Review of Parasitic Zoonoses in Egypt

This review presents a comprehensive picture of the zoonotic parasitic diseases in Egypt, with particular reference to their relative prevalence among humans, animal reservoirs of infection, and sources of human infection. A review of the available literature indicates that many parasitic zoonoses are endemic in Egypt. Intestinal infections of parasitic zoonoses are widespread and are the leading cause of diarrhea, particularly among children and residents of rural areas. Some parasitic zoonoses are confined to specific geographic areas in Egypt, such as cutaneous leishmaniasis and zoonotic babesiosis in the Sinai. Other areas have a past history of a certain parasitic zoonoses, such as visceral leishmaniasis in the El-Agamy area in Alexandria. As a result of the implementation of control programs, a marked decrease in the prevalence of other zoonoses, such as schistosomiasis and fascioliasis has been observed. Animal reservoirs of parasitic zoonoses have been identified in Egypt, especially in rodents, stray dogs and cats, as well as vectors, typically mosquitoes and ticks, which constitute potential risks for disease transmission. Prevention and control programs against sources and reservoirs of zoonoses should be planned by public health and veterinary officers based on reliable information from systematic surveillance.     

Antibodies against oxidized low-density lipoprotein are associated with subclinical atherosclerosis in recent-onset rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients have increased mortality largely as a result of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) that cannot be explained by traditional risk factors, suggesting that systemic inflammation may accelerate atherosclerosis. We investigated the presence of subclinical atherosclerosis in early RA (<12 months) and the possible association of RA-related risk factors. Forty patients with early RA and 40 controls matched for age, sex, and traditional risk factors for CVD were selected. Carotid US examination, assay of lipogram, C-reactive protein (CRP), and oxidized low-density lipoprotein antibodies (OxLDL-ab) were done. RA patients had significantly higher carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) values and more plaque than the control (P < 0.001 and P = 0.0122, respectively). CRP and OxLDL-ab were significantly higher in RA patients than controls. Traditional risk factors and RA-related risk factors (disease duration, DAS-28, duration of treatment with steroids, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and CRP) as well as OxLDL and cIMT were significantly higher in RA with plaques compared to those without plaques. Regression analysis identified the age of patients, CRP, and OxLDL-ab as an independent risk factor associated with the presence of atherosclerosis. Conclusion: there is increased prevalence of carotid plaques in patients with recent-onset RA compared to matched controls. The accelerated atherosclerosis is predicted by age, CRP, and oxLDL-ab. The association of plaques with elevated CRP and OxLDL-ab support the hypothesis that chronic systemic autoimmune inflammatory process is probably a driving force for premature atherosclerosis.