This review presents a comprehensive picture of the zoonotic parasitic diseases in Egypt, with particular reference to their relative prevalence among humans, animal reservoirs of infection, and sources of human infection. A review of the available literature indicates that many parasitic zoonoses are endemic in Egypt. Intestinal infections of parasitic zoonoses are widespread and are the leading cause of diarrhea, particularly among children and residents of rural areas. Some parasitic zoonoses are confined to specific geographic areas in Egypt, such as cutaneous leishmaniasis and zoonotic babesiosis in the Sinai. Other areas have a past history of a certain parasitic zoonoses, such as visceral leishmaniasis in the El-Agamy area in Alexandria. As a result of the implementation of control programs, a marked decrease in the prevalence of other zoonoses, such as schistosomiasis and fascioliasis has been observed. Animal reservoirs of parasitic zoonoses have been identified in Egypt, especially in rodents, stray dogs and cats, as well as vectors, typically mosquitoes and ticks, which constitute potential risks for disease transmission. Prevention and control programs against sources and reservoirs of zoonoses should be planned by public health and veterinary officers based on reliable information from systematic surveillance.

Aim To estimate the hepatitis C virus (HCV) vertical transmission rate, the effect of potential risk factors, and the pattern of HCV antibody response and viremia in HCV-infected infants in Benha, Egypt.Methods A total of 1224 pregnant women who were treated at Benha University Hospital, Egypt, were included in the study. They completed a questionnaire about risk factors for HCV acquisition and suspected risk factors for mother-to-infant transmission and were tested for HCV antibody using a third-generation ELISA test. Women positive for HCV antibody were tested for HCV RNA by polymerase chain reaction. Peripheral blood of infants of positive HCV-RNA women was tested for HCV antibody and HCV-RNA at 1 and after 6 months of age.Results Out of 1224 pregnant women, 105 (8.6%; 95% confidence interval, 7.05-10.17) were positive for HCV antibody. Only 83 (6.8%; 5.39-7.21) were positive for HCV-RNA. HCV infection was associated with older age (1.16; 1.1-1.2, P = 0.001), blood transfusion (2.69; 1.2-6.0, P = 0.016), and HCV infection of the husband (5.47; 1.4-21, P = 0.014) or other household members (2.29; 1.2-4.6, P = 0.019). Out of 53 infants tested at first month, 43 (81%; 71-92%) were positive for HCV antibody, but only 7 (13%; 4.1-22%) were positive for HCV-RNA. After 6 months, only 2 (3.8%; 0-8.95%) remained positive for HCV RNA. ConclusionsThe prevalence of HCV in pregnant women in Egypt is lower than previously reported and the potential risk factors associated with HCV infection suggest intra-familial transmission. The frequency of vertical transmission of HCV in Egypt is not substantially different from other countries and does not play a role in the high prevalence of HCV in Egypt. CLINICAL SCIENCES doi: 10.3325/cmj.2010.51.219 CLINICAL SCIENCE 220Croat Med J. 2010; 51: 219-28 www.cmj.hrWorldwide, hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is one of the most prevalent causes of liver diseases. There are estimated 300 million carriers of the virus all over the world (1). In the USA, the overall prevalence of HCV antibodies in the general population is 1.8%, the prevalence in children 6-11 years is 0.2%, and in adolescents 12-19 years old is 0.4% (2). In most developed countries, HCV infection is associated with percutaneous blood exposure, primarily as a result of blood transfusion and intravenous drug addiction (3).Egypt has the highest prevalence of hepatitis C in the world. Studies have found widely varying levels (10-50%) of the prevalence, depending on the populations covered; overall, estimates of the HCV rate in the general population range between 10 and 20% (4,5). Geographically, hepatitis C prevalence is higher in Lower Egypt (Nile delta) than Upper Egypt, and it is lower in urban than rural areas (6).In Egypt, the use of contaminated needles and syringes during mass schistosomiasis treatment campaigns during the period the 1960s-1980s has been identified as a key mode of transmission for HCV infection, suggesting that parenteral exposure continues to cause infections (7). Evidence of high interfamili...

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Background: Blastocystis is a common protist detected in fecal samples of humans and a wide range of animals. The parasite exhibits extensive genetic diversity with seventeen distinct subtypes (STs) identified collectively from humans, other mammals and birds. Shared STs between animal and human hosts were considered to be potentially zoonotic. However, Blastocystis infection among non-human hosts, in Egypt has not been investigated so far. Objective: To determine the occurrence and ST distribution of Blastocystis species isolated from domestic mammals, poultry and their in-contact humans. Material and Methods: A total of 416 fecal samples from domestic animals (mammals and poultry) as well as their in-contact humans were screened by inoculation into Jones' media. Positive samples were subtyped using seven pairs of ST-specific sequence-tagged-site (STS) primers. Results: The occurrence of Blastocystis spp. infection was 69.8% in poultry, 17.7% in domestic mammals and 35.7% in humans. Among the studied animal species ST1-ST7 were identified with varying percentages; however, only four STs (ST1-ST4) were identified in humans. A minority of human subjects examined (16/56, 28.5%) were carrying the same ST detected in their domestic animals. Conclusion: The detection of all the tested STs among the infected animal species examined highlights the broad genetic diversity observed among Blastocystis spp. isolated from animals. However, the detection of only four STs among humans suggests that these STs can easily infect humans and the animals carrying the same STs could be possible reservoirs. Surprisingly, direct handling of animals was not found to be a major contributor to human blastocystosis in Egypt, denoting the role of anthroponotic transmission and the possibility of fecal cross-contamination from other potential reservoir animals in the surrounding environment.

Aim:The main objectives of this study were to determine the incidence of Sarcocystis sp. infection in cattle and buffalo carcasses slaughtered at El-Kharga abattoir, New Valley Governorate, Egypt.Materials and Methods:The slaughtered animals were daily inspected for Sarcocystis macrocysts through a year (2015). Macroscopic Sarcocystis was detected from a total of 2120 cattle and buffalo carcasses. In addition, 100 meat samples were collected from female cattle and buffalo (50 each) and were examined microscopically for sarcocystosis.Results:The overall incidence of Sarcocystis macrocyst among bovine carcasses was 159/2120 (7.5%). Total incidence in cattle was 149/2000 (7.45%), whereas it was 10/120 (8.33%) in buffalo carcasses. Concerning gender, the overall prevalence of Sarcocystis infection was 127/1790 (7.09%) in male and 32/330 (9.69%) in females bovine carcasses. The highest detection rate of Sarcocystis lesions was from the esophagus (76.3%) followed by throat muscles (35.3%), tongue (33.8%), and diaphragm muscles (18.71%). Macrocysts from cattle were identified to Sarcocystis hirsuta, whereas Sarcocystis fusiformis was identified from buffalo carcasses. By microscopic examination, 18 (36%) of 50 female cattle carcasses harbor Sarcocystis sp., whereas 11 (22%) of buffalo carcasses were harbored Sarcocystis microcysts.Conclusion:A high incidence of Sarcocystis infection was detected among slaughtered bovines in El-Kharga abattoir, Egypt. Sarcocystis macrocysts were a higher incidence in female elder animals macrocysts were identified to S. hirsuta in cattle and S. fusiformis in buffaloes. Sarcocystosis constitute a major cause of economic losses at El-Kharga abattoir. Beef meat may carry health risks to consumers.

Methanolic extract of Capparis sinaica Veill was tested for its in vitro antiviral activity against highly pathogenic avian influenza strain H5N1 using plaque inhibition assay in Madin-Darby canine kidney. The results indicated that the extract possessed potent antiviral activity (100% inhibition at the concentration of 1 μg/ml). Based on this result, C. sinaica Veill was selected for further study by applying bioactivity-guided fractionation to isolate its antiviral principles. The fractions eluted with EtOAc and 25% MeOH in EtOAc were found to hold the antiviral activity. Further chromatographic separation of the fractions holding the antiviral activity led to the isolation of quercetin (1), isoquercetin (2) and rutin (3) for the first time from this species. The isolates showed reduction in the virus titre by 68.13%, 79.66% and 73.22% inhibition at a concentration of 1 ng/ml, respectively.

The hepatitis virus is hyperendemic in Egypt, western Asia and Africa. In Egypt, most studies have been carried out in the regions of the upper and lower Nile Delta, and so little is known about other parts of the country. Our project aimed to clarify the carrier rate of various hepatitis viruses in the northeastern province of Ismailia. A total of 214 patients with elevated liver enzymes were enrolled in this study. Sera were collected in Ismailia hospital. We conducted a serological and molecular-based survey of hepatitis viruses, including their genetic variability and genotype-related differences. There were 10 (4.7%) cases positive for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), and 156 (72.9%) positive for anti-hepatitis C virus antibody (HCV-Ab). Phylogenetic analysis showed that genotype C of HBV and genotype 4a of HCV were prevalent. Hepatitis D virus RNA was not detected in HBsAg carriers. Although anti-hepatitis E virus IgM antibody was positive in 5 cases (2.3%), no case was positive for its RNA. Among 54 cases negative for HBsAg and HCV-Ab, HBV-DNA was detected in 35 cases (65%). Our results revealed that HBV and HCV, including occult HBV infection, are widespread and related to liver diseases in Ismailia province, Egypt.

Some Egyptian plants were screened against highly pathogenic avian influenza strain H5N1 using plaque inhibition assay in Madin-Darby canine kidney. The results indicated that the extracts of Red Sea grass Thallasodendron ciliatum possessed potent antiviral activity (100% inhibition at the concentration of 1 μg mL⁻¹). The bioactivity-guided fractionations led to the isolation of a new diglyceride ester (1) along with asebotin (2) for the first time from the plant. The two isolates showed reduction of virus titre by 67.26% and 53.81% inhibition at concentration of 1 ng mL⁻¹, respectively.