ABSTRACT
Cats, as widely embraced companions in diverse environments, face significant health threats due to infection by ectoparasites. The present study investigates the prevalence of ectoparasite infestations in domestic cats (Felis catus) in Giza Governorate, Egypt. Spanning from December 2022 to November 2023, the study included 400 samples of diverse feline populations. Fleas and ear mites were detected in 20.75% and 11.25% of the examined cats, respectively. While ticks and myiasis were observed in 0.5% for each. Clinical manifestations and morphological structures of the detected parasites were documented. Moreover, the research integrates molecular characterization, utilizing the COI gene for Sarcophaga species identification. The study also analyzed risk factors, adjusting for age, sex, and season, revealing variations in infestation rates. Cats under one year old exhibited the highest infestation rate (48.35%). Seasonal variation showed the highest prevalence in autumn, followed by summer and winter, with a decline in spring. This survey study provides valuable insights into ectoparasite infestations in domestic cats to serve as a pivotal step toward promoting cat welfare and safeguarding public health.

Background

We investigated the spectrum of infection and risk factors for invasive fungal disease due to Candida auris (CA) in Qatar.

Methods

We performed structured chart reviews on individuals with any positive CA culture between May 2019 and December 2022 at three tertiary care hospitals in Qatar. Invasive CA disease (ICAD) was defined as a positive sterile site culture, or any positive culture for CA with appropriate antifungal prescription. Main outcomes included proportion of individuals who developed ICAD among those with positive cultures, and 30-day/in-hospital mortality.

Results

Among 331 eligible individuals, median age was 56 years, 83.1% were male, 70.7% were non-Qataris, and 37.5% had ≥ 3 comorbidities at baseline. Overall, 86.4% were deemed to have colonization and 13.6% developed ICAD. Those with ICAD were more likely to have invasive central venous or urinary catheterization and mechanical ventilation. Individuals with ICAD had longer prior ICU stay (16 vs 26 days, P = 0.002), and longer hospital length of stay (63 vs. 43 days; P = 0.003), and higher 30-day mortality (38% vs. 14%; P<0.001). In multivariable regression analysis, only mechanical ventilation was associated with a higher risk of ICAD (OR 3.33, 95% CI 1.09–10.17).

Conclusion

Invasive Candida auris Disease is associated with longer hospital stay and higher mortality. Severely ill persons on mechanical ventilation should be especially monitored for development of ICAD.

Introduction

HCC is frequently diagnosed late, when only palliative treatment is available. So, we try to use different immunological markers to identify early HCC in patients with unremarkable raised AFP.

Methods

This study was conducted on 112 participants divided into two equal groups: Group I, 56 patients with liver cirrhosis and different stages of HCC; Group II, 56 patients with liver cirrhosis. The diagnosis of HCC was based on AASLD guidelines. TNM and BCLC classification systems are used for staging of HCC.

Results

A significant reduction in the median percentage of lymphocyte subset (CD3⁺, CD4⁺, CD8⁺, CD19⁺) and NK cell percentage (CD56⁺) has been detected in HCC patients (all P < 0.001). In the HCC group the median monocyte subpopulations CD14⁺ CD16⁻ Classical, CD14⁺⁺ CD16⁺ Intermediate, and CD14⁻⁺ CD16⁺⁺ Non-Classical were 11.7, 4.0, and 3.5, respectively, with marked reduction compared with liver cirrhosis group (all P < 0.001). Patients with advanced stages (BCLC C and D) were more likely to have significantly higher median CD33⁺ than patients with early stages (BCLC A and B) (P = 0.05); also, the median levels of HLA DR⁺ lymphocytes % in the HCC case group were 21.8 in patients with advanced disease (BCLC C and D) and 13.1 in patients with early stages of the disease (P = 0.04). Patients with late stage (TNM III) were more likely to have significantly higher median CD14⁺ CD16⁻ Classical monocyte subset, CD36⁺ HLA DR⁺, and CD36⁺ CD16⁻ than patients with early stages (TNM I and II).

Conclusion

Patients with HCC with unremarkable raised AFP showed marked reduction in lymphocytes, natural killer cells, and all monocyte subpopulations. In addition, patients with advanced HCC showed increased CD33⁺ and HLA DR⁺ lymphocytes %, CD14⁺ CD16⁻ Classical monocyte subset, CD36⁺ HLA DR⁺, and CD36⁺ CD16⁻ compared with patients with early stages of HCC.

Background. In children, osteosarcoma (OS), Ewing’s sarcoma (ES), and rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) are the most common sarcomas. A link between the anti-programmed death ligand-1 PD-L1 and the tumor suppressor phosphatase and tensin homologue (PTEN) expression has been described in many tumors. The aim of this work is to determine clinicopathological relationships and the possible prognostic significance of PD-L1 and PTEN expression in rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS), Ewing's sarcoma (ES), and osteosarcoma (OS). Materials and Methods. Expression of PD-L1 and PTEN were examined by immunohistochemistry in 45 archival RMS, ES, and OS cases. Results. The positive expression of PD-L1 was found in 16.7% and 31.6% of ES and OS, respectively. The negative PD-L1 was related to a substantially longer survival in ES cases (p = 0.045), but positive PD-L1 expression was significantly associated with the increased tumor stage and vascular invasion in the OS cases (p = 0.005 and p = 0.002), respectively. On the other hand, PTEN loss was strongly associated with deep tumor, high tumor grade, and recurrence in RMS (p = 0.002, p = 0.045, and p = 0.026, respectively). However, PTEN loss was significantly absent in ES as tumor grade increased (p = 0.031). It is noteworthy that tumor recurrence, the loss of PTEN, and positive PD-L1 were all considered predictive factors in OS patients (p = 0.045, p = 0.032, and p = 0.02, respectively). Conclusions. In children, OS and ES have positive PD-L1 expression, which has an independent unfavorable prognostic effect and raises the possibility of using PD-L1 as a therapeutic target. OS, ES, and RMS prognosis are all predicted by PTEN loss.

Background

There is debate over whether physical attendance at school affects the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.

Methods

A cohort of personnel from several schools in Qatar provided nasopharyngeal swabs (NPS) for SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR and rapid antigen testing. Each of them was monitored for infection until February 2022.

Results

In total, 3,241 employees gave samples for analysis. Prior to the start of the 2020–2021 academic year (Group I), 3.49% of samples tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. Most of the positive PCR results were from male, senior, non-teaching staff members. Only 110 (3.39%) employees who had enrolled in face-to-face instruction before the B.1.1.7 variant’s emergence (Group II), 238 (7.34%) after the B.1.1.7 variant’s emergence (Group III), and 410 (12.65%) after the introduction of the Omicron variant (Group IV) had reported infection by PCR test. Most people who tested positive by PCR after enrolling in school were young, female teachers. In the Cox Proportional-Hazards Model, exposure to a confirmed case, the presence of symptoms in the two weeks prior to exposure in all groups—young age in Groups II and III, male gender in Groups I and IV, shared housing in Group III, and the presence of comorbidities in Groups II and III independently predicted SARS-CoV-2 infection in school staff.

Conclusion

Critical information about the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection in school workers during the whole pandemic is provided by our study. School operations in Qatar were made safer through initial and ongoing screenings, as well as widespread vaccination of school personnel.

Background: Intestinal parasitic infections (IPIs) caused by parasitic
protozoa and helminthes have been known to compromise the quality of
human life since prehistoric times. Aim: The aim of the study was to
determine the relation between H. pylori infection and intestinal
parasitic infections in patients with gastrointestinal complains
attending Aswan university hospital. Materials and methods: A
cross-sectional study was carried out in four areas in Aswan Governorate:
Eltaamen, Elsadaqa, Elseel, Elnafaq. Parasitological examination of 100
stool samples were collected from people who are suffering from
gastrointestinal symptoms , and performed using H. pylori stool antigen
test to detect H. pylori infection then the samples will be
microscopically examined to detect parasitic infections either helminthes
or protozoa. Results : H. pylori positivity showed a statistically
significant change compared to E. histolytica, Entrobius vermicularis,
Giardia lamblia, H.nana, and Ascaris (p=0.021, 0.04, 0.003, 0.02, and
0.016 respectively), where there’s more H. pylori positivity detected
among those patients with positive all parasite species Conclusion:
Gastrointestinal parasites are more common among H. pylori patients
compared to individuals without H. pylori; there was high prevalenceof
co-infection of H. pylori with intestinal parasites in Aswan university
hospital. G. lamblia, Cryptosporidium and B. hominis were prevalent in
H. pylori patients than H. pylori free ones with significant differences.
But this infection rate was not affected by gender.