Egypt has successfully eliminated malaria during 2010-2013, however, between May to mid-June 2014, an outbreak was reported in Al-Adwa village, Aswan Governorate indicating that malaria may be potentially reemerging in the country. The aim of this work was to reevaluate malaria in Al-Adwa and surrounding villages, 1 year after malaria cases have been reported through entomological and human screening in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Population. Four trips were conducted during the period from March 2015 to March 2016. Mosquitoes were collected, sorted and identified. Anopheles species were processed for detection of Plasmodium by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and engorged abdomens in blood-fed mosquitoes were analyzed for host preference using multiplex PCR. Thick and thin blood films were prepared from all apparently healthy children (n = 188) attending El-Sheikh Mostafa preparatory school. Results showed that Anopheles genus existed only in East Al-Adwa village. A total of 38 Anopheles mosquitoes were collected and identified as Anopheles multicolor 70% (A. multicolor), A. sergenti 20% and A. pharoensis 10%. The latter showed 100% human blood preference compared to A. sergenti (20%) and An. multicolor (0%). All female Anopheles were 100% negative for Plasmodium DNA, and all blood films showed no detectable parasite. The absence of Plasmodium in the area under study does not rule out the risk of future infections as the vector is still present together with the imported cases and carriers. Regular screening for the presence of Plasmodium in the area is absolutely paramount for early warning.

Background: Nanotechnology enables researchers to boost accuracy of the existing diagnostic techniques. Immunomagnetic beads (IMB) based-ELISA was utilized to diagnose several parasitic diseases; schistosomiasis mansoni and japonicum, toxoplasmosis and neurocysticercosis. Objectives: The present work aims to develop and evaluate a novel nano-diagnostic assay using gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) in ELISA (IMB based-ELISA) for the diagnosis of urinary schistosomiasis. Subjects and Methods: IMB based-ELISA assay was developed by preparation of polycolonal antibodies (pAbs) against Schistosoma soluble egg antigen (SEA). The developed novel assay was evaluated in urine samples of 290 schoolchildren collected from primary and preparatory schools in four villages in Beni-Suef governorate, Egypt. Urine samples were screened by chemical reagent strips (Combi 10) and examined by urine microscopy (UM). The conventional ELISA technique was used to evaluate the efficacy of IMB based-ELISA using UM as the gold standard method for diagnosis of urinary schistosomiasis. Results: The novel IMB based-ELISA assay succeeded to diagnose 50 out of 290 schoolchildren (17.2%). In comparison with other methods, results showed that 39/290 (13.4%) were positive by UM and 53/290 (18.3%) by conventional ELISA. A sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic accuracy of the evaluated ELISA assay using UM as the gold standard method were 94.87%, 95.22% and 94.48% respectively. It was observed that Combi-10 gave sensitivity and specificity of 35.9% and 94.9% respectively for microhaematuria and proteinuria. Conclusion: IMB-ELISA based on AuNPs provides a more rapid as well as sensitive detection of SEA in urine samples of patients with active schistosomiasis. Its high sensitivity and specificity ensure its application in field studies. Additionally, urinary schistosomiasis proved highly prevalent in schoolchildren living in Beni-Suef villages.

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Background Urogenital schistosomiasis caused by Schistosoma heamatobium is one of the major public health problems worldwide. It is thought that despite extensive efforts and integrated control programs implicated over the last few decades, the global disease burden of schistosomiasis remains unacceptably high. This persistence of the disease may be due to in part the lack of accurate diagnostic tools for case detection and community screening in endemic areas. Aim of the work The present work aims to develop a novel nano-diagnostic assay using gold nanoparticles (nanomagnetic beads based- ELISA) which can utilize larger surface area, achieving a higher sensitivity for detection of urinary schistosomal egg antigen (SEA) in urine of human schistosomiasis haematobium and comparing it with the traditional sandwich ELISA and direct microscopic examination of urine sediments together with indirect screening by chemical reagent strips for microhaematiria and proteinuria for assessing prevalence of urinary schistosomiasis in some villages in Beni-Suef governorate. Subjects and methods A cross sectional study was conducted on 290 students (192 male and 98 female) selected randomly from Primary and Preparatory schools in four villages in Beni-Suef governorate; The participating children were aged 8–15 years old. A simple questionnaire was designed based on the key indicators of urinary schistosomiasis then, terminal urine samples were collected between 10 am and 2 pm in clean container from each participant to be screened by chemical reagent strips (Combi 10) and examined by urine microscopy and sandwich ELISA techniques (traditional and IMB) for S. haematobium detection. Soluble egg antigen (SEA) was used to produce specific polyclonal antibodies (pAbs) which were then used as a primary capture in the sandwich ELISA techniques. The anti-SEA pAbs were labeled with horse-radish peroxidase (HRP) and used as a secondary capture. Results Out of the 290 participants, 39 children (13.4%) were positive by UM, 53 were positive by traditional sandwich ELISA, with diagnostic sensitivity (87.2%) and specificity (92.4%) and 50 were positive by IMB-sandwich ELISA with diagnostic sensitivity (94.9%) and specificity (95.2%)based on UM results. Micro-haematuria and proteinuria were assessed by chemical reagent strips which gave sensitivity of 29.5%, specificity of 90.8% for micro-haematuria alone, sensitivity of 18.4%, specificity of 92.4% for proteinuria alone, while sensitivity of 35.9%, specificity of 94.9% for combined micro-haematuria and proteinuria which indicated a highly significant association with S. haematobium infection (p value<0.001). Conclusion Combination of both clinical and epidemiological data in addition to sensitive diagnostic tools is essential for diagnosis. The present study as with other studies revealed that, IMB-ELISA based on gold nanoparticles provides more rapid and sensitive detection for SEA in urine samples of patient with active schistosomiasis. Simplicity and fast detection (10 min) are its main advantages. Moreover, its high sensitivity and specificity ensure its application with greater precision and rapid detection. Also, in addition, the prevalence of urinary schistosomiasis in these regions is considered relatively high requiring rapid implementation of control programs to decrease the prevalence and improve the community's health status.