Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a chronic functional gastrointestinal disease presenting clinically by abdominal pain with alteration of bowel habits. Although IBS has uncertain etiology, chronic gut inflammation due to persistent exposure to an infectious agent including Blastocystis sp. was proposed. The aim of this study was to detect the prevalence of Blastocystis sp. subtype (ST) isolated from stool of IBS patients and to assess Blastocystis sp. and H. pylori co-infection in IBS patients from Beni-Suef Governorate, Egypt. Stool samples were collected from 115 IBS patients, following Rome III criteria. All stool samples were microscopically examined by wet mount and permanent trichrome stain, cultured on Jones' medium with further sequencing of positive Blastocystis isolates and screened for detection of H. pylori coproantigen. Blastocystis sp. was the predominant parasite in IBS patients; it had statistical significant association with both rural residence (OR = 10) and flatulence (OR = 8.2). There was a predominance of Blastocystis sp. ST3 (81%) followed by ST1 (19%). Blastocystis culture results (19.1%) were superior than microscopy (16.5%). The majority of Blastocystis-positive IBS patients (72.7%) were co-infected with H. pylori with statistical significance; however, H. pylori was higher in Blastocystis-negative IBS patients (47/64) than in Blastocystis-positive IBS patients (17/64). Interestingly, IBS is usually associated with gut dysbiosis, while the most prevalent parasite in our IBS patients was Blastocystis sp., which is frequently found in asymptomatic individuals. Whether Blastocystis sp. is a cause or a consequence of IBS still needs further investigation, with a particular focus on correlation of IBS with different Blastocystis sp. subtypes and gut microbiomes.

Toxoplasma gondii is an opportunistic parasite causing life-threatening diseases in immune-compromised patients. The purpose of the study is to determine the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in chemotherapy receiving cancer patients in relation to different types of malignancies, and to estimate the level of interferon gamma in Toxoplasma seropositive and seronegative cancer patients and healthy controls. Anti-Toxoplasma IgG and IgM antibodies, and interferon gamma were analyzed in 120 cancer patients receiving chemotherapy (60 having hematological malignancies and 60 with solid organ tumors) and 60 healthy controls using ELISA method. Toxoplasma (IgG and IgM) were determined in (66.7% and 9.2%) of the cancer group compared to (33.3% and 6.7%) of the control group with statistical significance only in IgG seropositivity (p \ 0.001, OR = 4). Patients with hematological malignancies had higher IgG seropositivity than solid organ tumors (40% vs 26.7%). The difference between the groups was statistically significant (p = 0.002, OR = 3.5). Median level of interferon gamma was in the same range between cancer patients and control group. However, it was highly elevated in Toxoplasma seropositive (76 pg/ml) than seronegative (44.5 pg/ml) cases with statistical significance (p \ 0.001). T. gondii infection remains a major threat to cancer patients and still needs proper screening, diagnosis and treatment.

Background Nanotechnology has been manufactured from medicinal plants to develop safe, and effective antischistosmal alternatives to replace today’s therapies. The aim of the study is to evaluate the prophylactic effect of ginger-derived nanoparticles (GNPs), and the therapeutic effect of ginger aqueous extract, and GNPs on Schistosoma mansoni (S. mansoni) infected mice compared to praziquantel (PZQ), and mefloquine (MFQ). Methodology/principal findings Eighty four mice, divided into nine different groups, were sacrificed at 6th, 8th, and 10th week post-infection (PI), with assessment of parasitological, histopathological, and oxidative stress parameters, and scanning the worms by electron microscope. As a prophylactic drug, GNPs showed slight reduction in worm burden, egg density, and granuloma size and number. As a therapeutic drug, GNPs significantly reduced worm burden (59.9%), tissue egg load (64.9%), granuloma size, and number at 10th week PI, and altered adult worm tegumental architecture, added to antioxidant effect. Interestingly, combination of GNPs with PZQ or MFQ gave almost similar or sometimes better curative effects as obtained with each drug separately. The highest therapeutic effect was obtained when ½ dose GNPs combined with ½ dose MFQ which achieved 100% reduction in both the total worm burden, and ova tissue density as early as the 6th week PI, with absence of detected eggs or tissue granuloma, and preservation of liver architecture. Conclusions/significance GNPs have a schistosomicidal, antioxidant, and hepatoprotective role. GNPs have a strong synergistic effect when combined with etiological treatments (PZQ or MFQ), and significantly reduced therapeutic doses by 50%, which may mitigate side effects and resistance to etiological drugs, a hypothesis requiring further research. We recommend extending this study to humans.

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The genus Acanthamoeba is a free-living amoeba widely distributed in various aquatic environments. It is an etiologic cause of amoebic encephalitis and keratitis particularly for immunocompromised individuals. The purpose of the present study was to investigate Acanthamoeba species prevalence in household and hospital potable water in Beni-Suef governorate, Egypt, and to employ sequencing methods to identify positive Acanthamoeba species isolates and their potential health risks. Sixty tap water samples (30 household and 30 governmental and private hospital settings) collected from Beni-Suef governorate, Egypt were filtered, cultured on non-nutrient agar, identified by morphotyping keys after staining with Giemsa stain and then confirmed by PCR using Acanthamoeba specific primers. Twenty positive samples were successfully genetically characterized and phylogenetically analyzed to identify Acanthamoeba species. The total detection rate for Acanthamoeba was 48/60 (80%); Acanthamoeba contamination in water collected from domestic houses was higher than in hospitals; 27/30 (90%) versus 21/30 (70%) with statistical significant value (P value = 0.05). Sequencing of 20 positive isolates revealed Acanthamoeba T4 in 65% and T2 in 35%. To our knowledge, this is the first research that documents the occurrence and phylogeny of Acanthamoeba species in Beni-Suef, Egypt. The presence of a higher percentage of Acanthamoeba species in tap water, in particular T4, highlights the potential health hazards for immunocompromised individuals and emphasizes the urgent need for the implementation of effective filtration and disinfection measures.