering. Loss of PAS positive brush border of many enterocytes with goblet cells hyperplasia was seen. Bilharzial granulomas were frequently encountered in the submucosa and the musculosa with numerous eosinophils content. In subgroups IIIA & IIIB, there was mild amelioration of the mucosal structural abnormalities. The granulomas were less frequently seen with decrease of their eosinophils. In subgroups IIIC & IIID there was restoration of the jejunal mucosal continuity, marked decrease in the granulomas and paucity of eosinophils. The present data proved that myrrh has a valuable schistosomicidal effect against different maturation stages of S. mansoni. The chemotherapeutic effect was more evident when the drug was given to the infected mice on the 21st as well as on the 45th day PI. The drug proved a promising chemoprophylactic agent when used five days before exposure to infection.

The effects of myrrh (Commiphora molmol) on the infected snails of Schistosoma sp. and their egg masses: effect on shedding of cercariae and on snail fecundity.

Myrrh has molluscicidal effect on infected Bulinus truncatus and Biomphalaria alexandrina snails at low concentrations (10 & 20 ppm respectively) after 24 hours exposure. The number of dead-snails increased with prolongation of exposure time. All Schistosoma free cercariae were killed by 2.5 ppm within 15 minutes. One day-old egg masses were more susceptible to the ovicidal effect of Myrrh than the five-day old ones. Both types of eggs were more resistant to the effect of Myrrh than the adult snails, embryogenesis began to stop at 20 ppm and eggs were all killed at 60 & 80 ppm. Shedding of cercariae of Schistosoma mansoni from infected B. alexandrina stopped at 1 ppm and was suppressed at 0.8 ppm. Snail fecundity decreased at 1 ppm.

In vitro effect of Mirazid on Schistosoma mansoni worms.

Measuring Mirazid ability for contracting the worm muscle and its effect on the worm surface ultra-structure can be used to monitor the in vitro effect of any drug. This study aims at investigating the actual effect of Mirazid (a new schistosomicide; purified oleo-resin extract of Myrrh, derived from Commiphora molmol plant) on S. mansoni worms by detecting its in vitro effect. Three groups of white albino mice (5 mice in each group) were infected by 100 cercariae for each mouse. The 3rd group served as a control group. Seven weeks post-infection the mice were sacrificed, perfused and worms were collected. Muscle tension of the worms collected from the first group of mice, was assayed in response to Mirazid in rising concentrations of 100, 200, 300 and 400 nM. The in vitro effect of Mirazid on the muscle tension of single S. mansoni worm was determined using a special device to determine percentage of change in worm length (% shortening). The drug elicited somatic muscle contraction and reached the highest response with 400 nM Mirazid. The maximal increase in the muscle tension (48% shortening) was induced by the highest concentration (400 nM) of the drug. The worms collected from the second group of mice were scanned by electron microscopy. The worms were exposed each to 10 ul of Mirazid in concentration of 10(-6) and collected after 10, 20 and 30 minutes of exposure. Ten minutes exposure caused disruption of the tegument and collapse of tubercles. After 20 minutes, the tegument appeared edematous with more disruption and more shrinkage of tubercles. After 30 minutes, the tegument appeared markedly edematous with extensive disruption of the inter-papillary areas and sensory bulbs. The spines covering the tubercles appeared to be lost.