The objectives of the present study were to identify a possible tick vector and to determine the prevalence of camel theileriosis in Egypt using blood smears stained with Giemsa's stain and PCR assay. Hemogram and serum biochemical constituents were also investigated. A total of 243 camels, aged 3-5 years, were examined. The results revealed that 75 (30.86 %) camels were infected with Theileria spp. of Giemsa-stained blood smears. Hyalomma dromedarii was identified as the carrier tick of Theileria spp. Multinucleated sporoblast and free sporozoite were observed in the salivary gland smears from collecting ticks. PCR result revealed that Theileria annulata was the most abundant in camels (60 %) followed by Theileria spp. (10 %). Macrocytic hypochromic anemia was recorded in the infected camels with T. annulata. Leukocytosis, neutrophilia, eosinophilia, and lymphopenia were also observed in the infected group. In the serum of infected camels, total proteins, albumin, β-globulin, and A/G ratio were significantly decreased (P < 0.05); however, total globulins and α- and γ-globulins were markedly increased (P < 0.05). The activity of aspartate aminotransferase and the levels of glucose, creatinine, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol were markedly increased (P < 0.05) in the infected group. In contrast, triglycerides and total cholesterol concentrations were significant decreased (P < 0.001) in the infected group. In conclusion, a high prevalence of camel theileriosis was recorded in apparently healthy camels. H. dromedarii commonly infested these camels and were found infected with the transmissible forms of Theileria, indicating a role in transmission. Camels infected with T. annulata induced alterations in the cellular and biochemical constituents.

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Amphistomes are snail-borne trematodes infect rumens and reticulums causing acute and chronic diseases in cattle and buffaloes. The economic losses caused by Amphistomes resulted from drop in milk and meat yield in addition to mortalities. Eighty four serum samples (50 from cattle and 34 from buffaloes, 30 from amphistomes infected and 54 from amphistomes free cattle and buffaloes) collected from Giza and Garbia governourates, Egypt. The collected Amphistomes were morphologically and histologically classified. The identified worms of Paramphistomum and Carmyerius were used for the preparation of somatic antigens separately. The collected 84 serum sample were tested twice by indirect ELISA, firstly with Paramphistomum somatic antigen and secondly with Carmyerius somatic antigen. The antigenic profiles of adult Paramphistomum spp somatic antigen and Carmyerius gergaerius somatic antigen were analysed by (SDS-PAGE). Four male Rabbit were used for the preparation of hyper-immune serum against Paramphistomum and Carmyerius somatic antigens. Nine serum samples (two rabbit hyper immune sera; one for Paramphistomum and the another for Carmyerius , 3 serum sample from Paramphistomum infected cattle and 3 serum samples from Carmyerius infected cattle and one serum sample from non-infected cattle as negative control) were blotted and tested twice at the same time on the nitrocellulose membrane by Western blotting techniques., firstly by using Paramphistomum somatic antigen and secondly with Carmyerius antigen. The results of both ELISA and Western blotting were statistically analysed. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy for ELISA and Western blotting were (74% and 100%),(82.4% and 33.3%) and (79.76% and77.78%) respectively . The antigenic profile of adult Paramphistomum somatic antigen showed 14 distinct protein bands of protein molecular weights ranging from11.5 to 174 KDa. While Carmyerius somatic antigen showed 13 distinct protein bands ranging from 11.5 to 166KDa. One distinct immunogenic band at 63 KDa was found to react with all sera from infected cattle and buffaloes with Paramphistomum somatic antigen while the same serum samples gave one distinct immunogenic band at 71 KDa with Carmyerius somatic antigen. It is concluded that ELISA is more reliable test for early diagnosis of amphistomiasis. There is a strong cross immune reaction between Paramphistomum and Carmyerius.

SummaryCystic echinococcosis is an important cosmopolitan parasitic zoonosis that causes public health and economic problems in Egypt. The present study was undertaken to identify genotypes of hydatid cyst (HC) DNA isolated from different animal isolates and to identify the genotype of secondary hydatid cysts (HCs) developed in rabbits experimentally infected with camel HC for detection of any genetic mutation. In the present study, we extracted DNA from the germinal layers of 8 HCs collected from 3 camels, 1 cattle, 1 sheep and 3 donkeys in addition to 3 secondary HCs collected from rabbits experimentally infected with camel HC. PCR amplification of the ITS1 gene of all examined samples showed an amplified DNA band at 1115 bp. The partial nucleotide sequences of the ITS1 gene of all isolates were aligned and compared with the reference sequences of the genotypes G1–G8 in GenBank. The camel and rabbit samples were identified as Echinococcus canadensis genotype 6 (G6), while the cattle and sheep samples belonged to E. granulosus sensu stricto (G1). The donkey isolates belonged to E. equines (G4). Alignment of the ITS1 partial nucleotide sequences of the camel HCs and rabbit secondary HCs isolates with the G6 partial nucleotide sequence in GenBank was performed. Both camel HCs and rabbit secondary HCs isolates exhibited the same sequence identity matrix, which indicated the absence of mutation in the rabbit secondary HCs. It can be concluded that camel and rabbit samples were identified as E. canadensis (G6), the cattle and sheep samples belonged to E. granulosus sensu stricto (G1) and donkey isolates belonged to E. equines (G4). No mutation occurred during HCs transmission from camel to rabbit.

ABSTRACT. Cysticercosis is a parasitic infection that causes severe economic and public health problems. The overall incidence of infection in sheep slaughtered in Cairo, Egypt during meat inspection was 31.22% and precisely 19.72% for Cysticercus tenuicollis and 11.50% for C. ovis. Sera collected from infected animals used to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of the extracted antigens using ELISA. The sensitivity of the test was 100% for both C. tenuicollis and C. ovis, while the specificity was 80.26% and 87.03%, respectively. Using EITB the fractions of 36 KDa and 23 KDa appears to be specific for diagnosis of C. tenuicollis; while, 77 KDa and 73 KDa were specific for diagnosis of C. ovis. Moreover, several protein fractions which were detected in all antigens extracted didn't react with its target sera but at the same time did react specifically versus sera from animals infected with another cysticerci. Those fractions are considered as common immunogenic fractions between different cysticerci, so strictly identified specific fractions must to be used for diagnosis of Cysticerci infection to avoid cross reactions with other cysticerci antibodies.