The pathogenesis of Schistosoma mansoni infection is largely determined by host T-cell mediated immuneSchistosomiasis is a debilitating parasitic disease affecting about 200 million people in 70 countries in the world and is caused by one of the three different species of Schistosoma: S. mansoni, S. haematobium, and S. japonicum. The major pathology of these parasitic infections is associated with a host delayed type hypersensitivity reaction to parasitic egg and egg products. Granulomatous inflammation is a cellular hypersensitivity reaction mediated by egg antigen-specific, MHC class II-restricted, TCR αβ expressing, CD4 + T helper cells (Iacomini et al. 1995). Patients infected with S. mansoni mount cellular and humoral immune responses to soluble egg antigens derived from crude homogenates of eggs. Thus, the end result of host responses to schistosome eggs in the liver is advanced portal fibrosis with dense deposits of collagens in greatly expanded portal tracts (El-Zayadi 2004). The immune reaction produced by the body against the schistosomal infection is a double-weaponed arm. Unfortunately, the harmful weapon is the longest and the most powerful. That is the immune reaction against the schistosomal egg causing the schistosomal granuloma. The other weapon of the immune system that should be lengthened and empowered is the protective immune response against infection, egg production and/or the granuloma formation. Many researchers have been doing their best to get the suitable agent that can stimulate the maximal, specific immune response against schistosomiasis (Goes & Hirsch 1996).Considerable efforts have been exerted to determine which S. mansoni antigens induce and elicit T cell-mediated responses and granuloma formation (Goes & Hirsch 1996). Several laboratories have isolated various antigens from crude soluble egg anigens (SEA) and soluble worm antigens (SWAP), and investigated their role in serology, blastogenic reactions, and granuloma responses to SEA (Bahia-Oliveira et al. 1997). These studies revealed a variety of biologically active antigenic moeities derived from S. mansoni antigen preparations (Goes & Hirsch 1996). One antigen, Smp40 (major egg antigen p40), has been described as highly immunogenic in humans and has been cloned and sequenced (Cao et al. 1993). The Smp40 peptide has 354 amino acid residues and shares homologies with the family of heat shock proteins and α-crystallins. There is evidence that α-crystallins act as chaperone for other important egg antigens released during the migra- tion phase of the eggs in the hepatic system (Nene et al. 1986). The immune response to Smp40 and Smp40 overlapping peptides can be studied in the cellular proliferation assays with the addition of either anti-interleukin (IL)-10 or IL-2 to overcome anergy. In the last decade, substantial resources have been invested to identify, characterize, and purify various schistosome antigens for the purpose of designing and testing potential vaccines. In fact, elucidation of egg antigens has received much les...

Cryptosporidiosis parvum is a zoonotic protozoan parasite infects intestinal epithelial cells of man and animals causing a major health problem. This study was oriented to evaluate the protective and curative capacity of garlic, ginger and mirazid in comparison with metronidazole drug (commercially known) against Cryptosporidium in experimental mice. Male Swiss Albino mice experimentally infected with C. parvum were treated with medicinal plants extracts (Ginger, Mirazid, and Garlic) as compared to chemical drug Metronidazole. Importantly, C. parvum-infected mice treated with ginger, Mirazid, garlic and metronidazole showed a complete elimination in shedding oocysts by 9 th day PI. The reduction and elimination of shedding oocysts in response to the treatments might be attributable to a direct effect on parasite growth in intestines, sexual phases production and/ or the formation of oocysts. The results were evaluated histopathological examination of ileum section of control mice (uninfected, untreated) displayed normal architecture of the villi. Examination of infected mice ileum section (infected, untreated) displayed histopathological alterations from uninfected groups. Examination of ileum section prepared from mice treated with garlic, ginger, mirazid, and metronidazole displayed histopathological alterations from that of the control groups, and showed marked histologic correction in the pattern with the four regimes used in comparison to control mice. Garlic successfully eradicated oocysts of infected mice from stool and intestine. Supplementation of ginger to infected mice markedly corrected elevation in the inflammatory risk factors and implied its potential antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory capabilities. Infected mice treated with ginger, mirazid, garlic and metronidazole showed significant symptomatic improvements during treatment.

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