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Amoebiasis is one of the most important infectious diseases afflicting mainly tropical and subtropical countries. This study was carried out in the Sharjah Emirate, UAE in order to accurately detect and differentiate Entamoeba histolytica, Entamoeba dispar and E. moshkovskii in fecal samples collected from the Sharjah municipality public health clinic by ELISA and nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR). One hundred and twenty specimens were examined and the PCR was positive for E. histolytica, E. dispar and E. moshkovskii (collectively referred to as Entamoeba complex) in 19.2% (23 out of 120). Of those, 10% (12/120) were mono -infection with E. histolytica; 2.5% (3/120) with E. dispar; and 2.5% (3/120) E. moshkovskii. The nested PCR also detected mixed infections by both E. histolytica and E. dispar in 3.3% (4/120) and E. dispar and E. moshkovskii in 0.8% (1/120). The TechLab ELISA kit failed to detect E. histolytica in any of the E. histolytica PCR positive samples. Overall, the percentage of E. histolytica including those found in mixed infections was 13.3% (16/120). Compared to nested PCR, microscopy was found to have an overall sensitivity of 52.2% and a specificity of 75.2% for detection of Entamoeba complex. The present study indicates that E. histolytica is present in the UAE with an average incidence rate of 13.3%. However, larger studies need to be conducted in order to confirm these findings. We propose the use of PCR in both the routine diagnosis of amoebiasis and epidemiological survey in the UAE.

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Background:Epidemiological data on Cryptosporidium infections in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is scarce. Therefore, the main objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of Cryptosporidium species among a community of expatriates in Sharjah, UAE working in different sectors, including the food industry, house maids and other domestic occupations.Materials and Methods:One hundred and thirty four stool samples were collected from asymptomatic individuals presenting to the Sharjah Municipality Public Health Clinic (SMPHC) for screening of intestinal parasites for work permission purposes between 2009 and 2011. Demographic information such as age, sex, and country of origin was collected. Genomic DNA extracted from the stool samples were tested for Cryptosporidium species using real-time PCR (qPCR).Results:Twenty-six individuals (19.4%) were positive for Cryptosporidium sp. by PCR. The infection rate was found to be highest in Afghan nationals (33%; 3/9) compared with the rest of the study population; yet, no significant association existed between nationality and infection rate. Moreover, no association was observed between infection rate and gender (χ2 = 2.439; P = 0.118), nor infection rate and age group (χ2 = 1.219; P = 0.544).Conclusion:Infection by Cryptosporidium sp. was common in the study group, and further studies are needed within the native Emirati population before any conclusions can be made about foreigners potentially transmitting the parasite. Furthermore, data provided in this study could help determine its public and veterinary significance particularly in outbreaks in the country.

Background: Cutaneous leishmaniasis is a tropical neglected disease underreported in West Africa. Epidemiological studies using leishmanin skin test (LST), reported a prevalence rate reaching 60% in Sahelian and northern areas of Mali some areas. A high prevalence of exposure to Leishmania infection in humans observed in 2 endemic villages of Mali contrast with very low incidence of active cutaneous lesion (ACL). The goal of this study was to assess the immune response of these individuals to the bites of the vector present in these villages, the sand fly Phlebotomus duboscqi.Methods & Materials: We amplified Leishmania DNA from patients with clinically suspected CL received at the referral dermatologic clinic to determine species involved in the disease in Mali. Cellular immune responses to sand fly salivary proteins were tested from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of individuals living in this endemic area stimulated with sand fly saliva in vitro. We also assessed the presence of delayed type hypersensitivity response (DTH) to sand fly bites in these volunteers after exposing them to three colony-bred sand flies.Results: L. major was the only species detected in specimens collected from of ACL patients across the endemic regions of Mali. Ninety-eight percent of individuals responded to sand fly saliva with production of cytokines. Interestingly, we identified a population that responded with a Th1 response to sand fly saliva characterized by the presence of IFN-g and IL-12p40 and a population that developed a Th2 response that produced IL-5 and IL-13 to sand fly saliva. Dermal biopsies of DTH sites were dominated by abundant expression of IFN-␥ and absence of Th2 cytokines, establishing the Th1 nature of this DTH response. Conclusion:The dichotomy of cellular immune response to sand fly saliva may be related to protection or a higher susceptibility to Leishmania infection among individual living in endemic areas. This susceptibility to the disease could also be due to systemic Th2 response