Incidence of Chrysomya bezziana screw-worm myiasis in Saudi Arabia, 1999/2000.
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Animals↗
Biomedical subjects
M N Abo-Shehada
Publications and source records attributed to M N Abo-Shehada.
Estimating the economic effects of cystic echinococcosis. Part 3: Jordan, a developing country with lower-middle income.
The economic costs of cystic echinococcosis (CE) in Jordan, a developing country of lower-middle income, were investigated. Initial cost-estimates for livestock were based on the published prevalences of Echinococcus granulosus infection in sheep and goats and the values of livestock-related products together with likely production losses. Likewise, the annual numbers of human cases of CE were estimated using published surgical incidences in man. The costs of surgery were estimated from hospital records and by costing out the procedures each patient received whilst undergoing treatment. After comparing the quality of life of patients treated for CE with that of case-matched controls, it appeared that the treated patients had some long-term morbidity caused either by the disease or the resulting treatment. A simple spreadsheet model was built up, to sum the individual cost items. Each cost item and each of the data related to prevalence and incidence was assigned a mathematical distribution and varied randomly, using Monte-Carlo techniques, throughout its range, over 10 000 simulations. The results of the study indicate that the most likely range of annual economic losses attributable to CE in Jordan (encompassing 95% confidence limits) is from U.S.$2 602 215-6533 661, with a median of U.S.$3 874 070.
Animal Husbandry↗
Age and seasonal variations in the prevalence of Oestrus ovis larvae among sheep in northern Jordan.
During the period March 1996-July 1997, 417 heads of Awassi sheep slaughtered at the Irbid Abattoir (northern Jordan) were examined for the three larval instars (L1, L2 and L3) of Oestrus ovis. Of the 417 heads, 242 (58%) were infested with O. ovis larvae. Larval numbers were highly aggregated. The lowest number of larvae and the lower quartile were both zero, whilst the median was two and the upper quartile was 12. The highest number of larvae recovered from one head was 151. All three larval instars were observed in each month of the year. July and October had the highest proportions of L1, 75 and 78%, respectively, among infected animals (adjusted for age). The number of larvae increased with age. Infestation with live larvae was associated with inflammatory responses in the upper respiratory tract and with catarrhal or purulent discharge. The percentage of infested sheep and the mean monthly total number of larvae/sheep peaked in the warmer part of the year. Most larvae were L1 except during the spring when L2 and L3 predominated. Distribution analysis demonstrates that the numbers of larvae recovered in the sheep population followed a negative-binomial distribution. Furthermore, the negative-binomial constant k for each month correlated with the monthly prevalence.
Abattoirs↗
Prevalence of hydatidosis among donkeys in northern Jordan.
One hundred and thirty donkeys (Equus asinus), aged between 5 months and 14 years of age, from the Irbid Governorate in northern Jordan were necropsied between November 1997-May 1999. Of these animals, 16.9% had hydatid cysts in either their lungs and/or livers. No donkeys of 3 years of age or less were infected, where as 33.3% (22 of 66) aged 4 years or greater were infected. Intensity of infection increased with age in a linear fashion. The prevalence also increased with age approaching an asymptotic prevalence of 1 in the oldest animals. This implied there was minimal regulation of the parasite population by intermediate host immunity. The numbers of cysts in the donkeys were increasing at a rate of 0.48 cysts per year from 0.054 infections. The frequency distribution was highly aggregated, consistent with a negative binomial distribution indicating infection of donkeys was not random.
Age Factors↗
Risk factors associated with human cystic echinococcosis in Jordan: results of a case-control study.
The parasites causing cystic echinococcosis (CE) are transmitted to man and domestic animals either directly or indirectly from dogs. High levels of human infection have been frequently described in sheep-rearing areas of the world, where the infection cycles between dogs and sheep through the use of working dogs and the feeding of sheep offal to dogs. A case-control study was undertaken in northern Jordan to examine the epidemiological characteristics of echinococcosis in a Muslim community. Forty-four indigenous Jordanians who had been treated for CE between 1990 and 1996 were contacted and three controls for each case, matched for sex and age, were selected from the Jordanian population. The most important single factor associated with treatment for CE was the main source of domestic water; 42 (95%) of the cases but only 81 (61%) of the controls reported that they used a public, piped, water supply as their principal source of household water [odds ratio (OR) = 13.22; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 2.91-83.7]. The keeping of dogs or close association with dogs or farm animals was not associated with any increased risk of CE. However, individuals who grew their own vegetables had a significantly decreased risk of acquiring CE (OR = 0.30; CI = 0.08-0.98). There was evidence of widespread ignorance of the disease and how it is transmitted.
Animals↗
Prevalence of Surra among camels and horses in Jordan.
The prevalence of Trypanosoma evansi infection among camels and horses in Jordan was studied using thick blood smears and inoculation techniques with mice and rats. A total of 437 camels and 83 horses from four climatic zones were surveyed. In addition, 40 donkeys, 32 cattle and 35 goats in contact with infected camels and horses were also tested in the same way. Clinical disease was evident in 8.2% of the camels (36 out of 437) and in 9.6% of the horses (8 out of 83). Infection was limited only to the Sweama area on the Dead Sea (within the warm desert-climatic zone), with prevalence of 30.5% and 33.3%, respectively, for camels and horses. Donkeys, cattle and goats examined were all free from T. evansi. Clinically affected camels were positive by both, thick blood smear and mouse and rat inoculations. Rat and mouse inoculations revealed (X2 = 3.2, df = 1, exact p = 0.07) greater number of positive cases in horses than those revealed by thick blood smears. T. evansi-infected camels and horses showed all the clinical signs known for Surra. In addition, it was observed that 100% of infected camels stared at the sun.
Animals↗
Modelling the prevalence of Echinococcus and Taenia species in small ruminants of different ages in northern Jordan.
A base-line survey of Echinococcus granulosus, Taenia hydatigena and T ovis were undertaken in order to investigate the transmission dynamics of these parasites in northern Jordan. Intensity of E. granulosus infection, in sheep, increased with age in a linear fashion whilst the asymptotic prevalence was one. This implied that E. granulosus is in an endemic steady state with no evidence of protective immunity in the intermediate host. The mean number of cysts increased by 1.66 per year with approximately 0.320 infections per year, each infection consisting of 598 eggs to produce 5.2 cysts. The basic reproduction ratio (R0) was estimated to be 1.5-1.8. A similar pattern was suggested with E. granulosus in goats but the infection pressure appeared to be lower with only 0.128 cysts per year. Although infection in goats appeared to be endemic there was some evidence of departure from the model which might indicate that the model needs adjusting for this species. In the case of T. hydatigena the host age-intensity helminth distribution indicated that this parasite was hyperendemic in both sheep and goats, implying regulation by intermediate host immunity. Consequently, R0 was determined from asymptotic prevalence curves for T hydatigena and was calculated to be 4.0 and 3.1 in sheep and goats, respectively. The lower R0 in goats, together with the higher asymptotic age-intensity and age-prevalences, indicates that goats acquire immunity more slowly to T hydatigena in comparison to sheep. Taenia ovis was not detected in any animals.
Animals↗
Seroprevalence of brucellosis among high risk people in northern Jordan.
BACKGROUND: Brucellosis is considered the most important zoonosis in Jordan with high prevalence among man and livestock. METHODS: This study was carried out on high risk people in 1992 in order to assess the seroprevalence of brucellosis in northern Jordan. The sera of 1236 individuals (636 at high risk and 600 controls) were evaluated using the Rose Bengal plate agglutination test (RBPT) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA-IgG) tests. RESULTS: A significantly (P < 0.05) higher seroprevalence of brucellosis among high risk people (8.2 percent) compared to the control sample (0.5 percent) was found. The overall seroprevalence was significantly higher among sheep farmers and meat handlers than in other occupations tested. The seroprevalence increased with age and years at work, but was not influenced by sex or locality. The results indicated a higher seroprevalence among veterinarians in northern Jordan, compared to central Jordan but the difference was not significant. Seroprevalence was present only among veterinarians working in clinics especially in the working age group (34-43 years). CONCLUSION: The results of this study emphasized the importance of contact infections, namely contact with infected animals and their products, as a method of transmission of brucellosis compared to ingestion of contaminated animal products.
Adult↗
Use of dried poultry litter in the diet of pregnant and lactating Awassi ewes.
Two groups of 45 Awassi ewes, were fed a control diet (group C) or a diet containing 0.30 poultry litter from laying birds (group PL). The experiment began when the rams were put with the ewes and continued through pregnancy and lactation. Mean weight changes of ewes of both groups were small and not significantly different. The numbers of ewes that lambed and the numbers of lambs weaned, as proportions of the number of ewes mated, were 0.91 and 0.73 respectively for group C, and 0.93 and 0.70 for group PL. The mean weaning weight of lambs of group C (20.6 kg) was just significantly greater than the value for group PL (18.4 kg) but the estimated mean daily milk yields, 0.716 and 0.626 kg respectively, did not differ significantly. Differences in breeding and lactation performance, between ewes given the control and those given the poultry litter diet, were small for all the data obtained. Also, there was no disease problem related to the use of poultry litter; and the food products milk and cheese, from ewes given poultry litter, were just as acceptable as those from ewes given the control diet.
Animal Feed↗
Some observations on hydatidosis in Jordan.
A total of 2.8% (5 of 176) sera from schoolchildren and university students were seropositive for hydatidosis (Echinococcus granulosus), by the ELISA IgE test. The prevalence of seropositivity was 4.5% among females of all age groups (5-24 years) and among males of the age group 18-24 years. Males of the age group (5-17 years) were seronegative. The ratio of seropositivity between schoolboys and schoolgirls was 1:4. Sera collected from 1085 university students, aged 18-24 years, and from 1656 outpatients from northern and central Jordan, and the Jordan River valley, when tested by the IHA test, revealed the presence of anti-hydatid agglutinating antibodies in 5.16% (56 of 1085) and in 3.6% (60 of 1656) respectively, with a male to female infection ratio of 1:3 in the university students and 1:1.1 in the outpatients. Intensity, prevalence and cyst fertility of E. granulosus increased in sheep with age. The results of this study indicate that hydatidosis is in an endemic steady state in Jordan with estimated economic losses of JD 3.0 (= US $4.4) per infected sheep.
Adolescent↗
Ophthalmomyiasis externa caused by Oestrus ovis L. in the Ajloun area of northern Jordan.
During the years 1990-1991 17 cases of ophthalmomyiasis externa due to the sheep nasal botfly, Oestrus ovis, were reported from the Ajloun area in northern Jordan. Symptoms included mild to severe conjunctivitis, cellulitis, lacrimation and conjunctival hyperaemia. All cases were among males, and they occurred either from April to July or from September to November.
Adolescent↗
Prevalence of leptospiral antibodies in cattle in northern Jordan.
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Animals↗
Seroprevalence of Toxocara canis antibodies in humans in northern Jordan.
Sera of 699 individuals, aged between 5-24 years, from the Irbid area, Jordan, were tested for Toxocara canis antibodies using an ELISA-IgG test. Crude prevalence was 10.9% (76 of 699) but age-adjusted prevalence was 14.3%. The highest prevalence was observed in females aged 5-9 years, 23.3% (7 of 30), and males of 15-19 years of age, 19.5% (16 of 82). The lowest prevalence was observed in females aged 20-25 years, 5.2% (8 of 155). Significant differences (P < 0.05) between the prevalences of the toxocaral antibodies in males and females were observed in the age groups 5-9, 15-19 and 20-24 years. The trend of prevalence in relation to age was different according to sex.
Adolescent↗
A critical study into the fecal analysis routine in practice in Jordan.
The fecal analysis routine adopted by 21 diagnostic medical laboratories in Jordan was surveyed by the means of a questionnaire filled in by the senior year medical technology students who spent 16 weeks in these laboratories as trainees. The recommended routine fecal analysis was not completed satisfactorily by any of the laboratories surveyed. The wet mount microscopic examination was the sole technical test done for the examination of parasite and ova by the majority of the laboratories, 90% (19 of 21). None of the surveyed laboratories adopted the routine use of a concentration technique. One hundred and eight known positive stool specimens were examined by four qualified medical technologists. The wet mount technique revealed positivity in 53% of specimens only, while the formol-ether sedimentation technique yielded 98-100% positivity. This indicates the value of the formol-ether sedimentation technique over the practiced wet mount technique in the routine fecal analysis.
Clinical Protocols↗
Detection of proteins after immunoblotting on nitrocellulose using fluorescent antibodies.
A Western blot method is described utilizing 5-dimethylaminonaphthalene-1-sulfonyl (dansyl chloride)-conjugated antibodies to detect proteins transferred onto nitrocellulose. Four proteins of different molecular weight, including human albumin, gamma heavy chain, kappa and lambda light chains of immunoglobulins, were tested. Labeling with the fluorochrome was compared with the method of enzyme-conjugated antibodies and was found to have similar sensitivity, specificity, and safety. Moreover, this method is less expensive, and the labeled antibodies can be prepared fresh in a short time and are free from the disadvantages of enzyme label whose activity is affected by the presence of activators or inhibitors in the tested specimens.
Blotting, Western↗
Acquired immunity to Toxocara canis infection in mice.
Acquired immunity develops against Toxocara canis infection in mice, and NIH mice are more immunoresponsive than CD1 mice. Twice infected NIH female mice showed 27% reduction in the total larval recoveries compared with non-sensitized controls. Twice-infected NIH male, and CD1 (both sexes) mice showed a negligible reduction in the total recoveries, though a significant (P less than 0.05) number of larvae were retained in the liver compared with the non-sensitized controls. All twice-infected mice showed a significant reduction in the number of larvae recovered from the brain compared with once-infected mice. Vaccination using ultraviolet irradiated embryonated eggs gave the best protection against reinfection. Excretory/secretory antigen afforded less protection, whilst whole adult worm vaccine and whole L2 culture vaccine gave no protection. Vaccinated mice had a higher 'free:penetrating ratio' of larvae in their intestine than similarly challenged but non-vaccinated mice. When the ileum was examined histologically 9 h post-infection, an inflammatory reaction was seen around the penetrating larvae in the sensitized and vaccinated mice but not in untreated controls, suggesting a role played by the intestine in the resistance against T. canis infection in mice.
Animals↗
Prevalence of endoparasites in dog faecal deposits in Jordan.
Of 756 dog faecal deposits collected from the road side and public places in five Jordanian Governorates 466 (61.6%) harboured parasite ova, oocysts and/or larvae. Of these, 67.7%, 26.8%, 4.1% and 1.4% revealed one, two, three and four different types of parasite ova, oocysts or larvae in the same sample, respectively. Examination of the infected samples revealed that 44.1% contained taeniid ova, 19.8% Dipylidium caninum, 19% Toxocara canis, 8% Sarcocystis spp. oocysts, 5% hookworm larvae, 1.5% Diphyllobothrium latum, 0.1% Capillaria spp, and 0.1% Trichuri vulpis eggs.
Ancylostomatoidea↗
Electrophoretic elution of macromolecules from polyacrylamide or agarose gels.
A method for elution of micrograms of macromolecules from polyacrylamide and agarose gels is described. The recoveries were greater than 90% with three different macromolecules tested (28 to 360 kDa). An amount as small as 1 microgram of human serum albumin was eluted from polyacrylamide gel with 90% recovery. The eluted material is collected into a small chamber the size of which can be changed as required. Elution and concentration are achieved simultaneously and in one step under mild conditions. Sterile eluates can be obtained, if the apparatus is constructed under sterile conditions.
Apolipoproteins A↗