Abstract Generally, the wildlife health assessments help in identifying populations at risk of starvat- ion, vector-borne infectious diseases, declining from anthropogenic impacts on natural habi-tats. Pets have the power to change the owners' lives. Pets make families, communities and even humans' health and happier. Studies showed those pets' owners, or even having contact with animals, benefit their physical, social and mental health. Nevertheless, many zoonotic diseases and arthropod-vector are risky to their owners, particularly children. This article re-viewed several concepts that have taken shape in recent decades and discuss how these apply to common patient concerns with sheep, goats, cattle, and rabbits, as well as Guinea pigs, some birds, and fish. Key words: Domestic animal, Pets, Benefits, Zoonosis, Prevention, Treatment.
ABSTRACT
Toxoplasmosis is a widespread parasitic zoonosis caused by Toxoplasma gondii. Toxoplasmosis can cause congenital abnormalities during pregnancy, abortions, and encephalitis in both people and animals. The present study aimed to investigate the seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis in reproductive-age women and ruminants. Moreover, molecular identification was assessed for T. gondii isolated from cats, for the first time, in Aswan Governorate, Egypt. Blood samples were obtained, and serum was isolated from reproductive-age women (n=178) and ruminant animals (n=150) from the same locality. Seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis was determined using a rapid test (RT) and ELISA kits. Additionally, fecal samples from 100 cats were collected for the detection of T. gondii oocysts, and then processed by PCR for molecular and phylogenetic analysis. The phylogenetic tree was designed using the sequences collected and uploaded to the GenBank database. For human toxoplasmosis, IgM (ELISA) was more diagnostic twice than IgM (RT), and the percentages were 24.2% and 10.1%, respectively. However, IgG (ELISA) prevalence rate was 66.3 %, and the IgG (RT) was 62.9 %. Moreover, the seroprevalence rate of toxoplasmosis in ruminants was 23.3% and 25.3% for IgM (ELISA) and IgM (RT), respectively. The results of toxoplasmosis prevalence in humans and ruminants were statistically significant (P≤ 0.001). Toxoplasmosis was 30% of the examined cats. The present study has identified two distinct gene sequences for T. gondii that are associated with the gender of cats. Our findings detected that women of reproductive age and companion animals are more likely to be exposed to T. gondii.
Keywords: Toxoplasmosis, Seroprevalence, Human, Animals, Molecular, Phylogenetic, Zoonotic, Aswan
Purpose To evaluate the safety and efficacy of manual limbal astigmatic keratotomy (AK) compared to femtosecond laser-guided limbal astigmatic keratotomy (FLAK) to correct corneal astigmatism more than 3 diopters (D) after phacoemulsification. Study design Prospective, comparative, randomized, interventional study. Patients and methods This prospective study included 35 patients (40 eyes) divided into two groups. Group A included 16 patients (20 eyes) who had received FLAK and group B included 19 patients (20 eyes) who had received manual limbal AK using a diamond knife. All patients were suffering from corneal astigmatism after conventional phacoemulsification. This study was conducted from April 2024 to January 2025. Corneal astigmatism was measured by corneal tomography and Scheimpflug imaging (pentacam). Results The mean topographic corneal astigmatism was reduced from 4.78±1.4 to 1.78±1.31 D 3 months postoperatively in the FLAK group with a statistically highly significant difference (P<0.001) and from 4.93±1.03 to 1.98±1.31 D in the manual limbal AK group with a statistically highly significant difference (P<0.001). The mean topographic corneal astigmatism 3 months postoperatively showed a statistically nonsignificant difference between the two groups (P=0.608). Although there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups, the mean arithmetic reduction of astigmatism was 3 D in the femtosecond AK group, which was higher than the mean arithmetic reduction of astigmatism in the manual AK group, which was 2.95 D. The surgery was uneventful in both groups with no adverse events. Conclusion FLAK and manual limbal AK are safe, predictable, and effective methods for correcting preexisting or surgically induced high degrees of corneal astigmatism after phacoemulsification, with the possibility to correct up to 4 D of corneal astigmatism.