Shawky M. Aboelhadid

Trials for the control of trichodinosis and gyrodactylosis in hatchery reared Oreochromis niloticus fries by using garlic

The present work was designed to study the prevalence of trichodinosis and gyrodactylosis in Oreochromis niloticus fries, and to test the therapeutic efficacy and preventive efficacy of garlic oil and crushed garlic cloves. Trichodinosis and gyrodactylosis are ectoparasitic diseases that affect most warm freshwater fish, especially fries and fingerlings. In a private O. niloticus fish hatchery, the prevalence of trichodinosis in 5-, 15- and 30-day-old-fries was 37%, 23% and 40.5%, respectively. The highest infection intensity was detected in 30-day-old-fries. The gyrodactylosis was reported only in combination with trichodinosis. In addition, we found that its prevalence in 5-, 15- and 30-day-old-fries was 17%, 19.5% and 29%, respectively. Mortality rate of fry in the first month of life was 53% as a result of injury to these two types of parasites. The garlic oil and crushed garlic cloves were tested in both in vitro and earthen ponds of the hatchery. Using 2-, 2.5- and 3-ppt (parts per thousand) garlic oil for 4h in vitro water bath treatment resulted in 100% recovery, while 1 and 1.5 ppt garlic oil, respectively, needed 24 and 16 h to treat the infected fries. The treatment by 3 ppt garlic oil as a water bath for 1h treated the two diseases in 55% in 7 days from application in the hatchery earthen pond. In the mean time, 300 mg L(-1) crushed garlic cloves as an indefinite bath in the hatchery earthen pond eliminated 68% of the diseases. The same protocol for preventing the two diseases resulted in obtaining 65% and 75% of parasite free fries, for garlic oil and crushed garlic cloves, respectively, compared to 53% of the control fries.

Immunoprotective Effect of Chitosan Particles on Hymenolepis nana - Infected Mice

Hymenolepis nana is the most commonly known intestinal cestode infecting mainly human. This study aimed to investigate the potential effect of chitosan particles (CSP) to enhance the immune system against H. nana infection. Determination of worm burden, egg output, histopathological changes, oxidative stress markers (lipid peroxidation and reduced glutathione), goblet (GCs) and mucosal mast cells (MMCs) counts in intestinal ileum was performed. In addition, levels of intestinal mRNA expression of interleukin (IL)‐4, IL‐9, stem cell factor (SCF), type I and II interferons (IFN)‐α/ γ, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)‐α, mucin 2 (MUC2) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOs) were investigated using real‐time PCR. The results indicated induced reductions in adult worm and egg counts in infected mice after CSP treatment. This was associated with improvement in tissue morphometric measurements and oxidative stress which were altered after infection. Expression levels of iNOs, IFN‐α, IFN‐γ, TNF‐α and IL‐9 were decreased by CSP. Conversely, expression levels of MUC2, IL‐4 and SCF increased compared to infected untreated group. In addition, GCs and MMCs counts were normalized by CSP. In conclusion, this study could indicate the immunoprotective effect of CSP against H. nana infection. This was characterized with Th2 anti‐inflammatory responses.

Modulation of murine intestinal immunity by Moringa oleifera extract in experimental hymenolepiasis nana

The potential therapeutic value of Moringa oleifera extract (MOE), due to its anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effects, has been reported previously. In this study, Hymenolepis nana antigen (HNA) in combination with MOE was used in immunization against H. nana infection. Adult worm and egg counts were taken, while histological changes in the intestine were observed. Mucosal mast (MMCs) and goblet cells (GCs) were stained with specific stains, while serum and intestinal IgA were assayed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Reduced glutathione (GSH) and lipid peroxidation (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, TBARS) were assayed. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used for detection of mRNA expression in ileum tissue. The results demonstrated an improvement in the architecture of intestinal villi, decreased inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOs) and TBARS, and increased GSH in HNA, MOE and MOE + HNA groups. In the same groups, an increase in GCs, mucin 2 (MUC2), interleukins (IL)-4, -5 and -9, and stem cell factor (SCF) versus a decrease in both interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) and transforming growth factor (TGF-β) expression appeared. HNA and MOE + HNA increased serum and intestinal IgA, respectively. MOE decreased MMCs and achieved the highest reductions in both adult worms and eggs. In conclusion, MOE could achieve protection against H. nana infections through decreased TGF-β, IFN-γ and MMC counts versus increased GC counts, T-helper cell type 2 (Th2) cytokines and IgA level.

Effect of high concentrations of lufenuron, pyriproxyfen and hydroprene on Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) annulatus

The activity of high doses of three insect growth regulators (IGRs), lufenuron (MATCH®), pyriproxfen® and hydroprene (Gentrol®), were tested on Rhipicephalus(Boophilus) annulatus adult females, eggs and larvae. Different concentrations of the IGRs were tested on eggs, larvae and adult ticks through immersion, larval packet and adult immersion bioassays, respectively. The tested IGRs did not show adulticidal activity against female ticks even at very high concentration. However, both hydroprene and pyriproxfen caused a significant decrease (P<0.05) in the reproductive indices of adult female ticks. Both lufenuron and pyriproxefen showed considerable ovicidal activity delaying the hatchability of the treated eggs until the 21st day and decreasing the hatchability percentages to 37.7% and 60.6% at concentrations ≥10X and ≥4X, respectively. Lufenuron (≥10X dose), hydroprene (≥4X dose) and pyriproxyfen (≥4X dose) induced highly significant larvicidal activity as they caused 100% mortality after 72 h of exposure. The oxidative profile of the hydroprene treated ticks had decreased glutathione peroxidase and increased malonaldehyde in comparison to the other IGR- treated and control untreated ticks. It is concluded that the IGRs did not show R. annulatus adulticidal effect, however, the deposited egg mass and its hatching percent decreased significantly when treated with hydroprene and pyriproxfen. The tested IGRs showed larvicidal activity against R. (B.) annulatus.

Digenetic larvae in Schistosome snails from El Fayoum, Egypt with detection of Schistosoma mansoni in the snail by PCR

The present study aims to detect the digenetic larvae infections in Bulinus truncatus and Biomphalaria alexandrina snails and also PCR detection of Schistosoma mansoni infection. The snails were collected from different branches of Yousef canal and their derivatives in El Fayoum Governorate. The snails were investigated for infection through induction of cercarial shedding by exposure to light and crushing of the snails. The shed cercariae were S. mansoni, Pharyngeate longifurcate type I and Pharyngeate longifurcate type II from B. alexandrina, while that found in B. truncatus were Schitosoma haematobium and Xiphidiocercaria species cercariae. The seasonal prevalence of infection was discussed. Polymerase chain reaction was used for the detection of S. mansoni in the DNA from field collected infected and non infected snails. The results of PCR showed that the pool of B. alexandrina snails which shed S. mansoni cercariae in the laboratory, gave positive reaction in the samples. Pooled samples of field collected B. alexandrina that showed negative microscopic shedding of cercariae gave negative and positive PCR in a consecutive manner. Accordingly, a latent infection in the snail (negative microscopic) could be detected by using PCR.