Bartonellosis is a vector-borne zoonotic disease caused by the intracellular bacterium of genus Bartonella. The disease has a worldwide distribution and cats represent the major reservoir of this disease. Despite its global distribution, very limited previous studies have investigated the occurrence of bartonellosis in cats and their owners in Egypt. In an endeavor to explore this topic, we investigated the occurrence of Bartonella henselae (B. henselae) infection in 225 samples (blood, saliva, and claw) obtained from 75 healthy cats in Upper Egypt. These samples were routinely obtained during veterinary clinic visits. This study also involved an examination of 100 humans, including cat owners and people with a history of contact with cats. Attempted isolation and identification of B. henselae in cats were also performed. Furthermore, PCR was performed for molecular identification of B. henselae in blood samples from cats. Meanwhile, an immunofluorescent assay was performed to study the seroprevalence of B. henselae infection in humans. In this study, B. henselae could not be isolated from any of the examined blood, saliva, or claw samples from cats. Interestingly, B. henselae was identified molecularly in 8% (6/75) of blood samples from cats. The seroprevalence of B. henselae in humans was 46% and its occurrence was higher in females (46.6%) than in males (41.7%) (P = 0.748). B. henselae infection was higher among cat owners [51.4% (19/37)] than among people with a history of contact with cats [42.9% (27/63)] (P = 0.410). Infection was higher in rural regions [79.5% (31/39)] than in urban regions [24.6% (15/61)] (P < 0.001). Collectively, this data provide interesting baseline information about the occurrence of B. henselae in cats and humans in Upper Egypt, which reflects the potential zoonotic transmission of this bacterium. Future study is mandatory to explore the occurrence of B. henselae in major reservoirs in Egypt.
Rotavirus ribonucleic acid was extracted from 16 fecal samples of the serologically positive diarrheic calves using Latex agglutination test (LAT) and Immunochrmatographic assay (ICA). The extracted RNA was submitted to Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to detect VP7 and VP4 genes and the positive samples were 100% (16/16) and 81.25% (13/16), respectively. The amplified products were subjected to G and P-genotyping by semi-nested multiplex PCR using of G6, G8 and G10 genotyping and P1, P5 and P11 genotyping primers, respectively. G6 was detected in 10 (62.50%) of 16 samples and G10 was diagnosed in 5 (31.25%) of 16 samples and one (6.25%) sample did not react with any G primer used. P5 was detected in 9 (56.25%) of 16 samples, P11 was diagnosed in 3 (18.75%) of 16 samples, mixed infection with P5+P11 was observed in 1 (6.25%) of 16 samples and 3 (18.75%) samples did not react with any P primer used. G and P genotypes combination revealed that G6P5 was in 50% (8/16), G10P11 in 12.50% (2/16), G10P5 in 6.25% (1/16), G6P11 in 6.25% (1/16), G10 (P5+P11) in 6.25% (1/16), G6P? in 6.25% (1/16), G10P? in 6.25% (1/16), and G?P? in 6.25% (1/16). These results suggest that the detected genotypes can used as dominant strains for the formulation of an appropriate vaccine against BRV in Assiut Governorate. In conclusion, RT-PCR and Semi-nested multiplex PCR can used as rapid and confirmatory test for detection of nucleic acid and genotypes of Rotavirus, G and P genotypes combination in the present study revealed that G6P5, G6P11, G10P5 and G10P11 were circulating genotypes in bovine population in Assiut governorate. G6P5 strain was the most common of all strain diagnosed in other fecal samples. The presence of various combinations of G and P genotypes among field isolates of BRV suggests that genetic reassortment frequently occurred between viral strains with genes encoding different G and P genotypes. Finally, presence of different genotypes of Rotaviruses emphasizes their simultaneous monitoring in animals for the development and optimization of Rotavirus vaccines.