This study evaluated the degree of parasitic contamination of vegetables which are commercialized and consumed fresh in Benha, Egypt. It included 530 vegetables: lettuce, watercress, parsley, green onion, and leek. Vegetables were collected randomly from markets within Benha. Samples were washed in saline, and the resulting washing solution was filtered and centrifuged to concentrate the parasitic stages. Sediments and supernatants were examined by iodine and modified Ziehl-Neelsen stained smears. Intestinal parasites were detected in 157/530 (29.6%) samples. Giardia lamblia cysts were the most prevalent parasite (8.8%) followed by Entamoeba spp. cysts (6.8%), Enterobius vermicularis eggs (4.9%), various helminth larvae (3.6%), Hymenolepis nana eggs (2.8%), Hymenolepis diminuta eggs (2.1%), and Ascaris lumbricoides eggs (0.6%). The highest contaminated vegetable was lettuce (45.5%) followed by watercress (41.3%), parsley (34.3%), green onion (16.5%), and leek (10.7%). These results indicate a significant seasonal variation (P < 0.05), with highest prevalence in summer (49%) and the lowest in winter (10.8%). These findings provide evidence for the high risk of acquiring parasitic infection from the consumption of raw vegetables in Benha, Egypt. Effective measures are necessary to reduce parasitic contamination of vegetables.

Abstract. The aim of the present study was to assess the frequency of intestinal parasitic infection among patients with gastrointestinal tract disorders from the Greater Cairo region, Egypt. In addition, a comparison was made of the accuracy of direct thin and thick smear, formol-ether sedimentation (FEC), centrifugal flotation (CF), and mini-FLOTAC techniques in the diagnosis of infection. Out of 100 patients, the overall prevalence of parasitic infection was 51%. Only 6% had dual infection. Giardia lamblia was the most common parasite (26%), followed by Hymenolepis nana (20%), Entamoeba coli (8%), and Enterobius vermicularis (3%). Except the statistically significant association between E. vermicularis infection and perianal itching and insomnia (P < 0.001), age, gender, and complaints of the examined individuals had no association with prevalence of parasitic infection. Both FEC and CF were equally the most accurate techniques (accuracy = 98.2%, confidence interval [CI] = 0.95-1.0, and κ index = 0.962), whereas the Kato-Katz method was the least accurate (accuracy = 67.5%, CI = 0.57-0.78, and κ index = 0.333). However, mini-FLOTAC-ZnSO 4 was the most accurate for diagnosis of helminthic infection, and FEC was more accurate for diagnosis of protozoal infection (accuracy = 100%, CI = 1.0-1.0, and κ index = 1).

Abstract. CC-BY 4.0 International license It is made available under a (which was not peer-reviewed) is the author/funder, who has granted bioRxiv a license to display the preprint in perpetuity.The copyright holder for this preprint . http://dx.doi.org/10.1101/347278 doi: bioRxiv preprint first posted online Jun. 14, 2018; 26Schistosomiasis is one of the most socioeconomically exhausting parasitic 27 infection in tropical and subtropical areas. Praziquantel (PZQ), the only common 28 schistosocidal drug in use, is not efficient enough for treatment of immature infection. 29Arabic gum (AG) is a complex polysaccharide acts as anti-oxidant which modulates the Author summary 46Schistosomiasis is a major public health threat in many parts of the world, it 47 affects more than 240 million people in more than 70 countries and almost 800 million 48 people are at risk of acquiring this disease. Serious consequences and disabilities might . CC-BY 4.0 International license It is made available under a (which was not peer-reviewed) is the author/funder, who has granted bioRxiv a license to display the preprint in perpetuity.The copyright holder for this preprint . http://dx.doi.org/10.1101/347278 doi: bioRxiv preprint first posted online Jun. 14, 2018;

No abstract

Praziquantel (PZQ), the only common schistosocidal drug in use, is not efficacious for treatment of immature schistosomiasis infection. Arabic gum (AG) is a complex polysaccharide that acts as an antioxidant which modulates the inflammatory and/or immunological processes. This study explores for the first time, the antischistosomal properties of AG in mice infected with the immature stage of Schistosoma mansoni (S. mansoni). Mice were divided into four groups: control group (infected nontreated), AG treated group, PZQ treated group, and AG+PZQ treated group. Oral administration of AG in a dose of 1 g/kg body weight, daily for 3 consecutive weeks post-infection (PI) resulted in a statistically significant (P-value 0.002 and 0.008 respectively) lower worm burden in both AG group and AG+PZQ group compared to PZQ and control groups. AG+PZQ group always showed the best results when compared with other groups regarding tissue egg load and oogram pattern. AG, both alone and in combination with PZQ, decreased the granuloma number and diameter; with increasing the cellularity and the number of degenerated Schistosoma eggs inside granulomas. Results obtained by this work elucidated a promising AG bioactivity against S. mansoni immature stages and provided a platform for subsequent experimental studies to illuminate the academia more about this novel and " green" antischistosomal agent.