Publications by authors named "Abd Elkarim Laatamna"

Article Synopsis
  • - Cystic echinococcosis (CE) poses a significant health risk in Algeria, with surgery being the main treatment but facing complications like recurrence from protoscoleces spread during operations.
  • - This study evaluated the scolicidal effects of Atriplex halimus extracts (both ethanolic and aqueous) by analyzing their phytochemical content and antioxidant activity, finding notable differences in phenolic and flavonoid levels.
  • - The results indicated that both extracts showed strong scolicidal effects at specific concentrations and times, suggesting that Atriplex halimus could be a promising natural option to enhance CE surgical outcomes.
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  • * The study analyzed CE prevalence data from 2017-2023 and surveyed shepherds in Algeria, Greece, Italy, and Tunisia to identify risky practices and levels of awareness regarding the disease.
  • * Findings revealed concerning practices among farmers, like irregular dog deworming and feeding uncooked animal parts to dogs, and highlighted a lower awareness of CE among North African farmers compared to their European counterparts, emphasizing the need for increased awareness and policy efforts to combat CE.
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Cystic echinococcosis (CE), caused by the larval stage of the cestode is one of the most widespread zoonoses in Mediterranean countries. Baiting not-owned dogs with praziquantel (PZQ), due to their key role in the maintaining the transmission of CE, currently appears to be the most effective way to limit the transmission of CE, as well as an important aspect to introduce for the control of this parasitic disease. Therefore, this study aims to test 3 types of PZQ-based baits by evaluating different parameters (integrity over time, attractiveness and palatability for dogs, and mechanical resistance after release to different altitudes) and the bait acceptance in field by target animals, i.

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is the causal agent of toxoplasmosis, a worldwide zoonotic disease relevant in human and veterinary medicine. In Algeria, few reports focused on the presence and circulation of this parasite in the local goat population. The aim of the survey was to evaluate toxoplasmosis seroprevalence and associated risk factors.

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Purpose: During cystic echinococcosis surgery, the use of scolicidal agents such as hypertonic saline (20%) aims to reduce the risk of infection recurrence, but most of the used agents are associated with undesirable side effects. Therefore, the use of natural scolicidal agents such as medicinal plant extracts could reduce these medical issues. The present study aimed to compare in vitro the scolicidal activity between two extracts of the medicinal plant Myrtus communis from Algeria against Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato protoscoleces.

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Background: Cystic echinococcosis (CE), caused by the larval stage of Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato, is a zoonotic parasitic disease of economic and public health importance worldwide, especially in the Mediterranean area. Canids are the main definitive hosts of the adult cestode contaminating the environment with parasite eggs released with feces. In rural and peri-urban areas, the risk of transmission to livestock as well as humans is high because of the free-roaming behavior of owned/not owned dogs.

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  • Ticks are significant vectors for diseases, but their classification, especially between closely related species like Ixodes inopinatus and Ixodes ricinus, remains unclear.
  • A study in Germany identified ticks from great tits, confirming that those morphologically identified as I. inopinatus are genetically actually I. ricinus, using advanced molecular techniques.
  • The findings imply that I. inopinatus may be geographically restricted and questions its presence in central Europe, demonstrating the potential of genomic tools for clarifying tick taxonomy.
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  • The study focuses on Argas persicus, a fowl tick found mainly in poultry farms, emphasizing its widespread distribution and the need for further genetic analysis.
  • The researchers analyzed 1,518 ticks from Algeria and included samples from China to compare morphological and genetic characteristics, confirming the identity of these ticks as A. persicus.
  • Results identified two lineages of A. persicus: the majority from Algeria and two samples from China belonging to a distinct lineage, contributing to new molecular data on this species.
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Epidemiology and distributions of canine tick-borne diseases as well as their veterinary and zoonotic significance are poorly understood in Algeria. The present study describes a molecular investigation of important tick-borne pathogens in Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu stricto collected from domestic dogs in steppe and high plateau areas of central and eastern Algeria. In total, 1,043 ticks were collected from 147 dogs, including 756 ticks from 124 dogs in the steppe region of Djelfa and 287 ticks from 23 dogs in the high plateau area of Bordj Bou Arreridj.

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Purpose: The present study aimed to estimate the prevalence and molecular characterization of Cryptosporidium spp. in six different fish species both from marine and freshwater environments.

Methods: During a period of 2 years (2018-2020), a total of 415 fecal samples and 565 intestinal scrapings were collected in seven provinces from the central and eastern Algeria.

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The present report describes morphological anomalies in Rhipicephalus sanguineus s.s. collected from dogs between February 2017 and May 2019 in the steppic region of Djelfa and high plateau area of Bordj-Bou-Arreridj in Algeria.

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  • Giardia intestinalis is a prevalent cause of digestive issues like diarrhea and abdominal pain, particularly noted in a study conducted in Algiers, Algeria, which focused on the prevalence of this parasite among various age groups.
  • The study surveyed over 2,000 individuals, finding an overall parasite infection rate of 28%, with Giardia affecting 17.1% of those infected, notably more common in children than adults.
  • Despite the frequency of Giardia infection, the research indicated that common symptoms like abdominal pain and diarrhea were not significantly correlated with Giardia compared to other intestinal parasites.
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A previous study based on mitochondrial DNA markers reported the presence of Fasciola hepatica in Algeria. However, a precise species identification is still required. In this report, a total of 68 Fasciola isolates, collected from high-plateau (Bordj-Bou-Arreridj) and steppe (Djelfa) areas of Algeria, were identified at the species level by multiplex PCR and PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) for nuclear phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (pepck) and DNA polymerase delta (pold), respectively.

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Aim: The present study was designed to investigate the prevalence and identification of gastrointestinal parasites in feces samples of dromedary camels () in Algeria based on microscopic examination.

Materials And Methods: A total of 717 fresh fecal samples obtained from 28 farms at Steppe and Northern Sahara regions of Algeria were processed for microscopic examination after concentration by formalin-ether sedimentation and flotation techniques. In addition, microscopic examination of spp.

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Little is known of the prevalence and genetic identity of Giardia duodenalis in sheep in Algeria. The present study aimed at characterizing G. duodenalis in lambs up to 6 months of age in Djelfa, Algeria.

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Cystic echinococcosis (CE) of humans and animals is caused by various species of Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato. Of these, E. granulosus sensu stricto has the widest geographical distribution and is the most important agent of human cystic echinococcosis.

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A total of 345 faecal samples were collected from domestic, captive and wild birds in rural areas, urban areas and a Zoo in Algeria. Samples were screened for the presence of parasites belonging to the genus Cryptosporidium Tyzzer, 1910 by microscopy and PCR analysis of the small-subunit rRNA (SSU), actin and 60-kDa glycoprotein (gp60) genes. Cryptosporidium spp.

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A total of 219 and 124 individual fecal samples of horses and donkeys, respectively, were screened for the presence of Cryptosporidium spp., Encephalitozoon spp., and Enterocytozoon bieneusi DNA by genus-specific nested PCR.

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Faecal samples from two horse farms in Algeria keeping Arabian, Thoroughbred, and Barb horses were examined for the presence of Cryptosporidium in 2010-2011. A total of 138 faecal samples (16 from a farm keeping 50 animals and 122 from a farm with 267 horses) were screened for Cryptosporidium spp. infection using molecular tools.

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