Comparative evaluation of silver nanoparticles and human platelet rich-plasma versus traditional therapy in the treatment of murine chronic toxoplasmosis.

Toxoplasmosis is a worldwide parasitic disease infecting about one-third of the human population. At present, licensed medications are incapable of curing human chronic infection. The present work aimed to evaluate for the first time the combination between (spiramycin and human platelet rich plasma), in addition to (spiramycin and silver-nanoparticles) in treating murine experimental toxoplasmosis using parasitological, biochemical, histopathological and immunohistochemical studies. Seventy-seven Swiss albino male mice divided into seven groups according to the treatment used as follows: (GI): control negative; (GII): control infected; (GIII): spiramycin; (GIV): Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs); (GV): Human platelet-rich plasma (HPRP); (GVI): combined spiramycin and AgNPs; (GVII): combined spiramycin and HPRP. Obtained results demonstrated that (spiramycin and AgNPs) treated group showed significant reduction of T. gondii tissue cysts number, the lowest level of serum malondialdehyde, remarkable improvement in pathological changes in different tissues of mice e.g. brain and liver and weak expression of EGFR in brain tissues of mice compared to control infected group. Moreover, AgNPs administered alone produced minimal anti-Toxoplasma results, whereas their combination with spiramycin exhibited significant therapeutic efficacy. In conclusion, combination therapy of spiramycin and AgNPs may represent a unique possible adjuvant therapy for reducing the pathogenic, toxic, and inflammatory consequences of toxoplasmosis on the brain and liver tissues in immunocompetent mice, and the expression of EGFR in brain tissues of mice is a good tool for evaluating the therapeutic improvement of murine toxoplasmosis.

RELATION BETWEEN SCHISTOSOME PAST INFECTION AND METABOLIC SYNDROME.

Schistosome antigens modulate host metabolic profiles in experimental animals. The effects of previous schistosome infection (PSI) and the development of metabolic syndrome remain unknown in humans. This study evaluated previous schistosome infection (PSI) related to metabolic syndrome (MS). A total of 547 participants aged >40 years from rural areas of Zagazig district were enrolled. Of them, 269 patients with. PSI and 305 normal served as controls. For all participants blood pressure, height, body weight and waist circumstance (WC) were measured. Blood samples were examined biochemically to determine triglyceride (TG), fasting blood glucose (FBG) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HIDL-C). Associations between PSI and MS were evaluated using logistic regression. Patients with PSI had significantly lower levels of body mass index (BMI), WC, TG, insignificantly low levels of fasting -blood glucose (FBG) and significantly higher levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) compared with controls. Prevalence of MS in PSI was significantly low than controls (32.7% vs. 42.3% respectively). PSI significantly associated with low prevalence of metabolic syndrome and its components, including central obesity, hypertension, hyperglycemia, hypertriglyceridemia and low HDL-C. Potential long-term effects of PSI may reduce metabolic syndrome risk.

The relation between the prevalence of soil transmitted parasites in the soil and among school children in Zagazig district, Sharkyia Governorate, Egypt.

Soil transmitted helminths are highly prevalent throughout the developing countries of the world and Egypt is categorized as one of the developing countries. This study aimed to detect the relation between the presence and prevalence of STH in the soil and their reflection on the prevalence among school-children living in rural and urban areas in Zagazig district, Egypt. The present study was carried out on (859) school-children aged 6-13 years in Zagazig district all over the year 2013. They were subjected to stool examination. Out of them 100 suspected children were serotested for anti-TES IgG antibodies Toxocara spp. Soil samples also were collected from their places and regions. The results showed overall prevalence of parasitic infections was 21.07 % for helminthic infection and 39.46 % for protozoa. The prevalence of parasitic infections was more among children in rural areas (28, 49.2, 11.1 %) than those who live in urban areas (6.4, 18, 2.2 %) for helminths, protozoa and Toxocara as the most prevalent helminth respectively. Highly significant association was found between soil-transmitted helminthic infections detected by stool examination of the studied children group and the prevalence of geohelminthes in the examined soil samples, taken from residency areas of those children. This association was missed regarding protozoal infections. According to the results, low level of education and consequently poor socio-economic and hygienic conditions of families appear to be powerful determinants of infection. Thus, improving environmental sanitation is imperative for the control of soil-transmitted helminths.