This study was performed for the purpose of investigating the prevalence and the species composition of Sarcocystis spp. in buffaloes in Assiut province, Egypt. Macroscopically we reported the infection of buffaloes with Sarcocystis fusiformis, while microscopically three Sarcocystis species (Sarcocystis cruzi, Sarcocystis levinei and Sarcocystis hominis) cysts were recognized, and were differentiated by their morphological features using both histopathological sections and electron microscope scanning. Regarding the prevalence of Sarcocystis species among buffaloes in Assiut province, we reported that, using gross examination of 90 buffaloes' esophagus, only 23 samples out of 90 (25.5 %) were found to be infected; on the other hand, by using microscopical examination, the prevalence was 27.7 % (25 samples out of 90 samples were found to be infected). Using ELISA, 85 samples out of 90 (94.4 %) were found positive, an overall prevalence of 94.4 %. In this work we concluded that customary meat inspection methods in abattoirs in Egypt are insufficient for detecting Sarcocystis infection. Due to the presence of hidden or microscopic cysts, we strongly recommend the use of combined microscopical examination and ELISA for Sarcocystis diagnosis, to avoid human infection of such zoonotic parasite and to control the consequent disease. In addition, this study introduced the first report of S. cruzi in buffaloes in Egypt, and proved the hypothesis that S. cruzi is able to use animals such as water buffalo as intermediate hosts.

Enterospora nucleophila is an intranuclear microsporidian responsible for emaciative microsporidiosis of gilthead sea bream (GSB). Its minute size and cryptic nature make it easily misdiagnosed. An in situ hybridization (ISH) technique based on antisense oligonucleotide probes specific for the parasite was developed and used in clinically infected GSB in combination with calcofluor white stain (CW) and other histopathological techniques. The ISH method was found to label very conspicuously the cells containing parasite stages, with the signal concentrating in merogonial and sporogonial plasmodia within the infected cell nuclei. Comparison with CW demonstrated limited ISH signal in cells containing mature spores, which was attributed mostly to the scarcity of probe targets present in these stages. Although spores were detected in other organs of the digestive system as well as in the peripheral blood, proliferative stages or parasite reservoirs were not found in this work outside the intestines. The study demonstrated a frequent disassociation between the presence of abundant spores and the intensity of the infections as determined by the parasite activity. The ISH allows confirmatory diagnosis of GSB microsporidiosis and estimation of infection intensity and will be a valuable tool for a more precise determination of parasite dissemination pathways and pathogeny mechanisms.

PLOS NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES

67 SummaryThe present study describes the occurrence of various gastrointestinal helminths and liver flukes in goats from post mortem examinations performed between 2010 and 2011. Forty five adult goats were euthanized necropsy examination and for identification of adult gastrointestinal helminths and liver flukes. Eleven animals (24.44 %) were found to be infected with one or more species of gastrointestinal helminth. Haemonchus contortus emerged as the most prevalent species (15.5 %), with Moniezia expansa and Fasciola gigantica also being common (11.11 % and 4.4 %, respectively). Additionally, Haemonchus longistipes, Cysticercus tenuicollis, and Paramphistomum microbothrium were present at low infection rates (2.2 %). Mixed infections were similarly most prevalent. Haemonchus longistipes; the most pathogenic Strongyle nematode of camels was reported for the first time infecting goats in Egypt. The present study indicates that abattoir surveys would reveal the prevalence of various species of problematic helminths, and thus appropriate measures can be adopted to control the respective worms.

Parasites of fish are of concern since they often produce a weakening of the host`s immune system thereby increasing their susceptibility to the secondary infections, resulting in the nutritive devaluation of fish ,compete for food, depriving fish of essential nutrients, inhibiting growth leading to morbidity and mortality and subsequent economic losses. Few data has been reported to identify major parasite of fish in Qena Governorate, Egypt. Accordingly, the study aimed to estimate the prevalence of gastrointestinal parasite infecting fish. Afield study was conducted during the period from the beginning of January 2015 to the end of December 2016.A total of 144 Clarias gariepinus (Carmoot) fish samples were collected either alive from fishermen or fresh as possible from fish markets at Qena Governorate for parasitological studies. Parasite collected and prepared then identified under the microscope. Out of 144 examined fish 84 (58.3%) samples were infected with different gastrointestinal parasites. The obtained results found that the most frequent parasitic infection among examined fish was cstodes with an infection rate of (35.4%) ,followed by trematodes infection (27%), while the lowest infection rate, were recorded in nematodes infection(16.7%),Regarding to the seasonal prevalence of the recovered parasites, we concluded that the highest rate of parasite infection was observed during Spring season (83.3%), followed by Winter (66.7%), Summer recorded (50%) and Autumn season which represented the lowest rate of infection (33.3%). The most common species of cestodes were Monobothrium sp which recorded the highest infection rate (27.8%) and Polyonchobothrium clarias (5.6%), followed by trematode species Orientocreadium batrachoides (24.3%) and nematode species Paracamallanus cyathopharynx (10.4%) and Procamallanus laevionchus (5.6%).