Knowledge and practice related to compliance with mass drug administration during the Egyptian national filariasis elimination program

Lymphatic filariasis (LF) has been targeted for global elimination by 2020. The primary tool for the program is mass drug administration (MDA) with antifilarial medications to reduce the source of microfilariae required for mosquito transmission of the parasite. This strategy requires high MDA compliance rates. Egypt initiated a national filariasis elimination program in 2000 that targeted approximately 2.7 million persons in 181 disease-endemic localities. This study assessed factors associated with MDA compliance in year three of the Egyptian LF elimination program. 2,859 subjects were interviewed in six villages. The surveyed compliance rate for MDA in these villages was 85.3% (95% confidence interval = 83.9–86.5%). Compliance with MDA was positively associated with LF knowledge scores, male sex, and older age. Adverse events reported by 18.4% of participants were mild and more common in females. This study has provided new information on factors associated with MDA compliance during Egypt's successful LF elimination program

The effect of compliance on the impact of mass drug administration for elimination of lymphatic filariasis in Egypt

We studied effects of compliance on the impact of mass drug administration (MDA) with diethylcarbamazine and albendazole for lymphatic filariasis (LF) in an Egyptian village. Baseline microfilaremia (mf) and filarial antigenemia rates were 11.5% and 19.0%, respectively. The MDA compliance rates were excellent (> 85%). However, individual compliance was highly variable; 7.4% of those surveyed after five rounds of MDA denied having ever taken the medications and 52.4% reported that they had taken all five doses. The mf and antigenemia rates were 0.2% and 2.7% in those who reported five doses of MDA and 8.3% and 13.8% in those who reported zero doses. There was no significant difference in residual infection rates among those who had taken two or more doses. These results underscore the importance of compliance for LF elimination programs based on MDA and suggest that two ingested doses of MDA are as effective as five doses for reducing filariasis infection rates

Screening of Primary School Children for Amblyopia and Amblyogenic Factors in Central Cairo, Egypt

Objective. To measure the prevalence of amblyopia and amblyogenic factors among primary school children and to evaluate distance visual acuity (VA) as a screening test to detect amblyopia and define its cutoff value. Subjects and Methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted on primary school children in two schools in Central Cairo. Children underwent assessment of visual acuity using Landolt broken ring. Comprehensive ophthalmologic examination was performed for amblyopia suspects at the Ophthalmology Department of Ain Shams University Hospitals, including reassessment of best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) using the same chart. Results. A total of 352 children were examined. Reduced screening VA (amblyopia suspect) was detected in 47 subjects (13.35%) proved amblyopia after comprehensive examination was 1.98% (7 cases). Refractive errors (REs) were present in all suspected and proved amblyopia cases (100%) but was only present in 11.6% of nonamblyopic students (P<0.05). The prevalence of hyperopia in the whole sample was 3.6%, and was 27.6% in subjects with RE. Thirty percent of hyperopic eyes were amblyopic. The prevalence of myopia was 9.3% of the whole sample and 70% of students with RE. Only 9% of myopic eyes were amblyopic. Mild to moderate amblyopia (VA better than 0.2log MAR) was 42.9%, while severe amblyopia represented 57.1%. Conclusion. This study emphasizes the importance of school-based eye care system targeting the detection of amblyopia by application of a fast screening distance VA test with a cutoff value of high sensitivity at log MAR 0.539 (Snellen′s VA equivalent 6/18)

Effect of dietary bile acids : Growth performance, immune response, genes expression of fatty acid metabolism, intestinal, and liver morphology of striped catfish (Pangasianodon hypophthalmus)

Seven isonitrogenous (31.70% protein) and isolipidic (5.20%) experimental diets were made by supplementing a control diet (BA0) with 0.25, 0.50, 0.75, 1.0, 1.25, and 1.5 g bile acid (BA) kg−1 diet, respectively. The diets were fed to striped catfish (Pangasianodon hypophthalmus) to monitor the effects on the growth, non-specific immune response, gene expression of fatty acids metabolism, liver, and their intestinal morphology. The average initial fish weight was 10.3 ± 0.20 (SD) g. The diets were randomly assigned to 21 hapas, each stocked with 10 fish and fed for 70 days. Supplementing BA1.0 and BA1.25 significantly improved growth and nutrient utilization (P < 0.05) compared to BA0 and other treatments. Additionally, the hematological analyses red blood cell count (RBC), haemoglobin, packed cell volume (PCV) and white blood cell count (WBC) amplified in the subsequent order: BA1.0, BA1.25, BA0.75, BA1.50, and BA0.50 g kg−1 diet and finally BA0.25 g kg−1 diet compared to the control diet. The rates of serum lysozyme activity, biochemical parameters, phagocytic index, phagocytic activity, and antioxidants parameters were considerably improved (P ≤ 0.05) in fish fed diets BA1.0 and BA1.25. In the intestinal measurement and liver histomorphometricall, the highest values were observed on BA1.0 and BA1.25. Among the five genes assayed in the liver tissues, peritoneal fat, and musculature levels of ATGL, HSL, and CPT-1, genes expression increased in fish fed diets with increasing levels of bile acid added to the diet while, the expression of PPARα and FAS decreased. Consequently, bile acids are recommended at levels of 1.0–1.25 g kg−1 diet to improve the growth performance and immune status of striped catfish

Effects of exogenous bile acids (BAs) on growth, lipid profile, digestive enzymes, and immune responses of thinlip mullet, Liza ramada

Abstract An eight-week trial was designed to explore the dietary effects of commercially purchased exogenous bile acids (BAs) on growth, whole-body composition, lipid profile, intestinal digestive enzymes, liver function enzymes, oxidative stress biomarkers, and serum immunity of thinlip mullet, Liza ramada. Four triplicate groups (10.50 ± 0.05 g) were fed four soybean meal (SBM)-based diets supplied with several BAs levels at 0 (control), 50, 130, or 350 mg/kg feed. Results indicated that the growth was significantly increased in groups fed BAs-based diets, especially at 130 mg/kg feed. The body composition analysis showed that feeding fish on diets supplied with BAs up to 130 mg/kg decreased moisture (%) alongside increased crude protein (%). However, the body composition of fish fed a diet with 350 mg BAs/kg had the lowest moisture (%) and the highest crude protein (%). Moreover, there were significant increases in the intestinal (protease, α-amylase, and lipase) enzyme activities in the groups supplied with BAs up to 130 mg BAs/kg. Liver function enzymes (aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase enzyme activities) were significantly decreased in BAs-supplemented groups compared to those fed the BAs-free group. On the other hand, the control group had higher total cholesterol, triglycerides, and low-density lipoprotein alongside the lower high-density lipoprotein than BAs-supplemented groups, especially at 350 mg BAs/kg feed. BAs significantly decreased hepatic malondialdehyde concentrations and increased the activity of hepatic catalase, superoxide dismutase, and total antioxidant capacity compared with those reared on the control diet. Serum lysozyme, respiratory burst, and alternative complement activities were significantly increased in BAs-supplied groups, particularly in the group supplied with 130 mg BAs/kg compared to those fed on the control diet. Accordingly, our findings recommend that including 130 mg BAs/kg in an SBM-based diet enhanced the growth, digestive enzyme activities, and liver functions, alleviated oxidative stress, boosted serum immunity, and lowered lipid metabolites in thinlip mullet. These findings will be beneficial for improving the quality of feed prepared for feeding mullets and an effective alternative strategy to support mullet farming