Chemotherapy of Schistosomiasis present and past.

The primary objective of chemotherapy is to cure individual patient by eradication of the infection. This eradication leads to cessation of egg deposition which is the main pathogenic agent for the patient and community. The present generation of antischistosomal drugs provides physicians and public health practitioners with flexible, well tolerated, convenient, highly efficient tools for control of schistosomal morbidity in human, in contrast old generation of antischistosomal drugs were not so.

Prevalence of intestinal parasites in filariasis endemic areas in Egypt.

Stool and blood specimens were collected from 230 individuals of both sexes at 2 villages (Qualyubia Governorate) where filariasis is endemic. The overall prevalence of parasites was 81%, while it was higher (92.4%) among filariasis patients than non infected individuals (50%). On the other hand, the level of microfilaria (MF) in the blood apparently showed an influence on the prevalence of parasitic infection in the infected individuals. However, in all groups, E. histolytica was the commonest protozoal parasite followed by G. lamblia. As regard helminthic infections, S. mansoni was the commonest followed by E. vermicularis. These data suggest that filariasis as an endemic disease may suppress the immune response of the host and under such circumstances, the susceptibility for other infections become higher.

Studies on Paederus alfierii Koch (Coleoptera:Staphylinidae) with special reference to the medical importance.

In Egypt, the rove beetle; Paederus alfierii Koch, is an active predator of several insects pests attacking a wide variety of cultivated plants as maize, cotton, clover ... etc. On the other hand, members of genus Paederus contain pederin (potent toxin) which in contact with human skin causes a necrotizing lesion (dermatitis linearis) and with the eye causes conjunctivitis. After the sudden flood of the year 1994, this beetle attacked a factory and about forty factors suffered a form of contact dermatitis and conjunctivitis. The majority of such factors needed hospitalization. To fill the gap in the knowledge of medical importance on such a predator, the present investigation was aimed. The aqueous extract from twenty wild collected adults (0.0101 gm) was tested on different groups of albino mice. No cutaneous reaction was seen macroscopically. On the other hand, another group of mice (3/4) showed mild conjunctival congestion faded on the next day. However, these experimental findings do not indicate the innocence of this rove-beetle from being harmful to man. The discussion was given on the light of work done abroad.

Isolation and curing of plasmid DNA from Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis strains showing variable insecticidal activities.

Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis 4Q1-WT (B.t.i.) have 9 plasmids. Fourteen mutates of this wild type were prepared with cured plasmids. The wild bacterial strain the mutants and fourteen industrial strains were compared according to the number, size of plasmids and their potential to induce mortality to Aedes caspius larvae. The 108 Kb plasmid is essential for B.t israelensis to induce insect kill.

Parasitic infections presenting as prolonged fevers.

Over two successive years, out of 187 cases of fevers of undetermined origin (FUO) admitted to Abbassia and Embaba Fever Hospitals, 30 (16%) cases proved to be of parasitic origin. Ten within normal subjects were taken as controls. Complete blood picture, repeated stool examination, rectal snip by transparency technique, ELISA for specific IgM antibodies for S. mansoni, indirect haemagglutination test for S. mansoni, Fasciola, hydatid, amoebic liver abscess and toxoplasmosis, indirect fluorescent antibody test for toxoplasmosis and abdominal ultrasonography were performed whenever indicated. Cases comprised 8 (26%) acute S. mansoni, 7 (24%) acute fascioliasis, 3 (10%) hydatid cyst, 8 (26%) amoebic liver abscess, 2 (7%) toxoplasmoisis and 2 (7%) malaria cases. The clinical picture of acute S. mansoni and acute fascioliasis were similar in the form of prolonged fever, diarrhea, hepatomegaly and leucocytosis with high eosinophilia. Serology (ELISA and IHAT) was essential in differentiating them. Abdominal ultrasonography is an easy, sensitive, cheap, non-invasive technique aiding in the diagnosis of amoebic liver abscess, liver hydatid cysts and fascioliasis but again serology was essential in differenting them. Toxoplasmic lymphadenitis mimic the clinical picture of infectious mononucleosis. Serology (monospot test, IHAT, IFAT) clinched the diagnosis. Malaria cases presented atypically by gastrointestinal manifestations and hepatic affection. Diagnosis was by positive blood smears.

Effect of the behavioural stress on susceptibility of Syrian hamsters to Schistosoma mansoni infection: effect on number and fertility of worm burden.

Effect of pairing on susceptibility of male Syrian hamsters to Schistosoma mansoni infection in comparison to their isolated counter-parts have been studied. Pairing resulted in significant differences between paired and isolated hamsters in measurements of eggs, miracidia, number of adult worms recovered and mean testicular number of males. Paired hamsters seemed to be immunologically suppressed and such a suppression resulted in increasing the fertility and number of worms recovered. The width of the male schistosomes recovered from the paired hamsters was two folds and the length was four folds greater than those recovered from isolated ones. The mean testicular number was 8.17 +/- 0.53 in males recovered from paired hamsters and 6.16 +/- 0.71 in those recovered from isolated ones. Of interest was, the demonstration of a male with two groups of testes recovered from a paired hamster. It was concluded that the stressed host reflex effects on the number and fertility of the schistosome worms burden, and hence the severity of the disease and its complications.

Interaction between acari ectoparasites and rodents in Suez Governorate, Egypt.

From the medical point of view, the relation between man and rodents comes in the priority. Some rodent populations are wild but others are commensal and live in close association with man. They steal his food and conveying many zoonotic diseases. Their arthropod ectoparasites play an important role in conveying or transmitting these zoonotic diseases. Several disorders and diseases of man are tick borne relapsing fever, Rocky mountain spotted fever, Lyme disease, and many others. Besides numerous species of mites occasionally infest man. They transmit several diseases as Rickettsia tsutsugamushi fever, epidemic haemorrhagic fever, and they cause severe allergic reaction. The results obtained are summarized in the following (1) Six species and subspecies of rodents were detected. In a descending order of abundance, they were (a) Rattus norvegicus, (b) Rattus rattus alexandrinus (c) Rattus rattus frugivorous (d) Acomys cahirinus (e) Gerbillus gerbillus asyutensis (f) Mus m. praetextus. (2) The most common rodent was R. norvegicus and the least common was M. musculus. (3) The collected ticks and mites were 2 genera of tick larvae; Rhipicephalus species and Hyalomma species. The collected mites were Ornithonyssus bacoti and Laelaps nuttali. (4) Most of the tick larvae were collected from wild rodents; Gerbillus g. asyutensis. (5) Most of the mites were collected from commensal rodents particularly R. norvegicus. Descriptive morphology and illustrations were given to the collected rodents and their acari ectoparasites.

Four species of house dust mites recovered from houses of patients with allergic respiratory diseases.

Arthropods and their products are wide spread and considered one of the common allergens affecting man. Allergy to arthropod antigens is the major cause of respiratory allergy as rhinitis and bronchial asthma. The range of reaction depends on several factors which include the type and source of the material, the rate of intensity, the duration of exposure, the human immune response and history of prior exposure. Successful management of allergic disease depends on proper identification of the causative allergen and reduce exposure to this allergen. Generally speaking, the house dust is not a simple substance but an accumulation of living and non living parts as mites, pollens, molds, dander and decaying insects. In the present study, four species of mites were isolated from the dust collected from the houses of patients with allergic respiratory diseases. The species were Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, D. farinae, Ornithonyssus bacoti and Haemogamassus pontiger. The two species of Dermatophagoides. were the predominant mites which are known to produce the most potent allergies. Studying the serum immunoglobulins level showed that the IgE had a highly significant concentration among respiratory allergic patients (28) with (5) or without (23) atopic dermatitis. It was concluded that house dust mites, that cause inhalant allergens, are one of the main aetiological factors of allergic respiratory diseases, with or without atopic dermatitis.

Comparative study between different diagnostic techniques in huge splenomegaly cases in El-Minia Province.

Fifty four patients presenting by huge splenomegaly were admitted to Tropical Medicine Department, El-Minia University Hospital. Tissue biopsy revealed pure bilharziasis due to S. hematobium in 10 (19%) cases, liver cirrhosis in 23 (42%), mixed schistosomiasis and cirrhosis in 8 (15%), hepatoma in 3 (6%), lymphoma in 6 (11%) and hematological diseases in the form of chronic myeloid leukemia in 2 (3.5%) and thalassemia major in 2 (3.5%) cases. The sensitivity and specificity of abdominal ultrasonography was 100% and 97% in cases of schistosomiasis, 100% and 100% in cases of hepatoma, 87% and 100% in cases of liver cirrhosis, 33% and 100% in cases of lymphoma respectively. There was a positive significant correlation between endoscopic variceal grading, portal vein diameter, splenic vein diameter, size of the spleen and the grading of the portal tract thickenings. The pathological and ultrasonographic diagnosis was the same in 38 (70%) cases. Splenogram was characteristic but not diagnostic in cases of schistosomiasis and liver cirrhosis. It was diagnostic and similar to peripheral blood picture in the 2 cases of chronic myeloid leukemia and was normal in cases of thalassemia major. Splenic aspiration was able to diagnose all cases of lymphomas. It can be considered as a useful adjunct to the usual diagnostic procedures, both in staging and follow up, especially in cases presenting only by splenomegaly.

The helminthic parasites of rodents in Dakahlia Governorate, with reference to their Egyptian helminth fauna.

No doubt, rodents are among the most important reservoirs of zoonotic diseases. This paper aimed to survey the helminth fauna of the different species of rodents in Dakahlia Governorate. Eight species of rodents were encountered in the different centers examined. A total of fifteen species of helminthic parasites were found. They belong to four classes: Trematoda five species: H. heterophyes, H. pumilio, H. yokogawai, S. tridactyla and E. callawayensis, Cestoidea three species: H diminuta, H. nana and T. taeniaeformis, Nematoda six species: A. cantonensis, T. muris, C. hepatica, S. obvelata, S. muris, S. ratti, and Archiacanthocephala one species: M. moniliformis. The medical and/or veterinary importance of these parasites were discussed. It was concluded that rodents are the most serious source of zoonotic parasites.

Histopathological evidences for the antifibrogenic effect of colchicine in schistosomiasis mansoni in mice.

Colchicine treated mice showed significant decrease in prevalence of fibrocellular and fibrocellular and fibrous granulomas in liver specimens compared to corresponding control groups. Percentage of spindle cell component and red fibrillar (RF) material showed significant reduction compared to control groups. These evidences of the antifibrogenic effect of colchicine were more prominent when treatment was given early after infection. Combined therapy with colchicine and praziquantel gave the same results. Mice treated with praziquantel alone showed no significant change compared to control groups. Colchicine showed also an immunomodulant effect evidenced by a significant decrease in the intensity of small and medium-sized to large cell components compared to control groups.

Histopathological study of the bilharzial affection on the bladder and ureter.

This study was carried out on 68 cases (50 bilharzial stricture lower ureter, eight vesico-ureteral reflux cases and ten control). In cases of reflux associated with bilharziasis heavy ova-deposition was obvious all through the ureteral wall especially per-ureteral sheath. Also heavy deposition in the bladder wall involved the detrusor and trigonal muscle with fibrosis and obliteration of Waldeyer's space and atrophy and fasciculation of detrusor and trigonal muscle. This implies ureteral rigidity, impaired mobility and compression against a firm detrusor buttress.

A case of cervical lymphadenopathy due to pediculosis.

This paper reports a case of cervical lymphadenopathy due to infestation with Pediculus h. capitis. Clinically and histopathologically the case was diagnosed to a non malignant and a non specific one.

Placental villous maturation in patients with repeated abortions and chronic toxoplasmosis.

The conceptions products obtained from 20 patients with repeated abortions and chronic toxoplasmosis were examined histopathologically comparing the results with those of ten Toxoplasma seronegative patients. The results showed significant association between chronic toxoplasmosis and diffuse failure of growth of placental villi.

On the specificity of the indirect haemagglutination in diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis.

Human sera were collected from parasitologically proven cases of filariasis, strongyloidiasis, hymenolepiasis and ascariasis. Antibodies against these parasites cross react in the indirect haemagglutination for the antileishmanial antibodies at dilution up to 1:128. The diagnostic titer should be raised to 256 in order to increase the specificity of the test in areas where such parasites occur.

Culicoides bedfordi Ingram and Macfie (1923). A new record in Egypt.

C. bedfordi was described as a new recorded species. The Egyptian species of Culicoides were reviewed.