Research Journal of Parasitology - Current Issue

Chemoprophylaxis and Chemotherapeutic Effect of Flubendazole on Echinococcus granulosus Experimentally Infected Dogs

23 May, 2013

Dogs are pivoted in Echinococcus granulosus (E. granulosus) transmission to human that causes cystic echinococcosis. Uses of effective drugs as chemoprophylactic or chemotherapeutic provides a very practical and an important prevention strategy to control programs in endemic countries. The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of flubendazole (FLBZ) on E. granulosus infection in dogs as a chemoprophylactic and chemotherapeutic. FLBZ was given by a dose of 20 mg kg^-1 twice daily 35 days post infection for 3 consecutive days and was given by the same dose at time point of infection for 15 consecutive days. The results of the chemoprophylactic effect and chemotherapeutic effects showed significant reduction in the number of worms according to control group, also there was marked inhibition of maturation that gave 84.9% for FLBZ chemoprophylaxis and 100% as chemotherapeutic. SEM studies revealed different changes in the adults parasites surface.

A Comparative Study of the Prevalence of Malaria in Aba and Umuahia Urban Areas of Abia State, Nigeria

23 May, 2013

Malaria is an infectious disease which is as old as man and as such demands a thorough put investigation for effective prevention. In this study, a comparative study of the prevalence of malaria in Aba and Umuahia urban settings of Abia state, Nigeria were investigated in order to proffer possible preventive/control measures. A total of 500 individuals (250 in each urban setting) were examined for malaria parasites in blood specimens using standard methods. The results showed that a total number 402 (80.40%) were positive for malaria parasitaemia. In Aba, 216 (86.40%) individuals were positive while in Umuahia, 186 (74.40%) individuals were positive for malaria parasitaemia and the difference in the prevalence between these urban areas were statistically significant. Individuals of age group 21-30 years had the highest rate of infection (92.31%) in Aba while in Umuahia highest infection rate of 90.00% was observed in the age group 11-20 years. Traders were mostly infected in both urban areas with 94.34% in Aba and 93.75% in Umuahia, however, the difference was not statistically significant (p>0.05). Females in both urban areas were more infected than males with (91.20%) in Aba and 80.80% in Umuahia, the difference being statistically significant (p<0.05). Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium malariae occurred in both urban areas with Plasmodium falciparum predominating Aba and Umuahia urban were observed to be endemic for malaria.

Plasma Concentration of Platelet Factor 4: As an Evidence of Platelet Activation in Parasitic Infections

23 May, 2013

Platelets number in the circulation largely exceeds that needed for haemostasis. There is increasing evidences that platelets have an immunological role against parasites. Assessment of platelet factor 4 concentrations in patients with parasitic infections can be used as an indicator for platelet activation. This study aims to evaluate the in vivo platelet activation in parasitic infections through measuring the plasma level of platelet factor 4 in a protozoal and a helminthic infection both before and after treatment. Thus 30 patients, 22 diagnosed to have giardiasis and 8 diagnosed to have hydrated disease, were subjected to serum samples collection before (Ag1 and Ah1) and after treatment (Ag2 and Ah2), respectively. The study also included 20 healthy adult as a control group. Both platelet counts and plasma levels of PF4 were measured. Platelet counts in both giardiasis and hydatid patients were significantly elevated after treatment compared to their counts before treatment. Plasma level of PF4 was reduced with a statistically significant difference in both diseases after treatment. Also there was a statistically significant difference between the mean values of PF4 of the control group (C-PF4) and in the tested groups of both diseases before and after treatment (p<0.5). Thus parasitic infections lead to platelets activation with increase in platelet count although within normal range for platelets. Plasma level of platelet factor 4 is significantly increased in both infections and decreased after treatment, thus can be used as an indicator for parasitic infection and for prediction of succession of recovery after treatment.

Variation in the Muscle Tissue Protein of Some Fish Parasitic Isopods

23 May, 2013

Parasitic attack commercially important fishes are a matter of great concern. Parasites were collected from the Nagapattinam coastal environment, Southeast coast of India. The concentration of protein in the muscles shows variation among the isopods parasites. The muscle proteins from 5 species of isopods parasites was studied, among the species maximum protein content of 18.26% was observed in Nerocila loveni and the minimum protein content of 3.44% was noticed in Catoessa boscii. After the Sodium Dodecyl Sulphate-Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), their clear bands were detected in the gel that represents proteins from five species of isopods. The present study reported for the first time that muscles proteins of isopods were isolated and considered for protein quantification and identification.