No abstract

Cryptosporidiosis is a zoonotic disease caused by a well-known parasitic protozoan called Cryptosporidium. Infection in livestock causes important economic losses among farm animals and its control has a global concern. In this study, internal white and external red layers were separated from pomegranate peels (Punica granatum) then; they were grinded to reach Nano form. Anticryptosporidial effect of their water extracts was investigated in experimentally infected mice. Also, their antioxidant activity, biochemical and histopathological changes were studied. Briefly, hot aqueous extracts of pomegranate peels were prepared regarding its good sensory attributes at concentration of 10% W/V. Analysis of total phenolics, individual phenolics by HPLC-DAD and antioxidant activities have been done. Forty-five mice were divided into five groups each one containing nine mice. The first group was healthy mice and the 2nd one was infected orally with 10 4 Cryptosporidium parvum (C. parvum) oocysts/mice and not treated. The other 3 groups were infected and orally treated with Nitazoxanide (NTZ) for the 3rd group, pomegranate red peel extract for the 4th group and pomegranate white peel extract for the 5th group. Blood samples were collected after 1 and 2 weeks post treatment for protein profile, liver enzymes and antioxidant activity evaluation. After 3 weeks, all animals were sacrificed and ileal tissues were embedded in paraffin for histopathological examination. The results showed that pomegranate peel extracts were rich in phenolic compounds, had high antioxidant activity and therapeutic effect on C. parvum in experimentally infected mice. Red peel extract diminished C. parvum oocysts count significantly in experimentally infected mice than white peel and NTZ treatments. Also, the histopathological examination revealed that red peel treated mice ileal sections showed a great enhancement in the shape and structure of villi towards normal structure than other treated groups. Most of the measured biochemical parameters after 2 weeks' treatment with red pomegranate peel and NTZ were enhanced in their concentrations towards the healthy normal status. In conclusion, this study showed the effectiveness of Nano-form of pomegranate white and red peel extracts against C. parvum oocysts. Pomegranate red peel extract was found to have antioxidant activity that could significantly enhance the serum biochemical parameters and oxidative stress towards the healthy normal status. Furthermore, it is suggested that pomegranate peel should be separated and used in the daily animal diet or as a functional beavarage for human as accepted from the panelists to give protective effects against this parasite as well as to improve health benefits.

Background:Fasciolosis is an important zoonotic disease affecting the productive performance of farm animals in Egypt.Aim:The aim of the present study was comparing the ovicidal effect of different extracts as an alcoholic (Methanolic and Ethanolic) and aqueous Moringa oleifera leaf extracts on Fasciola gigantica non-embryonated and developed eggs.Materials and Methods:Tested concentrations of extracts ranged from 12.5 to 800 mg/ml. Nitroxynil was used as reference drug with a dose of 100 mg/ml.Results:M. oleifera alcoholic and aqueous extracts showed a concentration-dependent ovicidal effect on F. gigantica non-embryonated and developed eggs. Based on LC50 values, water extract showed the highest ovicidal activity since it registered the lowest values of 2.6 mg/ml on non-embryonated eggs. Non-embryonated eggs were more susceptible to aqueous extract than developed eggs. On the other hand, the developed eggs were more susceptible to ethanolic extract than non-embryonated eggs even the lowest LC50 (12.38 mg/ml).Conclusion:M. oleifera leaf extracts especially aqueous extract could be a promising step in the field of controlling fascioliasis. Further, in vivo studies are needed to enlighten the therapeutic potential of M. oleifera extracts in treating F. gigantica infection.

Aim: The effect of some variables on hydatidosis in animals slaughtered at Cairo and Giza abattoirs was investigated and the influence on serum biochemical parameters, antioxidant enzymes, and histopathological lesions caused by these parasites as a consequence was estimated. Materials and Methods: The effect of some variables on hydatidosis in 397 sheep, 401 cattle, 435 buffaloes, and 341 camels slaughtered at Cairo and Giza abattoirs was investigated, and the influence on serum biochemical parameters, antioxidant activity and histopathological lesions caused by these parasites as a consequence was estimated. Results: The results revealed that 39 sheep (9.8%), 74 cattle (18.4%), 95 buffaloes (21.8%), and 79 camels (23.25%) were infected. Concerning age variations, 165 young and 232 adult sheep, 215 young and 186 adult cattle, 194 young and 241 adult buffaloes, and 112 young and 229 adult camels were examined. The prevalence of hydatidosis was higher in adult sheep, cattle, and camel; 32 (13.8%), 49 (26.3%), and 56 (24.5%) than the younger ones 7 (4.2%), 25 (11.6%), and 23 (20.5%), respectively. Two hundred and eighty-eight sheep, 171 cattle were examined during winter. However, 109 sheep, 230 cattle were examined during summer. Hydatidosis infection in sheep and cattle was higher in winter 26 (9.01%) and 47 (27.5%) than in summer 13 (11.9%) and 27 (11.7%), respectively. Out of 133 sheep and 128 camels slaughtered in El-Basatin abattoirs, 36 (15.3) and 38 (29.7%) showed higher prevalence than that from El-Warak and El-Moneib abattoirs. Comparing with the non-infected groups, alkaline phosphatase activity decreased in hydatid-infected animals, while cholesterol and liver enzymes activities increased. Total lipid and triglyceride levels decreased in infected camels. Glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and catalase decreased in hydatid-infected animals. Conclusion: The disturbance in the biochemical parameters, liver enzymes, and the antioxidant activities was consistent with the pathological findings that indicated the risk of hydatidosis infection. Finally, this study clarified the variabilities of hydatidosis in Cairo and Giza abattoirs as a starting point for future studies in different regions in Egypt.

No abstract

Background and Aim: Cryptosporidiosis is a leading cause of diarrheal disease worldwide and is an animal and public health burden. This study aimed to evaluate the protective potential of affinity-purified Cryptosporidium parvum oocyst antigen as a vaccine candidate according to fecal oocyst shedding, humoral and cellular immune responses, histopathological changes, and the number of parasite developmental stages in ileal and hepatic tissues. Materials and Methods: We isolated oocysts from naturally infected buffalo calves and identified them molecularly as C. parvum isolates (GenBank: ON730707 and ON730708) by targeting the Cryptosporidium oocyst wall protein gene. We propagated the C. parvum oocysts in mice. In addition, we prepared crude antigen from the isolated oocysts by purification using cyanogen bromide-activated Sepharose-4B affinity chromatography coupled with rabbit hyperimmune serum. Then, we divided 81 parasite-free mice into three groups: (1) non-vaccinated non-infected mice, (2) mice orally infected with 1 × 105 C. parvum oocysts on week 4 of the experiment, and (3) mice immunized twice with 40 μg/kg of the purified fraction at 2-week intervals. Then, we challenged the vaccinated group with C. parvum oocysts after 2 weeks, and the positive control group was infected at the same time. Results: We observed a prolonged prepatent period and decreased oocyst shedding in the vaccinated infected mice compared with the non-vaccinated infected mice (t < 0.001). The vaccinated mice had significantly higher immunoglobulin G levels than those in the other two groups at all examined weeks. In addition, the production of cytokines interferon-gamma, interleukin (IL)-10, IL-12, and IL-15 was activated post-vaccination. After the challenge, all tested cytokines were significantly increased (p < 0.001) in the two infected groups compared with the non-vaccinated non-infected group, with the highest levels in the vaccinated infected group. Vaccinated infected mice exhibited significantly fewer pathological lesions in the ileum and liver than non-vaccinated infected mice, which showed prominent histopathological lesions. Endogenous developmental stages of C. parvum indicated that the ileum was more parasitized than the liver and that vaccination resulted in a lower number of oocysts in ileal and hepatic tissues (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Our prepared affinity-purified vaccine candidate could be promising in protecting against cryptosporidiosis.

Cryptosporidium an apicomplexan parasite has the ability to induce diarrhea in bovines, goats, pigs, dogs and cats worldwide. In this study, buffalo calves fecal samples were examined after staining their smears with Modified Ziehl-Neelsen Stain (MZN). Ileal sections were examined for the detection of pathological changes. Further molecular characterization was done using nested PCR amplification and partial sequence analysis. The detected oocysts were morphologically similar to Cryptosporidium parvum. Light microscopic examination of Cryptosporidium infected ileal Tissue Section (TS) stained with H and E revealed the presence of altered mucosal architecture with congestion of blood vessels, infiltration, sloughing and complete erosion of epithelial cells and shortening, blunting, stunting and atrophy of the intestinal villi. Molecular characterization gave PCR amplicons of 18S SSU rRNA gene products approximately at 823 bp. Sequences proved specified generalized relatedness with 21 species of Cryptosporidium but the nucleotide homogeneity percentage was insufficient to designate species or genotypes. Further bioinformatics analysis showed that resulting Cryptosporidium isolates had the closest match with three isolates. It was implied that the Cryptosporidium isolates is mostly like Cryptosporidium parvum (JX237832.1) previously isolated from buffaloes in Ismailia province.

Background and Aim: Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a widespread parasitic disease caused by Echinococcus granulosus tapeworm infect different intermediate hosts including sheep, cattle, and camels. The intermediate host's immune response to the hydatid cyst is still conflict and complex. The current study was designed to evaluate the immune response in sera of hydatid naturally infected sheep, cattle, and camels in the form of features of inflammatory cell infiltrations, levels of Th1 and Th2 cytokines, besides the humoral specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) responses. Materials and Methods: Thirty-nine sheep, 74 cattle, and 79 camels' sera were collected and considered as CE naturally infected and ten samples from each species were graded as non-infected. Lung specimens were collected for histopathological examination. The quantitative concentrations of tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-4, and IL-10 were determined. Different antigens were prepared from hydatid cyst; hydatid cyst fluid of lung origin hydatid cyst fluid of liver origin, hydatid cyst protoscoleces of lung origin (HCP-g), hydatid cyst protoscoleces of liver origin , hydatid cyst germinal layer of lung origin, and hydatid cyst germinal layer of liver origin; and characterized by gel electrophoresis and Western blotting analysis. The total specific IgG level against E. granulosus infection was measured using an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: The results indicated that the cellular immune response in the infected tissues was characterized by inflammatory cell penetration. The pro-inflammatory Th1 cytokine profile was predominant in infected animals in comparison with non-infected ones. However, the humoral immune response was seen as a high level of IgG in infected animals. The presented data approved that the HCP-g antigen could be considered as a delegate antigen for all other prepared antigens with an immunoreactive band at molecular weights 32 kDa. Conclusion: This study provides a fundamental insight into the events that manipulate cellular and humoral immune profiles in an intermediate host; sheep, cattle, and camel that naturally infected with CE. Hence, it was concluded that CE is a constant disease and confirm the reactivity Th1 in combating hydatid cyst. Besides, it could lead to the activation of the humoral immune response in the form of a high level of IgG.