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Given the proven zoonotic potential of the intestinal protozoan Blastocystis sp., a fast-growing number of surveys are being conducted to identify potential animal reservoirs for transmission of the parasite. Nevertheless, few epidemiological studies have been conducted on farmed animals in Egypt. Therefore, a total of 1089 fecal samples were collected from herbivores (sheep, goats, camels, horses, and rabbits) in six Egyptian governorates (Dakahlia, Gharbia, Kafr El Sheikh, Giza, Aswan, and Sharqia). Samples were screened for the presence of Blastocystis sp. by real-time PCR followed by sequencing of positive PCR products and phylogenetic analysis for subtyping of the isolates. Overall, Blastocystis sp. was identified in 37.6% of the samples, with significant differences in frequency between animal groups (sheep, 65.5%; camels, 62.2%; goats, 36.0%; rabbits, 10.1%; horses, 3.3%). Mixed infections were reported in 35.7% of the Blastocystis sp.-positive samples. A wide range of subtypes (STs) with varying frequency were identified from single infections in ruminants including sheep (ST1–ST3, ST5, ST10, ST14, ST21, ST24, ST26, and ST40), goats (ST1, ST3, ST5, ST10, ST26, ST40, ST43, and ST44), and camels (ST3, ST10, ST21, ST24–ST26, ST30, and ST44). Most of them overlapped across these animal groups, highlighting their adaptation to ruminant hosts. In other herbivores, only three and two STs were evidenced in rabbits (ST1–ST3) and horses (ST3 and ST44), respectively. The greater occurrence and wider genetic diversity of parasite isolates among ruminants, in contrast to other herbivores, strongly suggested that dietary habits likely played a significant role in influencing both the colonization rates of Blastocystis sp. and ST preference. Of all the isolates subtyped herein, 66.3% were reported as potentially zoonotic, emphasizing the significant role these animal groups may play in transmitting the parasite to humans. These findings also expand our knowledge on the prevalence, genetic diversity, host specificity, and zoonotic potential of Blastocystis sp. in herbivores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gentamicin, one of aminoglycosides, was greatly used in treatment of different bacterial infections in animal. This study investigated the hepato-nephrotoxicity induced by single intramuscular (IM) injection gentamicin in chickens. A total number of 90, one day-old, Balady chicks were randomly divided into 3 groups each with 30 birds. Group (1) served as a control; Group (2) was given 25 mg gentamicin /kg body weight (BW), Group (3) was given 50 mg gentamicin /kg BW. Hepato-nephrotoxicity was evaluated by measuring growth performances, mortality rats, hematological parameters, biochemical markers; reduced glutathione (GSH), nitric oxide (NO), liver function tests, serum urea and creatinine levels, as well as, by evaluation of histopathological pictures of liver and kidney. 50 mg gentamicin /kg BW reduced growth performance and decreased red blood cell (RBC) count, hemoglobin (Hb) concentration, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), total protein, albumin, globulin levels and albumin/ globulin (A/G) ratio. There were significant heterophilic leukocytosis and eosinophilia. Levels of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT), urea, creatinine, liver and kidney NO were increased, meanwhile levels of GSH were decreased. Severe congestion, hemorrhage and multifocal coagulative necrotic areas were microscopically detected in liver and kidneys. Gentamicin injection altered hematological, biochemical and serum antioxidants pictures and induced hepatic and renal lesions in a dose dependent manner. The chickens administered 50 mg/kg BW gentamicin were more severely affected than 25 mg/kg BW gentamicin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]