Histocompatibility antigens in Egyptians with cutaneous leishmaniasis: a preliminary study.

The frequency of human leucocytic antigens (HLA) were studied in 27 patients with cutaneous leishmaniasis to evaluate the role of HLA antigens as genetic markers in the pathogenesis of this protozoal skin infection. A significant statistical association was observed between HLA-A11, -B5 and -B7 antigens and diffuse cutaneous leishmaniasis. In conclusion, study of immune response genes could be of value to understand the pathogenic mechanisms responsible for cutaneous leishmaniasis.

Dot-ELISA as a diagnostic test in hydatid disease.

Detection of circulating echinococcal antigens and antibodies were tried in 18 patients with hydatid disease and 32 healthy blood donors as controls using dot-ELISA. Hydatid cyst fluid antigen and anti-echinococcal hyperimmune rabbit sera were used for the detection of antibodies and antigens respectively. The results proved that this test is sensitive (88.

Transplacental transfer of schistosomal antigens and antibodies.

Circulating S. mansoni soluble antigens (CSA) and antibodies (CAB) were investigated in sera of 32 S. mansoni-infected pregnant mothers, their 32 newborns and 26 non-pregnant infected women.

Length and hatchability of Schistosoma mansoni eggs.

Mature Schistosoma mansoni eggs, purely isolated from the intestines of infected mice, were allowed to hatch and classified microscopically according to their lengths. The hatching percentage and the type of shell rupture were studied. An inverse relationship between the length and hatchability of eggs was proved.

Detection of antitrichomonal antibodies in sera and cervical secretions in trichomoniasis.

The AT, IFAT and ELISA were used to detect circulating and cervical antitrichomonal antibodies, using living and dead whole parasite or soluble protein extract as antigens respectively, in 93 women with proven trichomoniasis and 25 healthy women as controls. The results revealed that the IFA test is the most sensitive one for detecting serum (92.5%) and cervical (87.