Evaluation of the Anti-schistosomal Effects of Turmeric () Versus Praziquantel in Infected Mice.

Background: Curcumin is the major active ingredient of , traditionally known as turmeric and has been shown to exhibit a wide range of pharmacological activities including anti-parasitic effect. However, it is found to be water-insoluble and has low bioavailability. The aim of this study was to explore the potential role of turmeric solved in olive oil either alone or in combination with praziquantel (PZQ) in treatment of schistosomiasis .

Intestinal Parasite Infections and Accuracy of Direct Thin and Thick Smear, Formol-Ether Sedimentation, Centrifugal Flotation, and Mini-FLOTAC Techniques Among Patients with Gastrointestinal Tract Disorders from the Greater Cairo Region, Egypt.

The aim of the present study was to assess the frequency of intestinal parasitic infection among patients with gastrointestinal tract disorders from the Greater Cairo region, Egypt. In addition, a comparison was made of the accuracy of direct thin and thick smear, formol-ether sedimentation (FEC), centrifugal flotation (CF), and mini-FLOTAC techniques in the diagnosis of infection. Out of 100 patients, the overall prevalence of parasitic infection was 51%.

Metacercariae recovered from fresh-water fishes in the vicinity of Qualkyobia Governorate, Egypt.

A total of 410 Tilapia zillii, 70 Clarias gariepinus, 30 Bagrus bajad and 15 Chlrysichthys auratus fishes were collected from different water bodies in Qualyobia Governorate. Microscopic examination of samples showed infection in muscles and head region (gills & branchial cavity) with encysted metacercariae in 91.7% of T.

Effect of different temperatures on viability of seven encysted metacercariae recovered from freshwater fishes in Qualyobia, Egypt.

Encysted metacercariae (EMC) from seven trematod-zoonotic parasites were exposed to different temperature mechanisms. Boiling of the infected fishes was sufficient to kill the EMC, frying of fishes for five minutes was quite sufficient to inhibit the viability of EMC, but frying for 10 minutes killed all EMC. Grilling of infected Tilapia zillii was sufficient to kill EMC after 10 minutes; however five minutes were sufficient only to kill EMC in Clarias gariepinus.

Schistosoma mansoni: the immune response against cercarial glycocalyx.

Schistosoma mansoni cercarial glycocalyx was separated and purified by Sephacryl-300 SR. It was found to stimulate the humoral immune response in mice injected with it. Antiglycoalyx antibodies raised in CD/1 mice were found to be cytotoxic to schistosomula in vitro.

Observations on possible immunity to reinfection among school children after schistosomiasis treatment.

A total of 72 bilharzial mansonian school children aged 6-12 years were studied before and six months after praziquantel (PZQ) treatment. After treatment, 21 cases showed reinfection while 51 were resistant. Using ELISA specific antibody assays titre levels of IgM, IgG, IgA & IgE for soluble egg antigen (SEA) and soluble worm antigen (SWAP), were higher among resistant cases than among reinfected ones before and after treatment.

Detection of Giardia antigen in stool samples before and after treatment.

A double antibody sandwich ELISA technique, using a chromatography purified Giardia antiserum, was applied to detect faecal antigen in patients infected with Giardia lamblia before and after treatment. The assay could detect antigens in 98% of infected cases with false positive reactions in 3 cases infected with E. histolytica.

Study of free living amoebae in Egypt.

At different locality in Egypt, free living amoebae (FLA) were detected in 32%, 20% and 4% of water samples obtained from swimming pools, surface water canals and tap water respectively. Naegleria spp. were identified from 12 (75%) out of 16 swimming pool samples and 6 (60%) out of 10 surface water & canals samples from different Governorates in Egypt, while Acanthamoeba spp.

The prevalence of Entamoeba gingivalis and Trichomonas tenax in periodontal disease.

Two hundred patients (100 males and 100 females) having either marginal periodontitis or gingivitis were examined for detection of E. gingivalis and T. tenax.