Historical overview of infantile visceral leishmaniasis in El Agamy, Alexandria, Egypt.

Infantile visceral leishmaniasis (IVL) is considered a rare and neglected disease in Egypt. An outbreak of the disease in El Agamy, Alexandria occurred in 1982 although the disease was previously reported 80 years before. Epidemiological and entomological studies were conducted ever since the 1982 outbreak to identify human cases, the parasite, reservoir host and the sand fly vector.

Clinicoepidemiologic pattern of cutaneous leishmaniasis and molecular characterization of its causative agent in Hajjah governorate, northwest of Yemen.

The clinicoepidemiologic profile of 143 cases (93 males and 50 females) with cutaneous leishmaniasis from 18 villages of Hajjah governorate, Yemen was studied. Dry-type lesions were seen in 98.6% and wet-type lesions in 1.

Impact of urbanization on the sand fly Phlebotomus langeroni nitzulescu in an old focus of visceral leishmaniasis in Egypt.

Changes in the environment often cause changes in disease transmission. Land use change especially urbanization can have a huge impact on transmission of vector-borne diseases. This study investigated the effect of urban development on the abundance of sand flies, in an old endemic focus of infantile visceral leishmaniasis in the north coast of Egypt.

Transmission of Leishmania infantum MON-98 to hamsters by the bite of Phlebotomus langeroni Nitzulescu (Diptera: Psychodidae).

The ability of Phlebotomus langeroni to successfully acquire and transmit Leishmania infantum MON-98 to hamsters was demonstrated. Sand flies and Leishmania both originated from an infantile visceral leishmaniasis focus in El Agamy Egypt. P.

Climatic factors influencing the abundance of Phlebotomus papatasi (Scopoli) (Diptera: Psychodidae) in the Nile Delta.

Ecological studies on sand flies were carried out in two villages of the Nile Delta Governorates namely; Kafr Tahla (Qalyubiya) and el Quantara el Beida (Kafr el-Sheikh) from September 2003 to August 2005. Sand flies were collected weekly from around houses, stables and near rodent burrows using sticky paper traps. A total of 9529 sand flies were collected from the two villages, all of which were identified as Phlebotomus papatasi.

Attachment of Leishmania major and Leishmania infantum in the midgut of their respective sand fly vectors Phlebotomus papatasi and Phlebotomus langeroni (Diptera: Psychodidae).

The attachment of Leishmania infantum and Leishmania major in the midgut of experimentally infected Phlebotomus langeroni and Phlebotomus papatasi was examined by transmission electron microscopy. Cellular damage in the midgut of infected flies as a byproduct of infection was observed in both species. A difference in the mode of attachment of flagella to the midgut of their respective sand fly vectors suggested higher adaptation between L.

Spectral and landscape characterization of filarious and non-filarious villages in Egypt.

Filarial disease is endemic in Egypt in some villages of Nile Delta governorates where it is transmitted by Culex pipiens female. GIS functions are used to identify environmental indicators of high-risk village as indicated by mosquito density, human infection rate, vector species composition, mean life expectancy "e(o)" & environmental variables (geology, hydrology, soil types, etc) as well as meteorological factors (temperature, RH and rainfall) in relation to filaria transmission risk. Remote-sensing technology was used to distinguish between the two studied villages as high and non-infected, as defined by microfilarial prevalence.

Ecology, biology and susceptibility of Phlebotomus papatasi to Leishmania experimental infection in Suez Governorate.

Zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ZCL) is endemic in Sinai Peninsula. The sand fly and reservoirs were investigated in Suez G., since new settlements and land reclamation programs are ongoing.

Studies on rodents role as reservoir hosts of leishmaniasis with specical reference to their ectoparasites in Suez Governorate.

The distribution of rodents was studied in three different habitats. Seven rodent species were identified: Rattus norvegicus, R. alexandrinus, R.

Human zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis and associated sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) in Sheikh Atiya village, southern Sinai, Egypt.

Zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis is endemic in Sinai Peninsula. Human cases were recorded from the northern Sinai, however little was known about the disease in southern Sinai. During entomological surveys conducted southern Sinai in summers of 1997-1999, a clinically confirmed ZCL case was encountered for the first time in Sheikh Atiya village in June 1999.