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Accumulating evidence suggest that some infectious agents may interfere in the natural progression of neoplasia. This study examined the association between chronic infection with adult Syphacia muris parasites and 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH)-induced colorectal carcinogenesis in rats. In addition, the conceivable therapeutic effect of Bryostatin-1, a potent extract of the marine Bryozoan, Bugulane ritina, was investigated against this combined effect.DMH administration has induced aberrant crypt foci (ACF), surrogate biomarkers for colorectal carcinogenesis, while the S. muris infection combined with DMH has significantly increased the total numbers of ACF. Nonetheless, treatment with Bryostatin-1 after infection has significantly reduced the ACF numbers particularly larger ones. This inhibition was concomitant with significant inhibition in the immunohistochemical levels of the ki67, Caspase-3 and IgM levels in colorectal epithelium, as well as serum levels of IgM and IgG. Additionally, treatment with Bryostatin-1 after S. muris + DMH has modulated enzymatic antioxidative markers levels of superoxide dismutase and catalase as well as the non-enzymatic antioxidant markers levels of reduced glutathione, lipid peroxidation, nitric oxide and total antioxidant capacity. Further, treatment with Bryostatin-1 has down-regulated the mRNA expression levels of COX-2 and APC genes in colorectal mucosa. In conclusion, infection with S. muris during colorectal carcinogenesis has significantly modulated the oxidative stress markers in the colorectum, while treatment with Bryostatin-1 has exerted significant curative potential. A mechanism could be explained that Bryostatin-1 treatment has reduced oxidative stress markers activities along with affecting host to parasite immunity possibly leading to changes in the COX-2 and APC expression, retarding cellular proliferation and subsequently reducing the colorectal carcinogenesis events.

Background: Despite the fact that Egypt contains a large number of lizard species, yet there is little knowledge recorded regarding the helminth fauna infecting this group of hosts. A parasitological study on gastrointestinal helminths of lizards was carried out during Summer (August) and Autumn (September and October), 2014 and 2015, respectively. Objective: This study aims to update information on helminth parasites that infect lizards in Egypt. Material and Methods: Seven species of lizards,

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Background: Studies on nematode taxa remain poorly described in cold blooded animals, with rareness of data on the helminth community of Egyptian ones, especially lizards. The available literatures are mostly restricted to ecological studies rather than descriptive ones. Objective: To identify and give full description for nematodes that inhabit the Desert Agama, Trapelus mutabilis (T. mutabilis) caught from El-Dabaa desert, Egypt. Material and Methods: Nineteen Agama lizards having the characteristic morphological criteria of T. mutabilis were dissected and examined for parasitic infection. Gastrointestinal nematodes were collected, fixed and identified using light microscopy. Those subjected for scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were dried, coated and examined. Results: Seven out of nineteen dissected lizards were found to be infected with the nematode Thubunaea pudica (T. pudica) (Family: Physalopteridae). They were collected from the stomach and small intestine of T. mutabilis. The main characteristics of adult T. pudica are: symmetrical anterior cephalic structure similar in both sexes, vulva is situated in the first tenth of the body, the tip of male tail ends beyond well-developed caudal alae with 32 true caudal papillae and two subequal stout spicules. Conclusion:The study added the first fully described details for T. pudica using both light and SEM. Moreover, T. mutabilis lizard represents a new host record for T. pudica in a new geographic locality El-Dabaa desert as there are no reports of this species recorded from Egypt.