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Date palm (Phoenix dactylifera) fruit is an important food in the Middle East. Some date palm cultivars like the Ajwa is revered for its health-promoting properties. Phytochemicals like phenolic compounds are in part responsible for such health benefits. However, detailed information on these compounds is lacking. The present work aimed to investigate phytochemical components of Ajwa cultivar using UHPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS in three different extraction solvents (aqueous, methanol–water, acetone–water) and three different extraction durations (2, 5 and 24 h). The proposed method provided tentative identification of 169 bioactive compounds out of which 44 (polyphenols and other phytochemical compounds) were successfully identified from three different extracts and three different extraction durations. Twenty-one compounds never previously reported in the Ajwa cultivar were identified. Aqueous-based extraction solvent and 24-h extraction duration yielded most phytochemical compounds.

Background: Currently, most of the available serological diagnostic kits for strongyloidiasis are based on the use of the crude antigens of Strongyloides ratti, which are good, but with less sensitivity towards the infection. Hence, this study aimed to produce and evaluate monoclonal antibody for detecting soluble parasite antigen in animal sera. Methods: The study was conducted in the Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, University Putra Malaysia in 2014-2017. Saline extract protein from the infective larvae of S. ratti was used to immunize BALB/c mice and subsequent fusion of the B-cells with myeloma cells (SP2/0) using 50% PEG. The hybridomas were cultured in HAT medium and cloned by limiting dilutions. Positive hybrids were screened by indirect ELISA. The ascites fluid from the antibody-secreting hybridoma was purified and the MAb was characterized by western-blots and evaluated in sandwich ELISA for reactivity against the homologous and heterologous antigens. Results: An IgG1 that recognizes a 30 and 34 kDa protein bands was obtained. The MAb was recognized by all S. ratti-related antigens and cross-reacted with only Toxocara canis antigens in both assays. The minimum antigen detection limit was found to be 5 ng/ml. All antibody-positive rat and dog sera evaluated have shown antigen-positive reactions in Sandwich-ELISA. Conclusion: The MAb produced, was able to detect antigens in strongyloidiasis and toxocariasis in animal models and may also be useful for the serological detection of active strongyloidiasis and visceral toxocariasis in human sera.

The increasing demand for monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) used for diagnostic and therapeutic applications has led to the development of large scale manufacturing processes, with improvements in production achieved through continuous optimization of the inherent systems. The number of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) that have already been approved for therapeutic applications and for use in clinical trials have significantly increased in the past few years. In view of the side effects and limitations of mAbs, several improvements and modifications to monoclonal antibodies have been developed. These modifications have facilitated the use of mAbs in various forms of therapeutic applications such as treatment of infectious diseases caused by bacterial, viral, fungal and parasitic organisms. Monoclonal antibodies have also been applied in the treatment of non-infectious diseases such as cancer, immune diseases, arthritis and other disorders resulting from organ transplantation. This review highlights mAbs applications in biomedicine, and discusses state-of-the-art technologies related to their potential uses.

Purpose: To detect Strongyloides ratti in faecal samples using conventional methods and to confirm the identification using a sensitive and specific method, namely, polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Methods: A PCR method targeting the small subunit of the rRNA gene was performed in this study for the detection of DNA from Strongyloides ratti (an animal model of S. stercoralis) in faecal samples of wild Brown rats, Rattus norvegicus. Results: Strongyloides ratti was detected in 34.2 % of collected rats by different conventional techniques and confirmed by PCR. The essay presented 100 % sensitivity with Strongyloides universal primer. Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that the application of PCR with universal primer is a very sensitive methodology to detect S. ratti in faecal material of wild rats infected even with very low parasite burden.

The aim of this study was to test the potential diagnostic usefulness of recombinant Toxoplasma gondii SAG1 antigen and excretory-secretory antigen (ESA), with respect to toxoplasmosis detection and infection phase distinction in laboratory mouse by determining specifi c serum IgM and IgG antibodies with the use of indirect ELISA technique. The highest titre at the beginning of infection was demonstrated by immunoglobulin M while the highest titre at the end of the infection was displayed by immunoglobulin G. In contrast, sera of chronically infected mice, positive IgG titre was detected on day 14 p.i. for ESA or day seven p.i. with rSAG1 and increased thereafter until day 70 p.i. after which the titre stabilized. IgA antibody also showed similar kinetics as IgG. Potentially rSAG1 may be a suitable diagnostic antigen than ESA in the diagnosis of acute and chronic toxoplasmosis.

Toward the control and possible eradication of lymphatic filaraisis a new paradigm is into the development of antifilarial nucleic acid vaccine i.e to genetically engineered vaccines that can block zoonotic transmission of brugian filariasis. This vaccine may form the basis of a possible elimination of microfilariae in animal reservoirs that break zoonotic transmission from animals to humans.

Dichloromethane and methanolic extracts of each plant were tested for their antiplasmodial activity on chloroquineresistant strain of Plasmodium falciparum (FCB strain), based on lactate dehydrogenase activity. Cytotoxicity was assessed with the MTT test on MRC-5 human diploid embryonic lung cells. Most extracts of ten selected plants used in Malay traditional medicine in Malaysia had activity in vitro. This supports continued investigations of traditional medicine in the search for new antimalarial agent. The compounds responsible for the observed antiplasmodial effects are under investigation.

Despite decades of intense research, malaria remains a deadly disease of the developing worlds. Drugresistance to limited available antimalarials, in part, has contributed to the persistence of this infectious disease. Likewise, the use of antimalarials such as artemisinin, though effective in global malaria control programs, is hampered by high cost and limited supply. Therefore, identification of an antimalarial drug that is easy to isolate and produce, inexpensive, and demonstrates little toxicity across a diverse population represents the ideal agent needed for global malaria control programs and eradication of this deadly disease. This review discusses several antimalarial compounds containing unique structural composition that have been isolated and characterized from plant sources. These compounds have exhibited promising antimalarial activities in vitro and in vivo. However, limitations such as toxicity, low bioavailability and/or poor solubility have probably restricted the scope of use for several plant products in humans. Nevertheless, plants provide novel leads, which can be developed into safe drugs by synthetic strategies as exemplified by artemether and quinoline class of antimalarials. Therefore, plant bioactive compounds described herein provide useful alternatives, which could be modulated to obtain antimalarials active against not only drug-sensitive, but also drug-resistant and multi-drug resistant strains of Plasmodium. In this direction, semi synthetic approaches to newer and modified antimalarials have provided useful insights into their applicability in antimalarial drug discovery.

Intestinal cryptosporidiosis has been reported to be associated with high morbidity and mortality among cancer patients. The objectives of the study were to determine the prevalence of cryptosporidiosis and to elucidate contributing factors that might influence its transmission in our children with cancer. A prospective cross-sectional study among 110 patients hospitalized for chemotherapy and 100 healthy children (used as controls) between November 2009 and January 2011 at Institute of Paediatrics, Malaysia. Stools were screened for Cryptosporidium by using RIDA-quick Cryptosporidium (RBiopharm, Germany) and underwent formalin-ether concentration method and stained with modified Ziehl-Neelsen stain as a gold standard. Questionnaires on personal hygiene practices and risk factors, and medical records from 105 children were analyzed. All stool samples were negative for Cryptosporidium. Washing hands before and after taking meals and after using the toilet were practised in 85/105 (80.9%) and 79/105 (75.2%), respectively. History of previous hospitalization was observed in 35/105 (33.3%), contact with animals 31/105 (29.5%), swimming in the pools 26/105 (24.8%) and admission to day care centres in 17/105 (16.2%). History of drinking unfiltered tap water and recent travel were seen in 3/105 (2.9%) and 1/105 (0.9%), respectively. Intestinal cryptosporidiosis is very rare among children with cancer and good personal hygiene practices remain the best preventive approach.

Preventive fogging is defined as space spraying of insecticide against mosquitoes in order to prevent outbreak of mosquito borne infection. Despite provision of various preventive andcontrol activities against dengue and chikungunya infection by Ministry of Health Guideline, the detail on preventive fogging has not yet specified. However, this has been adopted by certain institutions as part of the routine strategies against dengue outbreak. A study on preventive fogging was conducted in one of the hostels in Universiti Putra Malaysia. The research was done for 16 weeks in which one routine fogging activity was done at the mid period of study. The main objectives of this study were to determine the effectiveness of preventive fogging activities against Aedes mosquitoes and to identify the distribution and abundance of Aedes mosquitoes in the area. Method: The fogging activity was carried out by the management staff as part of their preventive measures in the student hostels. Ovitrap was used as an indicator to monitor the impact of fogging activity and its continuous surveillance was monitored weekly. The ovitraps were placed indoors and outdoors. Species identification was carried out in the laboratory. The SPSS program was used to analyse the statistical data on the effectiveness of fogging activity. Larval count (indoors and outdoors) and ovitrap index (OI) readings were identified as ovitrap surveillance data for statistical analysis. Results: The results showed that Aedes albopictus was the only species of the genus Aedes found in this hostel. The area had been highly infested by Ae. Albopictus as indicated by high Ovitrap Index ranging between 48.33% to 90.00%. The mean (SD) of Ovitrap Index was reduced from 71.67% (12.73%) (before the preventive fogging), to 69.42% (14.40%) (after the fogging). Overall reduction in mosquito and larval density was also observed between pre and post fogging activity in this study. Conclusion: The implementation of preventive fo

Cutaneous larva migrans is a common parasitic skin disease that can be easily prevented by wearing 'protective' footwear. However, this has been under-emphasized in terms of what constitutes the protective footwear. Even though the disease resolves spontaneously, the significant duration of the disease along with severity of pruritus make treatment unavoidable. Here, we present a very long-standing creeping eruption, which puzzled many attending clinicians handling the case, and the possibility of long socks as a causal effect on the development of cutaneous larva migrans infection.

An entomological study was conducted in Tanjung Sepat, Selangor, Malaysia in May until September 2007 revealing five species of butterflies (all from family Nymphalidae) were attracted to pig carcasses placed in an oil palm plantation. Euploea mulciber (Cramer 1777), Hypolimnas bolina (Linnaeus 1758), Elymnias hypermnestra (Linnaeus 1763), Mycalesis mineus (Linnaeus 1758) and Ypthima baldus (Fabricius 1775) came to the carcasses at different stages of decomposition. From this study, we know that nymphalid butterflies are attracted to carcasses but their roles are most probably unimportant in post-mortem estimation.

The anatomical structures of the first, second and third instars of Chrysomya rufifacies (Macquart) were examined by light microscopy. Observations were documented on the three main characteristics; the cephalopharyngeal skeleton, anterior spiracle and posterior spiracle. The first instar larva bore cornuae of fairly pigmented delineation with slim hypostomal sclerite and distinct dental sclerite. First instar did not have obscured anterior spiracle but posterior spiracles were obscured with thin lining of opened peritreme. Intersegmental spines were evident. The second instar larva displayed a prominent anterodorsal process approaching closer to hypostomal sclerite while upper margin of the dorsal cornua was slightly pigmented. Each anterior spiracle consisted of nine to ten papillae, arranged in a single row. Peritreme of the posterior spiracle thick, opening at the end of peritreme was not wide and confined to two spiracular slits. The third instar larva showed a prominent arch of the ventral cornua with broad and bold appearance. It approached the dorsal cornua and became narrow at the incision median. The anterior spiracle consisted of a single row of nine to ten papillae while intersegmental spine could be identified with one to three dark pigmented tips. A dark pigmented and wide periterime was observed confining three short and thick spiracular slits while button was poorly pigmented. The most distinctive feature of this second and third instar larva was the slender, thorn-like tubercle with numerous spined tips on the middle line segment of the body. These findings provide identification features of C. rufifacies larvae instars.

A four-month cross-sectional study found five species of parasitoids parasitizing puparia of filth flies breeding at the Taman Beringin landfill in Kepong and a poultry farm in Sungai Pelek, Sepang, Selangor. Effect of monthly rainfalls towards density of flies and percentage of parasitoids emerging from collected puparia were also analyzed. Spalangia sp. was the most common, consisting of Spalangia endius Walker, S. cameroni Perkins and S. gemina Boucek. Other parasitoids collected were Pachycrepoideus vindemmiae Rondani and Exoristobia phillipinensis Ashmead. The parasitized fly hosts were Musca domestica Linn. and Chrysomya megacephala Fabricius. S. endius was the most common parasitoid attacking M. domestica at both locations. M. domestica was the most common fly found at the Sg. Pelek poultry farm whereas C. megacephala was the most numerous at the Taman Beringin landfill. During heavy rainfall month of November 2003, density of flies were high whereas the emerging parasitoids were low at both landfill and poultry farm. The present study revealed the endemic presence of parasitoids especially S. endius in both poultry farm and garbage landfill and the potential of the parasitoid species in fly control in Malaysia.

Objective: Intestinal microsporidia is an emerging human disease caused by microsporidia. A study was conducted to determine the prevalence of microsporidia in patients with gastro-intestinal symptoms and to examine the clinical manifestations associated with intestinal microsporidiosis. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study using a well-structured questionnaire; a review of medical records was also undertaken. Positive stool samples were defined as presence of one or more pinkish-violet ovoid structures with a belt-like stripe under high power field (100x) using modified gram-chromotrope stain (MGC). Results: A total of 353 faecal specimens of patients was examined and 100 patients were found to have positive stool samples for microsporidia. The overall prevalence of microsporidia was 28.3%. Acute and chronic diarrhoea were seen in 49.0% and 36.0% patients, respectively. The commonest clinical presentations were diarrhoea (85.0%) with 83.0 % of patients having loose or watery stools, vomiting (75.0%), foul-smelling stools (60.0%), nausea (59.0%) and cramping abdominal pain (39.0%). The least common symptoms were fever (15.0%), mucous in stool (5.0%) and blood in stool (4.0%). Conclusion: This study concludes that the prevalence of microsporidia is still high (28.3%) and the majority of patients (93.0%) are symptomatic; the most common gastro-intestinal symptom is diarrhoea with loose or watery stools. Hence, it is recommended that a stool screening for microsporidia be done in selected patients presented with gastrointestinal symptoms.

Malaria remains one of the most important infectious diseases worldwide considering that 40% of the world’s population live in health risk areas and millions of febrile episodes due to malaria infection occur annually in children under the age of five in Africa alone and almost 3 million patients, primarily children, die each year. Among the various measures envisaged, to contain the disease, the concept of a vaccine to protect humans against malaria appears particularly attractive. The development of an effective malaria vaccine represents one of the most important approaches to provide cost-effective intervention, in addition to currently available malaria control strategies. Here, we review malaria as a public health problem and the status and promise in malaria vaccine development.

Lymphatic filariasis is a field that has undergone a rapid expansion of knowledge, the direct reward of research investments made over the past 20 years. These advances have included the diagnosis of infection and monitoring of control efforts that have been made feasible by the development of tools based on antigen and DNA detection. The most important of the new tools for the control of lymphatic filariasis are simple, safe, inexpensive, conveniently delivered drugs that kill the microfilariae and adult worms. New diagnostic tools such as lymphoscintigraphy and ultrasonography for the examination and identification of hidden damage have also been developed that are far easier to use than anything previously. However, it is inopportune to conceive that problems of diagnosis of lymphatic filariasis as completely solved when there is still no antigen tests for the diagnosis of active or current infection with Brugia malayi. Brugian filariasis is zoonotic whereby man and animal reservoirs share the infection and is transmitted by the same species of mosquito vectors that are both zoophilic and anthropophylic. In endemic areas of subperiodic B. malayi where animal reservoir of the infection exists, filariasis control programme were adversely affected. Vaccination may form the basis of a possible future control method of public health importance in the elimination of microfilariae in animal reservoirs that would break the zoonotic transmission. Universiti Putra Malaysia in a deliberate attempt to join the international scientific community toward the control and possible eradication of lymphatic filariasis has embarked on research into the development of antifilarial nucleic acid vaccine i.e. to genetically engineered vaccines that can block zoonotic transmission of brugian filariasis. Filaricidal drugs unfortunately has no effect on the main pathological consequence of repeated infection, namely elephantiasis, for which in fact no drug treatment has any effect except p

Parasitological and serological investigations for lymphatic filariasis were performed on 450 immigrants detained at the Immigration Centre at Semenyih, Seiangor, West Malaysia. The country of origin of these immigrants were Indonesia, The Philippines, Myanmar, Bangladesh, India and Pakistan. Brugia malayi adult worm homogenate (BmAH) antigen was used for the detection of antifilarial IgG. A monoclonal antibody-based ELISA (MAb.XC3~ELISA) specific for filarial circulating antigens and non-phosphorylcholine reactive was used to detect antigenemia in these immigrants. Parasitologically 67 (14.89 %) were positive for W, bancrofti and 54 (12.0%) for Brugia malayi. Serologically 63 % had antifilarial IgG titre to the BmAH antigen. While Bancroftian filariasis is now unknown in Peninsular Malaysia, the potential of it to be reintroduced into Peninsular Malaysia by the immigrant population is discussed.