This study investigated the frequency of carbapenem and colistin resistance in ESBL-producing K. pneumoniae (ESBLK) isolates recovered from chickens and their environment, contact farm workers and hospitalized patients in Egypt. Further, the phenotypic and genotypic relationships between the community and hospital-acquired K. pneumoniae isolates in the same geographical area were investigated. From 272 total samples, 37 (13.6%) K. pneumoniae isolates were identified, of which 20 (54.1%) were hypervirulent. All isolates (100%) were multidrug-resistant (MDR) with multiple antibiotic resistance (MAR) indices ranging from 0.19 to 0.94. Colistin-resistant isolates (18.9%) displayed colistin MIC values >2 μg/mL, all harbored the mcr-1 gene. All isolates from patients (13/90, 14.4%), workers (5/22, 22.7%), chickens (9/100, 9%) and the environment (10/60, 16.7%) harbored a single or multiple β-lactamase genes, blaSHV, blaTEM, blaCTX-M1 and blaOXA-1, often in combination with carbapenemase genes (blaVIM, blaNDM-1 or blaIMP; 45.9%), the mcr-1 gene (18.9%) or both (13.5%). Enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus (ERIC)–PCR genotyping revealed 24 distinct ERIC types (ETs) with a discrimination index of 0.961. Six ETs showed clusters of identical isolates from chicken and human sources. The increased frequency and genetic relatedness of ESBLK and carbapenemase-producing K. pneumoniae (CPK) from chickens and humans pose a public health threat that urge more prudent use of antimicrobials in chicken farms to avoid the propagation and expansion of both ESBLK and CPK from the chicken sources to humans.

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Cystic echinococcosis has been considered one of the major parasitic zoonoses which is associated with severe economic losses. The present study was undertaken to investigate the occurrence, organ distribution, cyst fertility, and viability of cystic echinococcosis in slaughtered camels and cattle from various abattoirs in Assiut Governorate, Egypt. The work also involved morphological, morphometric, and molecular identification of the parasite. The occurrence of hydatid cysts was investigated in total number of 100 lungs of camels and 574 liver and lungs of cattle admitted to three slaughterhouses at Assiut Governorate, Egypt. Moreover, several individual variable factors, including organ involvement, age, sex, and hydatid cyst characteristics, were studied to identify their possible association with the occurrence of the disease. Genomic DNA was extracted from the hydatid cysts, followed by molecular identification of the parasite through amplification of ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions. Hydatid cysts were found in 6 camels (6%) out of 100 inspected camels, while 5 hydatid cysts (0.87%) were detected in a total number of 574 cattle examined. The parasite was detected exclusively in lungs of camels, while lungs were the main organ infected by the parasite in cattle and one hydatid cyst was found in the liver (0.17%). In camel, 66.7, 16.65, and 16.65%of detected cysts were fertile, sterile, and calcified, respectively, while in cattle, these percentages were 60, 20, and 20%, respectively. None of the studied variable factors were significantly associated with the occurrence of the disease in camels, with the exception that all cysts were found in the lung. Conversely, we found a significant association (P < 0.05) between the age and sex of the slaughtered cattle and the occurrence of hydatid cysts. In this respect, the rate of infection was higher in female cattle and those cattle more than 5 years (P < 0.05). The morphological, morphometric, and molecular studies confirmed the presence of the parasite. Taken together, our results concluded that camels and cattle play a potential role in maintaining the transmission cycle of this zoonotic parasite.

Schistosomiasis, a major parasitic illness, has high morbidity and negative financial effects in subtropical and tropical countries, including Egypt. The present study investigated the therapeutic effects of Spirulina platensis (SP) and matcha green tea (MGT) in Schistosoma mansoni-infected mice combined with tracing their possible antioxidant and anti-inflammatory impacts and their protective potency. A total of 60 Swiss albino mice were randomly allocated into six groups (n = 10): control group (CNT, received normal saline); SP–MGT group [received oral SP (3 g/kg bodyweight/day) plus MGT (3 g/kg bodyweight/day)]; S. mansoni group (infected with S. mansoni cercariae, 100 ± 10/mouse, using the tail immersion method); SP-infected group (infected with S. mansoni and received oral SP); MGT-infected group (received oral MGT after S. mansoni infection); and SP–MGT-infected group (received combined treatment of SP and MGT after S. mansoni infection). Treatment with SP and MGT started 4 weeks after S. mansoni infection and ended 10 weeks after. SP and MGT treatment (SP-infected and MGT-infected groups) and the combined treatment (SP–MGT-infected group) minimized the hepatic damage induced by S. mansoni; circulating alanine aminotransferase and aspartate transaminase decreased, and total protein, albumin, and globulin serum levels increased. The serum level of malondialdehyde significantly declined, and catalase, glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and total antioxidant capacity increased in SP-infected, MGT-infected, and SP–MGT-infected groups compared with the infected group. Co-administration of SP and MGT reduced serum cytokine levels (tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interferon-gamma, and interleukin-13) and increased interleukin-10 levels after S. mansoni infection compared with the infected group. Moreover, treatment with SP and/or MGT decreased the number of granulomas in hepatic and splenic tissues compared with the infected group. Collectively, our results suggest that combined SP and MGT treatment is effective for S. mansoni infection. Liver and spleen tissue alterations were improved, the antioxidant systems were stimulated, and the inflammatory response was suppressed. Further research is recommended to investigate the mechanisms of the combined SP and MGT treatment effects to facilitate the development of novel therapies against this disease.

A total 1006 animals (300 cattle, 300 buffaloes, and 300 sheep and106 goats) were selected from private farms and suspected to suffer from brucellosis from different localities in Gharbiya governorate, as well as 50 rats (31Rattus rattus &19 Rattus norvegicus) and 15 stray dogs were collected from the same localities associated with examined animals. In addition, 160 persons suffering from fever suspected to be brucellosis were collected (80 workers contact with examined animals and 40 from fever hospitals). Serological tests were carried out by using Rose Bengal plate (RBPT), Buffered Acidified plate test (BAPAT), Complement Fixation test (CFT), Tube Agglutination test (TAT) and 2-Mercapto-Ethanol test (2-MET). The results showed that the percentage of positive reactors were 9%, 7.3%, 9.3% 8.5%, 8% and 0% using RBPT in cows, buffaloes, sheep, goats, rats and dogs respectively. Meanwhile the percentage of positive reactors using BAPAT was 9.6%, 8.3%, 10.7%, and 9.6% in cows, buffaloes, sheep and goats and by using CFT the percentage was 9.3%, 8%, 10.3% and 10.3% in previously examined animals. Also the result of TAT was 8% in rats and 0.0% in dogs. The occurrence of brucellosis in sheep and goats was higher than cows and buffaloes. Finally, the results in humans were 13.1%, 11.3% and 10% by using RBPT, TAT and 2MET respectively. The incidence of brucellosis was higher in males (14.9%) than females (3.8%) and higher in humans aged between 20-30 years.