Doaa A. Yones

In Vitro Effects of Some Herbs Used in Egyptian Traditional Medicine on Viability of Protoscolices of Hydatid Cysts

The present work evaluated the effects of alcoholic extracts of salvia (Salvia officinalis), thyme (Thymus vulgaris), and 2 pure compounds (thymol and menthol) on the viability of Echinococcus granulosus protoscolices in vitro. Four different concentrations of each extract (2,500, 1,500, 1,000, and 500 µg/ml) and 3 different concentrations each of thymol and menthol (50, 10, and 1 µg/ml) were used. Concentration of 2,500 µg/ml of both extracts showed a significant protoscolicidal activity on the 6th day. Complete loss of viability of protoscolices occurred with 500 µg/ml concentration of both extracts at day 6 and day 7 post-treatment (PT), respectively. Pure compounds, i.e., menthol and thymol, showed potent effects with 50 µg/ml concentration at day 2 and day 5 PT, respectively. These effects were compared with those of albendazole sulfoxide (800 µg/ml), a commonly used treatment drug for hydatidosis. Krebs-Ringer solution and the hydatid cystic fluid at a ratio of 4:1 was a good preservative solution which kept the protoscolices viable for 15 days.

Effect of enteric parasitic infection on serum trace elements and nutritional status in upper Egyptian children

Introduction: Enteric parasitic infections still the cause of major health problems among Egyptian children as they have great morbid effect on their physical and cognitive development. Malnutrition makes children more prone to micronutrient deficiency and subsequently more vulnerable to parasitic infection. The present study aimed to identify the effect of intestinal parasitism on micronutrient serum level and children nutritional status. Materials and Methods: A case control study was carried out on children from 1 to 6 years old who were attending the Assiut University Children Hospital outpatient clinic, after parasitological stool examination they were divided into Group 1 (G1, n: 60) positive with enteric parasite and Group 2 (G2, n: 60) age and sex matched and free of parasites. Anthropometric measurements were expressed as weight for age (WFA), height for age (HFA), and weight for height (WFH) parameters. Serum zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu) were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Results: Intestinal parasitic infection rate was 55.7%; more commonly detected parasites were Giardia lamblia 28%, Cryptosporidium sp. 20%, and polyparasitism 18%. All children (G1 and G2) were underweight (WFA) while 63% of G1 were malnourished, either in the form of wasting (WFH) or stunting (HFA) or both aspects. Stunting and wasting were more dominant among children infected with G. lamblia and Cryptosporidium sp. and most of them were below 2 years old. Conclusions: Coincident decrease in serum Zn level and an increase of serum Cu was more prominent among G. lamblia and Cryptosporidium sp. patients. G. lamblia and Cryptosporidium sp. were found to be more associated with nonstandard children nutritional status beside to an altered micronutrient level.

Capillaria philippinensis in Upper Egypt: Has It Become Endemic?

The goal of this study was to present an overview of human infections with Capillaria philippinensis, a new emerging parasite in Upper Egypt. The study included 21 inpatients who had been admitted to the Assiut University Hospital. Patients suffered from intermittent abdominal pain, borborygmi, chronic diarrhea lasting for several weeks, and marked weight loss. Hypoalbuminemia and low serum levels of potassium, calcium, and sodium were detected in most patients. A stool examination was performed using direct smears and the formalin-ether concentration method. Intact adult worms and/or eggs were evaluated using a light microscope and processed for scanning electron microscopy. The examination by light microscopy illustrated the general morphology of different stages. Using scanning electron microscopy, intestinal villi were found partially covering the cuticle of the adult worms, which provided evidence for the invasion of adult worms into the jejunal mucosa. Two distinct types of eggs, thick-shelled and thin-shelled, were identified and measured.

Comparative Evaluation of Anthelmintic Activity of Edible and Ornamental Pomegranate Ethanolic Extracts against Schistosoma mansoni

Due to the development of praziquantel (PZQ) schistosomes resistant strains, the discovery of new antischistosomal agents is of high priority in research. This work reported the in vitro and in vivo effects of the edible and ornamental pomegranate extracts against Schistosoma mansoni. Leaves and stem bark ethanolic extracts of both dried pomegranates were prepared at 100, 300, and 500 μg/mL for in vitro and 600 and 800 mg/kg for in vivo. Adult worms Schistosoma mansoni in RPMI-1640 medium for in vitro and S. mansoni infected mice for in vivo tests were obtained from Theodor Bilharz Research Institute, Cairo, Egypt. In vitro activity was manifested by significant coupled worms separation, reduction of motor activity, lethality, and ultrastructural tegumental alterations in adult worms. In vivo activity was manifested revealed by significant reduction of hepatic granulomas number and diameter, decreased number of bilharzial eggs in liver tissues, lowered liver inflammatory infiltration, decreased hepatic fibrosis, and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression. Ethanolic stem bark extract of edible pomegranate exhibited highest antischistosomal activities both in vitro and in vivo. Therefore, pomegranate showed a good potential to be used as a promising new candidate for the development of new schistosomicidal agents.

A Comparison of Different Methods Used for Diagnosis of Giardia Lamblia in Children Fecal Specimens

Abstract Background: Giardia lamblia, a flagellate protozoon, is a common causative agent of parasitic diarrheal diseases of humans. Laboratory diagnosis mainly consists of direct microscopic examination of stool specimen for trophozoite and cysts of Giardia. However, due to intermittent fecal excretion of parasite, the case may be miss diagnosed and the patient may continue excreting the parasite and infecting others. Therefore, other methods of diagnosis are needed, which should overcome the above drawbacks of microscopy used alone. Objectives: The present study was done to evaluate the efficacy of immunoassay by RIDASCREEN Giardia and Immunochromatographic tests in comparison to direct microscopy in the diagnosis of Giardia lamblia in stool specimens from patients with diarrhea and other gastrointestinal symptoms. Materials and Methods: At the Children Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt, a total of 200 patients were included in this crosssectional study and each fecal specimen was taken from each patient which was divided into two parts. One part was used for direct wet mount examination and second part was used for the quantitative and qualitative EIA RIDASCREEN Giardia and Immunochromatographic immunoassays, respectively. Results: Out of 200 stool samples, 60 specimens (30%) were found to be positive for Giardia lamblia by immunoassay that was significantly better than the conventional direct wet mount microscopy (20% detection). Maximum cases were detected by RIDASCREEN Giardia test with a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 91.5%. Conclusion: RIDASCREEN Giardia test is a rapid and effective method with high sensitivity and specificity and detects Giardia antigens in stool specimens even when the count of parasite is low, thus reducing the chances of missing even the asymptomatic cases.

Viability loss and ultrastructural changes on protoscolices of human hydatid cysts induced by retinoic acid

Surgical removal of intact hydatid cyst is the most effective treatment for hydatid disease. Recurrence of hydatid cyst is mainly due to dissemination of protoscolices (PSCs) rich fluid during the surgical operation. Therefore, preoperative instillation of a scolicidal agent into the cyst is a common practice with adverse side effects of the used drugs. All-trans retinoic acid (atRA) is the physiological mediator of most of the functions of vitamin A, particularly as a cellular differentiation and apoptosis regulating factor. We hypothesized that instillation of atRA could provide an alternative safe scolicidal approach. We tested the scolicidal effects and ultrastructural changes imposed by atRA on human hydatid cyst PSCs in vitro. Freshly isolated hydatid cyst PSCs were subjected to atRA (at 16.7, 1.67, 0.167 µM and 16.7 nM/L). Changes in protoscolices viability (0.1% eosin exclusion) and morphology (scanning and transmission electron microscopy; SEM and TEM) were investigated. Dose-dependent PSCs death within few minutes to 7 days of exposure to atRA was observed. SEM demonstrated ultrastructural damages including rosteller disorganization, loss of hooks and distortion of hooks morphology. TEM revealed loss of the integrity of the internal tissues of PSCs, an increased vacuolization, formation of large lipid droplets in the distal cytoplasm and aberrant, rounded abnormally large sized mitochondria. atRA is a promising alternative to the available synthetic and chemical scolicidal agents. However, in vivo scolicidal activities of atRA and the possible side effects necessitate further studies. Key words: Hydatid cyst, protoscolices, retinoic acid, ultrastructure, scolicidal activity.