Antiprotozoal potential of against three virulent subtypes of sp.

sp. is a group of anaerobic protozoa parasitizing the gastrointestinal tract of humans and a broad variety of animals. Evidences of parasites resistance development to antiprotozoal drugs urge the exploration of new therapeutics.

Subtyping of Blastocystis sp. isolated from symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals in Makkah, Saudi Arabia.

Background: Blastocystis is a group of cosmopolitan gastrointestinal parasite of humans and a wide variety of animals. These anaerobic protozoans include more than 17 specific small-subunit ribosomal RNA subtypes, of which nine are found in humans with a variable geographical distribution. Until now, no study has described the Blastocystis subtypes present in Saudi Arabia.

IMPORTED MALARIA TO MAKKAH DISTRICT, SAUDI ARABIA: IS THERE ANY RISK OF LOCAL TRANSMISSION?

In Makkah, Saudi Arabia, there is an impending risk of imported malaria. This risk comes from the fact that millions of people, in majority from tropical and subtropical countries where malaria is endemic, visit the country to perform Hajj and Umrah every year. Moreover, millions of expatriates from endemic countries come to Makkah for work.

Pattern of malignant solid tumors and lymphomas in children in the east delta of Egypt: A five-year study.

Worldwide, the incidence and mortality rates of childhood cancers differ. The study of incidence patterns and survival rates in childhood malignancies is important in aiding in the planning of treatment centers and in obtaining further information with regard to the etiology. Few studies have investigated the survival in cases of childhood solid tumors in Egypt.

Vaccination with Toxoplasma lysate antigen and CpG oligodeoxynucleotides: comparison of immune responses in intranasal versus intramuscular administrations.

Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is one of the most successful intracellular protozoan parasites on earth and highly prevalent in most warm-blooded vertebrates. There are no drugs that target the chronic cyst stage of this infection; therefore, development of an effective vaccine would be an important advance in disease control.

Effect of a novel benzimidazole derivative in experimental Schistosoma mansoni infection.

Currently, praziquantel is the only drug of choice for treatment of schistosomiasis. Reports of praziquantel resistance raise concerns about future control of the disease. Therefore, the search for new schistosomicidal drugs is eminent.

In vivo effect of single oral dose of artemether against early juvenile stages of Schistosoma mansoni Egyptian strain.

The current treatment and control of schistosomiasis, rely on a single drug, praziquantel, although, it has minor activity against juvenile stages of the parasite. Studies have shown that artemether (ART) exhibits effects against juveniles of Schistosoma mansoni Liberian and Puerto Rican strains, Schistosoma japonicum and Schistosoma haematobium. Aiming to assess the in vivo activity of single oral dose of ART against early juvenile stages of S.

The role of B-cells in immunity against adult Strongyloides venezuelensis.

Background: Strongyloides venezuelensis has been used as a tool and model for strongyloidiasis research. Elimination of S. venezuelensis adult worms from mice has been particularly associated with proliferation and activation of intestinal mast cells and eosinophils.

First insight into the effect of single oral dose therapy with artemisinin-naphthoquine phosphate combination in a mouse model of Schistosoma mansoni infection.

Praziquantel is the current drug of choice against schistosomiasis. The dependency on praziquantel exclusively is problematic, given the spread of the disease and the threat of drug resistance. This study investigates an alternative antischistosomal drug using the compound naphthoquine phosphate tablet, which is a novel single oral dose antimalarial drug, containing a combination of naphthoquine phosphate and artemisinin.

Effect of Mirazid in Schistosoma japonicum-infected mice: parasitological and pathological assessment.

Conflicting reports are found in the literature about the antischistosomal efficacy of Mirazid (MZ), which is a special formulation of myrrh obtained from the stem of the plant Commiphora molmol. This initiated the present study to assess this drug for the first time in experimental schistosomiasis japonicum. Mice were divided into four groups: infected untreated control (I); infected treated with MZ, 500 mg/kg (II); infected treated with MZ, 250 mg/kg (III); and infected treated with praziquantel (PZQ), 200 mg/kg (IV).

Prevalence of genital tract infection with Entamoeba gingivalis among copper T 380A intrauterine device users in Egypt.

Background: This study was performed to study the prevalence and potential pathogenicity of E. gingivalis in the genital tracts of intrauterine contraceptive device (IUD) users.

Study Design: A prospective study conducted at the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department and Fertility Care Unit, Mansoura University Hospital, Egypt.

Past and present situation of human fascioliasis in Dakahlia Governorate, Egypt.

Zoonotic fascioliasis is a problem not only in Dakahlia Governorate, but also in other Egyptian Governorates. This work was conducted in ten centers at Dakahlia Governorate, Egypt. Three thousand cases were randomly selected annually from each center representing five rural and five urban areas.

Prevalence of low positive anti-HCV antibodies in blood donors: Schistosoma mansoni co-infection and possible role of autoantibodies.

Patients infected with schistosoma frequently show a high seroprevalence of anti-hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV) antibodies. The aim of this study was to find the underlying reason for this phenomenon, and to examine a possible involvement of autoantibodies. Out of 2,400 Egyptian blood donors, 192 (8%) were anti-HCV positive by ELISA.

Protective effect of vaccination with Toxoplasma lysate antigen and CpG as an adjuvant against Toxoplasma gondii in susceptible C57BL/6 mice.

Infection with the intracellular protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii causes serious public health problems to both humans and livestock and of great economic impact worldwide. Oligodeoxynucleotides (ODN) which contain immunostimulatory CG motifs (CpG ODN) can promote Th1 responses, an adjuvant activity that is desirable for vaccination against intracellular pathogens. We investigated the feasibility of using CpG as an adjuvant combined with Toxoplasma lysate antigen (TLA) as a vaccine against toxoplasmosis.

Establishment of Schistosoma japonicum calpain-specific mouse T cell hybridomas and identification of a T cell epitope that stimulates IFNgamma production.

Calpain is a calcium-dependent cystein protease, and the homologues of schistosome are known as one of vaccine candidate molecules against schistosomiasis. Here, we established two IL-2 producing T cell hybridoma cell lines specific for Schistosoma japonicum calpain, to identify T cell epitope(s) on the molecule. Overlapping 15mer oligopeptides of calpain were synthesized and tested for their stimulatory abilities to the hybridomas.

Reliability of hepatitis C virus core antigen assay for detection of viremia in HCV genotypes 1, 2, 3, and 4 infected blood donors: a collaborative study between Japan, Egypt, and Uzbekistan.

Nucleic acid amplification-based methods are used for confirmation of viremia in antibody to hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV)-positive patients. However, this technology is labor intensive, time consuming, requires complex laboratory conditions, and expensive. The aim of this study was to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of the HCV core antigen (HCVcAg) assay as an alternative approach for confirmation of viremia in HCV-infected subjects with HCV genotype 1-4.

Intraepithelial infiltration of eosinophils and their contribution to the elimination of adult intestinal nematode, Strongyloides venezuelensis in mice.

Eosinophils were examined for the capacity of attacking Strongyloides venezuelensis adult worms in the intestinal mucosa by using interleukin (IL)-5 transgenic mice. In IL-5 transgenic mice, most of the subcutaneously inoculated infective larvae were killed during migration, and only a few worms could reach the small intestine. When the same number of adult worms were surgically implanted in the small intestine of IL-5 transgenic and control mice, fecal egg output as well as the number of adult worms recovered from the intestine was significantly lower in IL-5 transgenic mice.

Strongyloides venezuelensis: longitudinal distribution of adult worms in the host intestine is influenced by mucosal sulfated carbohydrates.

Mechanisms for the longitudinal distribution of parasitic females of Strongyloides venezuelensis in the host intestine were investigated in mice. Adult worms were mostly recovered from the anterior-most one-third of the small intestine throughout the infection after infective larvae inoculation. Surgically implanted adult worms established well in the small intestinal mucosa, either in the duodenum or in the ileum, whereas a few worms could establish in the large intestine.