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Rotavirus group A (RV-A) and Cryptosporidium spp. are recognized as important pathogens causing gastroenteritis, even with very low doses in all age groups and representing a public health risk. Seventy-two wastewater samples were collected and concentrated for detecting Cryptosporidium spp. and RV-A. PCR was performed for identification of genus Cryptosporidium using generic primers and species specific primers for Cryptosporidium parvum / Cryptosporidium hominis. Multiplex seminested RT-PCR was performed to identify the genotypes P and G of RV-A. Our findings showed that the rotavirus genome was detected in 29 (40.3%) out of 72 analyzed wastewater samples. Rotavirus rates in raw wastewater samples were higher (47.2%) than those detected in treated wastewater (33.3%). Cryptosporidium was found in 33.3% of 72 tested wastewater samples. All Cryptosporidium-positivesamples were related to Cryptosporidium parvum. The prevalence of Cryptosporidium parvum in influents and effluents reached 41.7% and 25%, respectively. The removal rates of rotavirus and Cryptosporidium parvum in the examined WWTP were 29.4% and 40%, respectively. The largest percentage of positive rotavirus in raw wastewater samples was detected in winter (77.8%), followed by 66.7% in autumn. Three P types and two G types of RV-A strains were identified in wastewater samples. The most prevalent types of RV-A strains in raw and treated sewage samples were G1 and P[8] genotypes. In conclusion, wastewater treatment processes, including a trickling filter, were not sufficient to eliminate several RV-A strains and Cryptosporidium parvum, leading to the potential release of these pathogens from domestic sewage into water sources.

Background Human bocavirus (HBoV) is globally distributed and associated with respiratory and enteric infections. Limited data are available about the incidence of HBoV in Egyptian children. We aimed to investigate the association of HBoV genotypes in children with diarrheal disease and also to determine the possibility of HBoV co-infections with other human enteric pathogens. Methods A total of 102 stool samples were collected from children under five years old with diarrhea. Samples were analyzed for the presence of HBoV by real-time PCR. HBoV positive samples were tested for adenovirus (AdV), rotavirus (RoV), parasitic helminths, and enteric protozoa. Results HBoV was detected in 58% of examined cases. HBoV-3 was the most prevalent genotype observed (44%; 45 of 102), followed by HBoV-2/4 (33%; 34 of 102) and HBoV-1 (30%; 31 of 102). Although the incidence of HBoV was higher in males (66.6%; 34 of 51) than females (49%; 25 of 51), the analysis showed no significant difference for HBoV between genders. The average HBoV concentrations were 5.3 × 104 GC/g in males and 1.03 × 105 GC/g in females. Among the HBoV-positive samples, the single infection of HBoV was 52.5% (31/59), while the co-infections with multiple viruses were found in 1.7% (1/59) for HBoV and AdV, 33.9% (20/59) for HBoV and RoV, and 11.9% (7/59) for HBoV, and RoV and AdV. No co-infection with parasitic helminths or enteric protozoa was found. Conclusions The single infection of HBoV in some children suffering from acute gastroenteritis indicated that HBoV could be the main etiologic agent of the disease. The study highlights the high incidence of HBoVs genotypes with remarkable multiple co-infections in the pre-school children in Egypt.

Genus Acanthamoeba causes 3 clinical syndromes amebic keratitis, granulomatous amebic encephalitis and disseminated granulomatous amebic disease (eg, sinus, skin and pulmonary infections). A total of 144 tap water samples were collected from Giza governorate, Egypt. Samples were processed for detection of Acanthamoeba species using non-nutrient agar (NNA) and were incubated at 30oC. The isolates of Acanthamoeba were identified to species level based on the morphologic criteria. Molecular characterization of the Acanthamoeba isolates to genus level was performed by using PCR. The obtained results showed that the highest occurrence percentage of Acanthamoeba species in water samples was observed in summer season (38.9%), then it decreased to be 30.6% in spring and 25% in each of autumn and winter. PCR analysis showed that 100% of 43 Acanthamoeba morphologically positive samples were positive by genus specific primer. In the present study eight species of Acanthamoeba can be morphologically recognized namely Acanthamoeba triangularis, Acanthamoeba echinulata, Acanthamoeba astronyxis, Acanthamoeba comandoni, Acanthamoeba griffini, Acanthamoeba culbertsoni, Acanthamoeba quina and Acanthamoeba lenticulata. In conclusion, the most common Acanthamoeba species in tap water was Acanthamoeba comandoni