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Enterocytozoon bieneusi is the most common microsporidia in humans worldwide, in addition to infecting a wide range of animals. However, there is limited information about this pathogen in children in Egypt. Here, we carried out a molecular epidemiological study of E. bieneusi in child care centers in three provinces in Egypt. Altogether, 585 fresh fecal samples were collected from children attending 18 child care centers in El-Dakahlia, El-Gharbia, and Damietta provinces in Northeast Egypt during March 2015 to April 2016. PCR and sequence analyses of the ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) were used to detect and genotype E. bieneusi. Twenty-seven fecal samples (4.6%, 27/585) were positive for E. bieneusi. Five genotypes were identified, including type IV (n = 13), Peru8 (n = 9), Peru6 (n = 2), Peru11 (n = 2), and D (n = 1). Phylogenetic analysis indicated that the five genotypes of E. bieneusi detected in this study were clustered into zoonotic group 1. These data provide important information on the prevalence and genetic diversity of E. bieneusi in children in this country. Further epidemiological studies should be conducted to elucidate the role of zoonotic transmission in human E. bieneusi infections.

Aim This study evaluated the effect of co-administration of vitamin C and Arabic gum (AG) supplements on the response of vaccinated (VAC) and challenged laying Japanese quails with avian influenza virus (AIV) H9N2. Materials and methods One hundred and fifty 49-day-old laying Japanese quails were divided into 5 groups (G1-G5): the G1 group was a negative control, G2 group was unvaccinated + H9N2 challenged (Ch), G3 group was unvaccinated + supplements + Ch, G4 group was VAC + Ch, and the G5 group was VAC + supplements + Ch. The supplements (vitamin C, 1 g/liter of drinking water and AG, 1% ration) were given for 5 weeks post-vaccination (PV). The birds were injected subcutaneously with an inactivated H9N2 vaccine at 49 days of age. The quails were then challenged intranasally with AIV H9N2 at the 3rd week PV. Blood, tracheal swab and tissue samples were collected at the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd weeks PV, and at different time points post-challenge (PC). Results Growth performance, egg production (%), egg and eggshell weights, HI antibody titers, clinical signs, lesions, mortality, virus shedding rates, leukogram, biochemical and immunological parameters and histopathological lesions PC showed significant differences (P (P Conclusion The co-administration of vitamin C and AG for 5 weeks can improve growth performance, egg production and the immune response in vaccinated laying quails challenged with AIV H9N2.

Background Chickens infected with both infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) and Salmonella had higher mortality. In this work, we investigated the effect of IBDV vaccine (modified live-virus bursal disease vaccine, Nobilis strain 228E®) on experimentally infected chickens with Salmonella Enteritidis (SE). Methods Four experimental groups were included in this study, negative control group, 228E®group, 228E® + SE infected group, and SE infected group. Chickens were ocularly administrated 228E® at 12 days of age and orally infected with S. Enteritidis at 13 days of age. Sera, intestinal fluid, blood, cloacal swabs and tissue samples were collected at 1, 2 and 3 weeks post vaccination (PV). Results The recorded mortalities were higher in the 228E® + SE infected group, compared to the SE infected group. The anti-S. Enteritidis serum antibody titer and the intestinal mucosal IgA level were higher in the SE infected group at 2 and 3 weeks PV, compared to 228E® + SE infected group. S. Enteritidis fecal shedding and organ colonization were significantly higher in the 228E® + SE infected group than the SE infected group at 2 and 3 weeks PV. The 228E® + SE group had significantly lower bursa to body weight ratios at 2 and 3 weeks PV, as well as had higher bursal lesion scores than the SE infected group. IBDV vaccine depressed the specific-SE systemic and mucosal antibody responses, but did not affect the specific-SE cellular immune responses. Conclusion Chickens administrated IBDV vaccine, followed by S. Enteritidis infection, could cause a significant effect on the bursa of Fabricius, resulting in failure of systemic and mucosal antibody responses to the S. Enteritidis and reduce the elimination and the clearance of S. Enteritidis.

This study was carried out to evaluate the effects of induced urolithiasis by high dietary calcium (Ca) or protein levels on biochemical analyte levels, redox status, selected inflammatory cytokines and histopathology in chickens. A total of 90 one-day-old white Hy-Line chicks were fed basal control diets containing 20% crude protein (CP) and 1% Ca until they reached 44 days of age. After that, the birds were divided into three groups (30 birds per group). All management factors (light, temperature, ventilation, stock density and diet) were identical among the three groups throughout the study except for the dietary Ca and protein percentages. Group I was fed a control diet containing 20% CP and 1% Ca, group II was fed a high-Ca diet containing 5% Ca, and group III was fed a high-protein diet containing 25% CP. Our findings clearly demonstrated that dietary imbalance (caused by high-Ca or high-CP levels) per se in chickens was physiologically harmful, as it was accompanied by post-mortem lesions; biochemical, redox status and histopathological alterations; and upregulation of inflammatory cytokines (interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-6). In particular, the birds fed the high-Ca diet clearly exhibited the most obvious alterations in most of the endpoints. In conclusion, this study constitutes the first extensive investigation of the effects of high-Ca or high-protein diets induced urolithiasis on growth performance, redox status, inflammatory cytokine levels and pathological characterization in chickens.

Avian influenza vaccines are commonly used in the poultry industry, and some medicinal plants can increase the efficacy of such vaccines. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of Immulant

Background The transmission of Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia duodenalis into humans varies according to species/genotypes of the pathogens. Although infections with both parasites are recorded in Egypt, few data are available on the distribution of Cryptosporidium species and G. duodenalis genotypes. The present study assessed the occurrence and genetic diversity of Cryptosporidium spp. and G. duodenalis in Egyptian children. Methods In the present study, 585 fecal specimens were collected from children eight years old and younger in three provinces (El-Dakahlia, El-Gharbia and Damietta) during March 2015 to April 2016. PCR-RFLP analysis of the small subunit rRNA gene and sequence analysis of the 60 kDa glycoprotein gene were used to detect and subtype Cryptosporidium spp., respectively, whereas PCR and sequence analyses of the triose phosphate isomerase, glutamate dehydrogenase and β-giardin genes were used to detect and genotype Giardia duodenalis. Results The overall infection rates of Cryptosporidium spp. and G. duodenalis were 1.4% and 11.3%, respectively. The Cryptosporidium species identified included C. hominis and C. parvum, each with three subtype families. The C. hominis subtypes were IbA6G3 (n = 2), IdA17 (n = 1), IdA24 (n = 1) and IfA14G1R5 (n = 1), while C. parvum subtypes were IIdA20G1 (n = 1), IIaA15G2R1 (n = 1), and IIcA5G3a (n = 1). The G. duodenalis identified included both assemblages A (n = 31) and B (n = 34). All G. duodenalis assemblage A belonged to the anthroponotic sub-assemblage AII, while a high genetic heterogeneity was seen within assemblage B. Conclusions Data from this study are useful in our understanding of the genetic diversity of Cryptosporidium spp. and G. duodenalis in Egypt and the potential importance of anthroponotic transmission in the epidemiology of both pathogens. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13071-018-2981-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Avian influenza and infectious laryngeotracheitis viruses are common causes of respiratory diseases in chickens with economical importance worldwide. In this study, we investigated the effect of experimental co-infection of avian influenza virus-H9N2 (AIV-H9N2) with infectious laryngeotracheitis virus (ILTV) live-attenuated vaccine (LAR-VAC®) on chickens. Four experimental groups were included in this study: negative control group, AIV-H9N2 group, AIV-H9N2+LAR-VAC® group, and LAR-VAC® group. AIV-H9N2 was inoculated intranasally to challenged groups at 35 days of age. On the same day, LAR-VAC® was ocularly administered to vaccinated groups. Chickens were observed for clinical signs, changes in body weight and mortality rates. Tissue samples, sera, tracheal and cloacal swabs, and blood were also collected at 3, 6, 9 and 12 days post-infection (PI). A significant increase in clinical signs and mortality rates were observed in the AIV-H9N2 + LAR-VAC® group. Moreover, chickens coinfected with AIV-H9N2 and LAR-VAC® showed a significant decrease in body weight and lymphoid organs indices. The tracheal gross and histopathological lesions and the shedding titer and period of AIV-H9N2 were significantly higher in AIV-H9N2 + LAR-VAC® group when compared to other groups. Furthermore, AIV-H9N2 infection leads to humoral and cellular immunosuppression as shown by a significant decrease in the CD4+/CD8+ ratio and antibody responses to ILTV and a significant increase in H/L ratio. In conclusion, this is the first report of co-infection of AIV-H9N2 and ILTV vaccine in chickens, which leads to increased pathogenicity, pathological lesions, and AIV-H9N2 shedding titer and period, which can lead to severe economic losses due to poor weight gain and mortality.

A systematic study was undertaken to identify the species, characterize the pathogenicity, and assess the immunization of Eimeria bateri in Japanese quail ( Coturnix coturnix japonica). In total, 107 Japanese quail farms were examined. The samples were processed and oocyst shape indices of sporulated oocysts were determined. Out of 107 examined farms, 34 (31.78%) farms were positive. Four Eimeria spp. were morphologically identified. For characterization of the pathogenicity, Japanese quail were orally inoculated with various doses of sporulated oocysts of Eimeria bateri. Weight gain, feed conversion ratio (FCR), mortality, severity of diarrhea, and intestinal lesion scores were examined. The birds inoculated with high doses displayed significantly lower weight gain and poorer FCR, increased mortality, and more intestinal and fecal lesions scores. To quantify the immunization of Japanese quail against coccidiosis, 2-day-old quail were orally inoculated with either 100 or 1,000 sporulated oocysts of E. bateri. At 30 days of age, the immunized and non-immunized challenged birds were orally inoculated with 1 × 10