| 2 | Determinants of Schistosoma mansoni transmission in hotspots at the late stage of elimination in Egypt显示文摘Background In certain settings,the prevalence and severity of schistosoma infection do not lessen despite repeated rounds of preventative chemotherapy;these areas are known as hotspots.This study aimed to investigate the role of human practices,besides environmental and malacological factors,in the maintenance of the Schistosoma mansoni infection transmission chain in hotspot areas in Egypt.Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted between July and November 2019 in Kafr El-Sheikh Governorate,Egypt.A pre-designed structured interviewing questionnaire was used to collect humanitarian data.Stool samples were collected from children aged 6–15 years on three successive days and examined using the Kato-Katz technique.Simultaneously,water and snail samples were taken from watercourses surrounding houses.Snails were identified based on their shell morphology and structure and tested for cercaria shedding.Water samples were analyzed for their physicochemical and biological characteristics.Results A total of 2259 fecal samples(1113 in summer and 1146 in fall)were collected from 861 children.About 46.9%of the participants were males,and 31.8%were aged 6–10 years.The prevalence of S.mansoni infection was higher during the summer than during the fall(19.1%vs 7.2%,respectively,P<0.01).The intensity of infection(light,moderate,and heavy)during summer versus fall was(93.55 vs 89.38%,6.45 vs 8.85%,and 0.00%vs 1.77%),respectively(P<0.05).A higher prevalence of human infection was observed among males than females[OR=1.63,95%confidence interval(CI):1.10–2.40,P=0.015],children aged 11–15 years than among their counterparts aged 6–10 years(OR=2.96,95%CI:1.72–5.06,P<0.001),and mothers with a low level of education(OR=3.33,95%CI:1.70–6.52,P<0.001).The main identified risk factors were contacting the main body of water-canal for washing clothes(OR=1.81,95%CI:1.12–2.49,P=0.015),land irrigation(OR=2.56,95%CI:1.32–4.96,P=0.004),water collection(OR=2.94,95%CI:1.82–4.73,P<0.001),bathing(OR=2.34,95%CI:1.21–4.31,P=0.009),and garbage disposal(OR=2.38,95%CI:1.38–4.12,P<0.001).The count of Biomphalaria alexandrina was distinct between seasons(P<0.01)in consistent with statistically significant differences in water temperature,salinity,turbidity,the total concentration of coliforms,depth,velocity,and water level(P<0.01).The presence of grasses and duckweeds was significantly associated with snail infection(P=0.00 l).Significant effects of water depth,pH,temperature,and total dissolved solids on snail count were also observed(P<0.05).Conclusions The persistence of the infection is due to adoption of risky behaviors and environmental factors thatenhance snail survival and infection. Schistosomiasis elimination in hotspots requires an integrated control approachthat combines preventive chemotherapy with other complementary measures. | Ramy Mohamed Ghazy Walid Ismail Ellakany Mai M.Badr Nehad E.M.Taktak Heba Elhadad Sarah MAbdo Ayat Hagag Abdel Rahman Hussein Mohamed Mostafa Tahoun | 2022 | Infectious Diseases of Poverty2022，11，5： | 0 |
| 3 | Therapeutic potential of Calotropis gigantea extract against invasive pulmonary aspergillosis:In vitro and in vivo study显示文摘Objective:To characterize the antifungal activity of methanolic leaf extract of Calotropis gigantea alone or in combination with amphotericin B against invasive pulmonary aspergillosis in mice.Methods:GC/MS was used for analysis of active constituents of Calotropis gigantea extract.Spore germination assay and broth micro-dilution method were used to determine antifungal potential of Calotropis gigantea/amphotericin B against Aspergillus fumigatus.Neutropenic mice were randomly assigned into 5 groups:group 1 was neutropenic(control);group 2 was infected with Aspergillus fumigatus;group 3 was infected with Aspergillus fumigatus,and treated with Calotropis gigantea extract;group 4 was infected with Aspergillus fumigatus and treated with amphotericin B;group 5 was infected with Aspergillus fumigatus and treated with both Calotropis gigantea extract and amphotericin B.Fresh lung tissues were histopathologically examined.Fungal burden and gliotoxin concentration were evaluated in lung tissues.Catalase,superoxide dismutase,and malondialdehyde content were determined in lung tissues.Myeloperoxidase,tumor necrosis factor-alpha,interleukin-1,and interleukin-17 were also estimated by the sandwich enzyme-linked immuno-sorbent assay.Results:Calotropis gigantea/amphotericin B had a minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum fungicidal concentration of 80 and 160μg/mL,respectively,for Aspergillus fumigatus.Additionally,Calotropis gigantea/amphotericin B significantly reduced lung fungal burden by 72.95%and inhibited production of gliotoxin in lung tissues from 6320 to 1350μg/g lung.Calotropis gigantea/amphotericin B reduced the oxidative stress of the lung via elevating the activity of antioxidant enzymes and decreasing the levels of lipid peroxidation.Myeloperoxidase activity and the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines were also significantly reduced.Scanning electron microscopy revealed deteriorations in the hyphae ultrastructure in Calotropis gigantea/amphotericin B treated Aspergillus fumigatus and leak of cellular components after damage of the cell wall.In vivo study revealed the suppression of lung tissue damage in mice of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis,which was improved with Calotropis gigantea/amphotericin B compared to the control group.Conclusions:Calotropis gigantea/amphotericin B is a promising treatment to reduce lung fungal burden and to improve the drugs’therapeutic effect against invasive pulmonary aspergillosis. | Enas M.Ali Manal A.Alfwuaires Gehan M.Badr | 2022 | Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine2022，12，6： | 0 |
您所在的机构暂未开通此部分的功能，请联系管理员