Mahmoud N. Abo-Shehada

The Effect of Bee Honey on the Proliferative Activity of Human B-and T-Lymphocytes and the Activity of Phagocytes

The effect of bee honey (BH) taken from Apis melifica on human peripheral blood lymphocytes and neutrophils was studied using lymphocyte blastogenic 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazole-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) and quantitative nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) assays, respectively. Bee honey showed a mitogenic effect on both B- and T-lymphocytes. Stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) at 0.1% BH, B-cells showed maximum stimulatory index (0.838 ± 0.14 relative to 0.521 ± 0.09). Stimulated by concanavalin A (Con A) or phytohemagglutinin (PHA) in the presence of 0.2% BH, T-cells showed maximum stimulatory index of 0.820 ± 0.12 and 0.712 ± 0.09 compared to controls of 0.531 ± 0.07 and 0.648 ± 0.08, respectively. In addition, in the absence of classical mitogens, BH also stimulated B- and T-cells with stimulatory indices of 0.247 ± 0.03 and 0.34 ± 0.04, respectively. In the absence of LPS, maximum NBT uptake (fmol of formazan per phagocyte) by neutrophils was achieved at 0.2% BH (1.53 ± 0.23 compared to 1.29...

Some observations on hydatidosis in Jordan

A total of 2.8% (5 of 176) sera from schoolchildren and university students were seropositive for hydatidosis (Echinococcus granulosus), by the ELISA IgE test. The prevalence of seropositivity was 4.5% among females of all age groups (5-24 years) and among males of the age group 18-24 years. Males of the age group (5-17 years) were seronegative. The ratio of seropositivity between schoolboys and schoolgirls was 1:4. Sera collected from 1085 university students, aged 18-24 years, and from 1656 outpatients from northern and central Jordan, and the Jordan River valley, when tested by the IHA test, revealed the presence of anti-hydatid agglutinating antibodies in 5.16% (56 of 1085) and in 3.6% (60 of 1656) respectively, with a male to female infection ratio of 1:3 in the university students and 1:1.1 in the outpatients. Intensity, prevalence and cyst fertility of E. granulosus increased in sheep with age. The results of this study indicate that hydatidosis is in an endemic steady state in Jordan with estimated economic losses of JD 3.0 (= US

Flock-level prevalence of Eimeria species among broiler chicks in northern Jordan

4.4) per infected sheep.

Age and seasonal variations in the prevalence of Oestrus ovis larvae among sheep in northern Jordan

Six chicks (3-6 weeks of age) were taken randomly from each of 200 broiler farms in northern Jordan, these chicks were submitted for post-mortem and parasitological examinations. Seven Eimeria spp. were identified: E. acervulina, E. brunetti, E. maxima, E. necatrix, E. mivati, E. mitis, and E. tenella. Half (50%) of the farms surveyed had all six chicks infected, 23% of the farms were free of the infection. E. tenella was the most prevalent species (39%) followed by E. necatrix (12%), E. brunitti (12%), and E. maxima (10%). Prevalences did not vary by flock size. Also, neither the use of coccidiostat nor previous coccidiosis clinical outbreaks was associated with the prevalence of coccidiosis.

Flock-level seroprevalence of, and risk factors for, Neospora caninum among sheep and goats in northern Jordan

During the period March 1996-July 1997, 417 heads of Awassi sheep slaughtered at the Irbid Abattoir (northern Jordan) were examined for the three larval instars (L1, L2 and L3) of Oestrus ovis. Of the 417 heads, 242 (58%) were infested with O. ovis larvae. Larval numbers were highly aggregated. The lowest number of larvae and the lower quartile were both zero, whilst the median was two and the upper quartile was 12. The highest number of larvae recovered from one head was 151. All three larval instars were observed in each month of the year. July and October had the highest proportions of L1, 75 and 78%, respectively, among infected animals (adjusted for age). The number of larvae increased with age. Infestation with live larvae was associated with inflammatory responses in the upper respiratory tract and with catarrhal or purulent discharge. The percentage of infested sheep and the mean monthly total number of larvae/sheep peaked in the warmer part of the year. Most larvae were L1 except during the spring when L2 and L3 predominated. Distribution analysis demonstrates that the numbers of larvae recovered in the sheep population followed a negative-binomial distribution. Furthermore, the negative-binomial constant k for each month correlated with the monthly prevalence.

Prevalence of Eimeria species among goats in northern Jordan

During the period January 2002 to December 2003, serum samples were collected from 104 small ruminant flocks consisting of 18 sheep flocks, 27 goat flocks and 59 mixed flocks containing both sheep and goats in northern Jordan. Only female animals were sampled. At least 5 females aged over 2 years per flock per species were sampled and examined for anti-Neospora caninum antibodies using ELISA. To increase the chances of detecting positive flocks, sick or older ewes were sampled. Also, N. caninum DNA was investigated in 7 sheep brains using PCR technique and 1 was found positive. The flock-level true seroprevalence in small ruminants was 53% (95% CI: 43,63). The true flock-level seroprevalence was higher in sheep (92%) than goats (12%) (OR=55; 95% CI: 17,197). Similarly, the individual-level seroprevalence in sheep and goat was 63% and 2% respectively (OR=25; 95% CI: 16,39). Out of 32 production and health management variables, the presence of dogs with the flock (OR=3.6, 95% CI: 1.2,10) enhanced seropositivity. Cold temperate climate (OR=0.1, 95% CI: 0.03,0.4), veterinary supervision (OR=0.2, 95% CI: 0.06,0.6) and buying healthy animals to replace those culled (OR=0.3, 95% CI: 0.1,0.97) reduced the risk of seropositivity. Both sheep and goats in Jordan are exposed to N. caninum infection with higher seroprevalence in sheep than goats. The contribution of N. caninum to abortion in small ruminant flock needs to be evaluated. Educating the farmers with regard to the role of dogs in transmitting N. caninum infection is expected to enhance small ruminant health in Jordan.

Prevalence and burden of gastrointestinal helminthes among local chickens, in northern Jordan.

Abstract Fecal samples from 200 local goats in 13 goat farms in northern Jordan were examined during the period of August–November 1997. Eleven (85%) of 13 farms had Eimeria spp. and of 200 goats, 54% were infected with at least one Eimeria sp. Significantly ( P Eimeria compared to 49% (69 of 141) adult >1-year-old goats. Eight Eimeria species were identified for the first time in Jordanian goats. The Eimeria species identified from local goats were Eimeria arliongi , Eimeria caprina and Eimeria alijevi being most prevalent in the adults, and Eimeria ninakohlyakimovae , Eimeria apsheronica and E. caprina being the most common species amongst the kid population. In addition, Eimeria caprovina and Eimeria parva were found commonly in both age groups. The coccidia infection among the examined herds involved up to 100% of animals. Other parasites in both coccidia infected and coccidia free samples were also found in this survey. Strongyloides spp. prevailed in significantly higher rate in Eimeria spp. infected goats than Eimeria spp. free goats.

Prevalence of Surra among camels and horses in Jordan.

We conducted a cross-sectional study from December 2004 to February 2005 and from June 2005 to August 2005. The study aimed to determine the prevalence of gastrointestinal and tracheal helminthes among local chickens in northern Jordan. A total of 208 male and female local scavenging chickens were selected randomly. We examined the trachea and gastrointestinal tract of each bird for the presence of helminthes. We recovered three nematode and eight cestode species. No trematodes were found. One hundred and fifty-two birds (73.1%) (95% CI: 67, 79) were infected. The prevalences of different species were as follows: Ascaridia galli female 28%, male 43%; Capillaria obsignata 0.5%; Heterakis gallinarum 33%; Amoebotaenia cuneata 4.3%; Choanotaenia infundibulum female 23%, male 13%; Davainea proglottina 1.4%; Hymenolepsis cantaniana 11%; Hymenolepsis carioca female 35%, male 24%; Raillietina cesticillius female 5%, male 11%; Raillietina echinobothrida 16%; and Raillietina tetragona 18%. The prevalences of A. galli and R. cesticillus were higher in male than female hosts while those of C. infundibulum and H. carioca were higher in females. The median worm burden was 7 (range 0-168) worms per chicken.

Prevalence of hydatidosis among donkeys in northern Jordan

The prevalence of Trypanosoma evansi infection among camels and horses in Jordan was studied using thick blood smears and inoculation techniques with mice and rats. A total of 437 camels and 83 horses from four climatic zones were surveyed. In addition, 40 donkeys, 32 cattle and 35 goats in contact with infected camels and horses were also tested in the same way. Clinical disease was evident in 8.2% of the camels (36 out of 437) and in 9.6% of the horses (8 out of 83). Infection was limited only to the Sweama area on the Dead Sea (within the warm desert-climatic zone), with prevalence of 30.5% and 33.3%, respectively, for camels and horses. Donkeys, cattle and goats examined were all free from T. evansi. Clinically affected camels were positive by both, thick blood smear and mouse and rat inoculations. Rat and mouse inoculations revealed (X2 = 3.2, df = 1, exact p = 0.07) greater number of positive cases in horses than those revealed by thick blood smears. T. evansi-infected camels and horses showed all the clinical signs known for Surra. In addition, it was observed that 100% of infected camels stared at the sun.

Seroprevalence of Toxocara canis antibodies in humans in northern Jordan

One hundred and thirty donkeys (Equus asinus), aged between 5 months and 14 years of age, from the Irbid Governorate in northern Jordan were necropsied between November 1997-May 1999. Of these animals, 16.9% had hydatid cysts in either their lungs and/or livers. No donkeys of 3 years of age or less were infected, where as 33.3% (22 of 66) aged 4 years or greater were infected. Intensity of infection increased with age in a linear fashion. The prevalence also increased with age approaching an asymptotic prevalence of 1 in the oldest animals. This implied there was minimal regulation of the parasite population by intermediate host immunity. The numbers of cysts in the donkeys were increasing at a rate of 0.48 cysts per year from 0.054 infections. The frequency distribution was highly aggregated, consistent with a negative binomial distribution indicating infection of donkeys was not random.