Acanthamoeba genus is a medically important free living amoeba causing serious humans infections. Amoebic keratitis (AK) is a sight threatening infection of cornea caused by Acanthamoeba pathogenic genotypes, which prevalence remarkably increased in developed countries. The study compared different methods for diagnosing AK and identified Acanthamoeba genotypes by molecular examination in contact lens wearers (CLWs). Patients were 79 clinical corneal swaps (CS) and 15 samples from contact lens storage cases (CLSC). Clinical CSs were divided into four groups; GI: 20 patients suffering from chronic corneal ulcers, GII: 15 patients with traumatic ulcers, GIII: 24symptomatic CLWs and GIV: 20asymptomatic control individuals. CLSC were provided from apparently healthy asymptomatic CLWs (15). Swabs and solution samples were underwent microscopic and staining examination, cultivation on non-nutrient agar (NNA) plates and PCR molecular analysis. Sequencing and genotyping of PCR-positive samples were performed.The results showed that Acanthamoeba parasites were detected in 3.8% of CS and 6.7% of CLSC samples. The highest significantly positive results were by culture (3.8%) followed by Giemsa and trichrome stains (2.5%) and lastly direct microscopy (1.3%) of CS samples. Only one positive sample (6.7%) was detected in CLSC by all methods, but without statistical significance. Sensitivity of PCR compared to culture was 25%.Acanthamoeba parasites in CS were from subgroup II with 12.5% detection rate in CLWs, but the positive case from CLSC was from subgroup I with 6.7% detection rate. This study confirmed different risk factors in association with AK in CLWs. Genotype determination for Acanthamoeba positive case by PCR revealed homology with Acanthamoeba genotype T9 isolate ICS20.

Trichinella spiralis can cause systemic inflammatory manifestations all over the body before habituating their destination in the striated muscles. Its new borne larvae (NBL) most dangerous phase go via bloodstream of different organs during migration.This study explored the anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anti-apoptotic effects of Curcumin (Cur) and Curcumin nanoparticles (Cur-Nano) on inflammatory and pathological changes occurred in different organs in murine trichinellosis during larval migratory phase.Forty ( 40) male Swiss albino mice were divided into four groups of ten mice each. GI: mice infected and treated with Cur, GII: mice infected and treated with Cur-Nano, GIII: infected nontreated mice (positive control) and GIV: non-infected non-treated (negative control). Mice were infected orally with 200 T. spiralis larvae per mouse. GI & GII received treatment on 13 th day post infection (dpi) for 5 successive days. All mice were sacrificed on the 30 th dpi. Effects of Cur & Cur-Nano were evaluated by counting T. spiralis encysted larvae in muscle by light microscope. Frozen sera (-20°C) were used for quantitative estimation of ALT, AST, TNF sforming growth factor--) and Troponin (Trop). Specimens of lung, liver, brain and heart were fixed in neutral buffered formalin for H&E and immunohistochemical staining.The results showed that number of encysted T. spiralis larvae in GI & GII was significantly reduced compared to GIII. In both treated groups (GI & GII), there was a significant reduction in -& Trop. There was significant improvement of bile duct injury and proliferation, alveolar and pleural inflammation, and bronchial epithelial proliferation, as well as improvement of degenerative changes in brain and heart. The infected nontreated group (GIII) showed significant overexpression of Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX 2 ), caspase 3, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), arginase and granzyme b, with a significant low expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) as compared to treated groups.