Mousa, W. M., "Evaluation of cercarial antigen for the serodiagnosis of fasciolosis in experimentally and naturally infected sheep", Veterinary Parasitology, vol. 97, no. 1, pp. 47 - 54, 2001. AbstractWebsite

The value of cercarial antigen for diagnosis of experimental and natural sheep fasciolosis was studied by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and enzyme linked immunotransfer blot (EITB). In ELISA, the antibody levels of experimentally infected sheep with Fasciola gigantica appeared at 2 weeks post infection (PI), gradually increased till 7 weeks \{PI\} and nearly remained at the same level from 7 to 13 weeks \{PI\} (the end of experiment). Also, the sensitivity and specificity of cercarial antigen for diagnosis of naturally sheep fasciolosis were 100 and 90%, respectively. In EITB, in the sheep experimentally infected with F. gigantica, the band of 32.5 kDa molecular weight polypeptide appeared at 2 weeks \{PI\} and continued till the end of experiment. Also, the cercarial antigen recognized 32.5 kDa molecular weight band with all sera from naturally infected sheep with fasciolosis (n=25). This band did not cross-react when tested with sera from infected sheep with Cysticercus tenuicollus (n=20). This study suggests that, the 32.5 kDa molecular weight polypeptide could be used as sensitive and specific epitope for the serodiagnosis of sheep fasciolosis.

Selim, S. A., W. M. Mousa, K. F. Mohamed, and I. M. Moussa, "Synergistic haemolytic activity and its correlation to phospholipase D productivity by Corynebacteruim pseudotuberculosis Egyptian isolates from sheep and buffaloes.", Brazilian journal of microbiology : [publication of the Brazilian Society for Microbiology], vol. 43, issue 2, pp. 552-9, 2012 Apr. Abstract

Fourteen isolates of Corynebacteruim pseudotuberculosis of them 7 were isolated from sheep with Caseous Lymphadenitis "biotype 1" and 7 isolated from buffaloes with Oedematous Skin Disease "biotype 2". All isolates were identified by standard microbiological techniques and by polymerase chain reaction targeting, 16S rRNA and phospholipase D genes. Synergistic haemolytic titers of all isolates were assayed by plate technique. The presences of phospholipase D gene in supernatants of all isolates were performed by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis immunoblot technique by using hyperimmune serum raised in rabbit immunized with recombinant phospholipase D gene antigen. The concentration of phospholipase D gene was assayed by scanning the bound phospholipase D gene with specific antibodies that appeared at 31.5 kDa. Results presented that there is no correlation between titer of Synergistic haemolytic activity and the actual phospholipase D genes concentration in culture supernatants. Also results presented that Synergistic haemolytic activity and phospholipase D genes produced by biotype 2 (buffalo isolates) was generally higher than those by biotype 1(sheep isolates).

El-Rahimy, H. H., A. M. A. Mahgoub, N. S. M. El-Gebaly, W. M. A. Mousa, and A. S. A. E. Antably, "Molecular, biochemical, and morphometric characterization of Fasciola species potentially causing zoonotic disease in Egypt.", Parasitology research, vol. 111, issue 3, pp. 1103-11, 2012 Sep. Abstract

Fascioliasis is an important disease caused by Fasciola hepatica and Fasciola gigantica. The distributions of both species overlap in many areas of Asia and Africa including Egypt. Fifty adult Fasciola worms were collected from livers of cattle and sheep slaughtered in abattoirs, Cairo, Egypt. They were subjected to morphological and metric assessment of external features of fresh adults, morphological and metric assessment of internal anatomy of stained mounted worms, determination of electrophorezed bands of crude adult homogenates using SDS-PAGE, and molecular characterization of species-specific DNA segments using RFLP-PCR. It was found that the correlation between conventional morphology and its morphotype was statistically significant (P value = 0.00). Using SDS-PAGE, 13 bands were detected among both genotypes of Fasciola (35.7, 33.6, 32.4, 29.3, 27.5, 26, 24.4, 23, 21.45, 19, 16.75, 12.5, and 9.1 kDa).The most prevalent bands were that with a molecular weight of 29.3, 26, and 19 kDa. Bands detected were common for both species, but protein bands could not distinguish between F. hepatica and F. gigantica. The result of PCR for the amplification of the selected 28S rDNA fragment with the designed primer set yielded 618 bp long PCR products for F. hepatica and F. gigantica. Different band patterns generated after digestion of the 618 bp segment by the enzyme AvaII obtained with F. hepatica showed segments of the length 529, 62, 27 bp, while with F. gigantica 322, 269, 27 bp bands were obtained. Genotyping revealed no equivocal results. The conventional morphological parameters for species determination of Fasciola spp. endemic in Egypt were evaluated versus protein bands characterization and genotyping. It was concluded that conventional morphological and metric assessments were not useful for differentiation between F. gigantica and F. hepatica due to extensive overlap in the relative ranges. Similar conclusion was reached concerning protein band characterization where the patterns of protein banding were mostly similar. In contrast, genotyping using RFLP-PCR gave consistent results and clear differentiation between the two species. Considering the implications of proper speciation of endemic parasites on clinical evaluation, therapy, epidemiology, and control measures, speciation of parasites is currently revised on molecular basis. The presently used molecular tool is therefore recommended for further study to help draw a proper map for geographical distribution of Fasciola species.

Youssef, S. Y., S. Yasien, W. M. A. Mousa, S. M. Nasr, E. A. M. El-Kelesh, K. M. Mahran, and A. H. Abd-El-Rahman, "Vector identification and clinical, hematological, biochemical, and parasitological characteristics of camel (Camelus dromedarius) theileriosis in Egypt.", Tropical animal health and production, 2015 Feb 13. Abstract

The objectives of the present study were to identify a possible tick vector and to determine the prevalence of camel theileriosis in Egypt using blood smears stained with Giemsa's stain and PCR assay. Hemogram and serum biochemical constituents were also investigated. A total of 243 camels, aged 3-5 years, were examined. The results revealed that 75 (30.86 %) camels were infected with Theileria spp. of Giemsa-stained blood smears. Hyalomma dromedarii was identified as the carrier tick of Theileria spp. Multinucleated sporoblast and free sporozoite were observed in the salivary gland smears from collecting ticks. PCR result revealed that Theileria annulata was the most abundant in camels (60 %) followed by Theileria spp. (10 %). Macrocytic hypochromic anemia was recorded in the infected camels with T. annulata. Leukocytosis, neutrophilia, eosinophilia, and lymphopenia were also observed in the infected group. In the serum of infected camels, total proteins, albumin, β-globulin, and A/G ratio were significantly decreased (P < 0.05); however, total globulins and α- and γ-globulins were markedly increased (P < 0.05). The activity of aspartate aminotransferase and the levels of glucose, creatinine, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol were markedly increased (P < 0.05) in the infected group. In contrast, triglycerides and total cholesterol concentrations were significant decreased (P < 0.001) in the infected group. In conclusion, a high prevalence of camel theileriosis was recorded in apparently healthy camels. H. dromedarii commonly infested these camels and were found infected with the transmissible forms of Theileria, indicating a role in transmission. Camels infected with T. annulata induced alterations in the cellular and biochemical constituents.

Aboelhadid, A. S. M., M. A. El-Askalany, W. M. Mousa, and W. M. Arafa, "Attenuation Effect of UV on Haemonchus contortus Larvae in Experimentally Infected Goats.", Iranian journal of parasitology, vol. 8, issue 4, pp. 559-69, 2013 Oct. Abstract

BACKGROUND: Haemonchus contortus causes severe economic losses in small ruminants, so this study was conducted to study the UV effect on H. contortus larvae and its protective effect.

METHODS: Sixteen male goats were divided into 5 groups, control infected, control uninfected and UV 30 minutes exposure; UV 60 minutes exposure and UV booster 60 minutes exposure. The UV groups were exposed to UV irradiation at wave length 254 nm for 30 and 60 minutes. The UV booster 60 min was administrated 2 doses of exposed larvae with an interval of one month. All groups except the control negative one were challenged for 42 days from the beginning.

RESULTS: In UV booster 60 min had reduction in egg count per gram feces and worm burden (93% & 34 % respectively). The establishment rate and relative fertility declined in comparison with other groups. These parameters were similar in control infected, UV 30 min and UV 60 min groups. PCV value of UV booster 60 min group was similar to uninfected group. After two weeks from the booster dose of irradiated larvae, increased levels of antibody were found in goats of UV booster 60 min group.

CONCLUSION: Two doses of UV 60 min exposure, with an interval of one month, gave reduction not only in egg per gram feces but in worm burden as well.

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