Giardia lamblia is a protozoan parasite known to be an important waterborne pathogen. The faeco-oral transmission of the parasite leads to the presence of its cysts in the environment. Giardia cysts are abundant in surface water worldwide. Knowledge of the prevalence of Giardia cysts in water resources is important for controlling its transmission. The present study was designed for detection of G. lamblia cysts, its seasonal variability, count and viability assessment in water supplies of Assuit University Hospitals and Faculty of Medicine; using flow cytometry. Forty eight water grab samples (20 liter per sample) were collected from water supplies of the faculty and hospital's buildings from inlet, outlet and tanks during winter and summer 2014. All water samples were subjected to filtration, elution and concentration followed by flow cytometry. G. lamblia cysts were detected in 14 water samples with detection rate of 29.2%. The highest rate of positive samples was recorded in winter. The mean cysts number was 1066.3 cysts/L in summer and 837.1 cysts/L in winter. The percent of viable G. lamblia cysts reached 6.2% in summer and 5.75% in winter with insignificant difference. The results of the present study reflected the need for more efficient methods adapted by the water treatment facilities in this locality for controlling the quality of drinking water. The results demonstrated the benefit of flow cytometry as a rapid and simple method for evaluation of Giardia cysts in water samples

Giardia lamblia is a protozoan parasite known to be an important waterborne pathogen. The faeco-oral transmission of the parasite leads to the presence of its cysts in the environment. Giardia cysts are abundant in surface water worldwide. Knowledge of the prevalence of Giardia cysts in water resources is important for controlling its transmission. The present study was designed for detection of G. lamblia cysts, its seasonal variability, count and viability assessment in water supplies of Assuit University Hospitals and Faculty of Medicine; using flow cytometry. Forty eight water grab samples (20 liter per sample) were collected from water supplies of the faculty and hospital's buildings from inlet, outlet and tanks during winter and summer 2014. All water samples were subjected to filtration, elution and concentration followed by flow cytometry. G. lamblia cysts were detected in 14 water samples with detection rate of 29.2%. The highest rate of positive samples was recorded in winter. The mean cysts number was 1066.3 cysts/L in summer and 837.1 cysts/L in winter. The percent of viable G. lamblia cysts reached 6.2% in summer and 5.75% in winter with insignificant difference. The results of the present study reflected the need for more efficient methods adapted by the water treatment facilities in this locality for controlling the quality of drinking water. The results demonstrated the benefit of flow cytometry as a rapid and simple method for evaluation of Giardia cysts in water samples

Giardia lamblia is a protozoan parasite known to be an important waterborne pathogen. The faeco-oral transmission of the parasite leads to the presence of its cysts in the environment. Giardia cysts are abundant in surface water worldwide. Knowledge of the prevalence of Giardia cysts in water resources is important for controlling its transmission. The present study was designed for detection of G. lamblia cysts, its seasonal variability, count and viability assessment in water supplies of Assuit University Hospitals and Faculty of Medicine; using flow cytometry. Forty eight water grab samples (20 liter per sample) were collected from water supplies of the faculty and hospital's buildings from inlet, outlet and tanks during winter and summer 2014. All water samples were subjected to filtration, elution and concentration followed by flow cytometry. G. lamblia cysts were detected in 14 water samples with detection rate of 29.2%. The highest rate of positive samples was recorded in winter. The mean cysts number was 1066.3 cysts/L in summer and 837.1 cysts/L in winter. The percent of viable G. lamblia cysts reached 6.2% in summer and 5.75% in winter with insignificant difference. The results of the present study reflected the need for more efficient methods adapted by the water treatment facilities in this locality for controlling the quality of drinking water. The results demonstrated the benefit of flow cytometry as a rapid and simple method for evaluation of Giardia cysts in water samples

Giardia lamblia is a protozoan parasite known to be an important waterborne pathogen. The faeco-oral transmission of the parasite leads to the presence of its cysts in the environment. Giardia cysts are abundant in surface water worldwide. Knowledge of the prevalence of Giardia cysts in water resources is important for controlling its transmission. The present study was designed for detection of G. lamblia cysts, its seasonal variability, count and viability assessment in water supplies of Assuit University Hospitals and Faculty of Medicine; using flow cytometry. Forty eight water grab samples (20 liter per sample) were collected from water supplies of the faculty and hospital's buildings from inlet, outlet and tanks during winter and summer 2014. All water samples were subjected to filtration, elution and concentration followed by flow cytometry. G. lamblia cysts were detected in 14 water samples with detection rate of 29.2%. The highest rate of positive samples was recorded in winter. The mean cysts number was 1066.3 cysts/L in summer and 837.1 cysts/L in winter. The percent of viable G. lamblia cysts reached 6.2% in summer and 5.75% in winter with insignificant difference. The results of the present study reflected the need for more efficient methods adapted by the water treatment facilities in this locality for controlling the quality of drinking water. The results demonstrated the benefit of flow cytometry as a rapid and simple method for evaluation of Giardia cysts in water samples

Schistosomiasis is one of the most important neglected tropical diseases. Its control depends on treatment with the available drug praziquantel. No vaccine exists despite the intense search for molecular candidates and adjuvant formulations over the last three decades. The present study aimed to compare the antigenic protein structures of Schistosoma mansoni, S. haematobium, Fasciola. hepatica and Echinococus granulosus hydatid cyst and to find out shared antigens among these species which could be recognized by S. mansoni antibodies. Antigenic protein structures were recognized through the use of Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate-Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) after Coomassie blue staining. Antigenic differences between the detected polypeptides and positive S. mansoni serum were performed using Western blotting. The SDS-PAGE profiles of the tested parasites revealed many polypeptides ranging from 15-206 kDa. Some of these proteins were shared between all the examined parasites e.g.: 52-47 and 15-25 kDa. Some ranged from 42-38 kDa were shared with both examined schistosomes and hydatid cyst fluid. Bands ranged from 58-55 kDa were common in S. mansoni, S. haematobium and F. hepatica. The protein bands of about 60 kDa crossly reacted with S. mansoni serum and detected in all used antigens. The detected immunoreactive proteins from other helminthes could be used to develop potential vaccine against schistosomiasis.

Schistosomiasis is one of the most important neglected tropical diseases. Its control depends on treatment with the available drug praziquantel. No vaccine exists despite the intense search for molecular candidates and adjuvant formulations over the last three decades. The present study aimed to compare the antigenic protein structures of Schistosoma mansoni, S. haematobium, Fasciola. hepatica and Echinococus granulosus hydatid cyst and to find out shared antigens among these species which could be recognized by S. mansoni antibodies. Antigenic protein structures were recognized through the use of Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate-Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) after Coomassie blue staining. Antigenic differences between the detected polypeptides and positive S. mansoni serum were performed using Western blotting. The SDS-PAGE profiles of the tested parasites revealed many polypeptides ranging from 15-206 kDa. Some of these proteins were shared between all the examined parasites e.g.: 52-47 and 15-25 kDa. Some ranged from 42-38 kDa were shared with both examined schistosomes and hydatid cyst fluid. Bands ranged from 58-55 kDa were common in S. mansoni, S. haematobium and F. hepatica. The protein bands of about 60 kDa crossly reacted with S. mansoni serum and detected in all used antigens. The detected immunoreactive proteins from other helminthes could be used to develop potential vaccine against schistosomiasis.

Schistosomiasis is one of the most important neglected tropical diseases. Its control depends on treatment with the available drug praziquantel. No vaccine exists despite the intense search for molecular candidates and adjuvant formulations over the last three decades. The present study aimed to compare the antigenic protein structures of Schistosoma mansoni, S. haematobium, Fasciola. hepatica and Echinococus granulosus hydatid cyst and to find out shared antigens among these species which could be recognized by S. mansoni antibodies. Antigenic protein structures were recognized through the use of Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate-Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) after Coomassie blue staining. Antigenic differences between the detected polypeptides and positive S. mansoni serum were performed using Western blotting. The SDS-PAGE profiles of the tested parasites revealed many polypeptides ranging from 15-206 kDa. Some of these proteins were shared between all the examined parasites e.g.: 52-47 and 15-25 kDa. Some ranged from 42-38 kDa were shared with both examined schistosomes and hydatid cyst fluid. Bands ranged from 58-55 kDa were common in S. mansoni, S. haematobium and F. hepatica. The protein bands of about 60 kDa crossly reacted with S. mansoni serum and detected in all used antigens. The detected immunoreactive proteins from other helminthes could be used to develop potential vaccine against schistosomiasis.

Schistosomiasis is one of the most important neglected tropical diseases. Its control depends on treatment with the available drug praziquantel. No vaccine exists despite the intense search for molecular candidates and adjuvant formulations over the last three decades. The present study aimed to compare the antigenic protein structures of Schistosoma mansoni, S. haematobium, Fasciola. hepatica and Echinococus granulosus hydatid cyst and to find out shared antigens among these species which could be recognized by S. mansoni antibodies. Antigenic protein structures were recognized through the use of Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate-Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) after Coomassie blue staining. Antigenic differences between the detected polypeptides and positive S. mansoni serum were performed using Western blotting. The SDS-PAGE profiles of the tested parasites revealed many polypeptides ranging from 15-206 kDa. Some of these proteins were shared between all the examined parasites e.g.: 52-47 and 15-25 kDa. Some ranged from 42-38 kDa were shared with both examined schistosomes and hydatid cyst fluid. Bands ranged from 58-55 kDa were common in S. mansoni, S. haematobium and F. hepatica. The protein bands of about 60 kDa crossly reacted with S. mansoni serum and detected in all used antigens. The detected immunoreactive proteins from other helminthes could be used to develop potential vaccine against schistosomiasis.

Schistosomiasis is one of the most important neglected tropical diseases. Its control depends on treatment with the available drug praziquantel. No vaccine exists despite the intense search for molecular candidates and adjuvant formulations over the last three decades. The present study aimed to compare the antigenic protein structures of Schistosoma mansoni, S. haematobium, Fasciola. hepatica and Echinococus granulosus hydatid cyst and to find out shared antigens among these species which could be recognized by S. mansoni antibodies. Antigenic protein structures were recognized through the use of Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate-Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) after Coomassie blue staining. Antigenic differences between the detected polypeptides and positive S. mansoni serum were performed using Western blotting. The SDS-PAGE profiles of the tested parasites revealed many polypeptides ranging from 15-206 kDa. Some of these proteins were shared between all the examined parasites e.g.: 52-47 and 15-25 kDa. Some ranged from 42-38 kDa were shared with both examined schistosomes and hydatid cyst fluid. Bands ranged from 58-55 kDa were common in S. mansoni, S. haematobium and F. hepatica. The protein bands of about 60 kDa crossly reacted with S. mansoni serum and detected in all used antigens. The detected immunoreactive proteins from other helminthes could be used to develop potential vaccine against schistosomiasis.

Introduction: Enteric parasitic infections still the cause of major health problems among Egyptian children as they have great morbid effect on their physical and cognitive development. Malnutrition makes children more prone to micronutrient deficiency and subsequently more vulnerable to parasitic infection. The present study aimed to identify the effect of intestinal parasitism on micronutrient serum level and children nutritional status. Materials and Methods: A case control study was carried out on children from 1 to 6 years old who were attending the Assiut University Children Hospital outpatient clinic, after parasitological stool examination they were divided into Group 1 (G1, n: 60) positive with enteric parasite and Group 2 (G2, n: 60) age and sex matched and free of parasites. Anthropometric measurements were expressed as weight for age (WFA), height for age (HFA), and weight for height (WFH) parameters. Serum zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu) were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Results: Intestinal parasitic infection rate was 55.7%; more commonly detected parasites were Giardia lamblia 28%, Cryptosporidium sp. 20%, and polyparasitism 18%. All children (G1 and G2) were underweight (WFA) while 63% of G1 were malnourished, either in the form of wasting (WFH) or stunting (HFA) or both aspects. Stunting and wasting were more dominant among children infected with G. lamblia and Cryptosporidium sp. and most of them were below 2 years old. Conclusions: Coincident decrease in serum Zn level and an increase of serum Cu was more prominent among G. lamblia and Cryptosporidium sp. patients. G. lamblia and Cryptosporidium sp. were found to be more associated with nonstandard children nutritional status beside to an altered micronutrient level.