Eczema in North West of Libya

The life style and demographic structure of Libyan society is changing, and this could affect the epidemiology of certain diseases, including eczema. The aim of this study was to assess the burden of eczema among a selected patient population in the Zliten area in the northwest of Libya. We conducted a retrospective study by reviewing case notes and records in public and private dermatology practices in the Zliten area. The frequency of eczema among patients attending dermatology clinics in the Zliten area was 12.8%, and the male to female ratio was almost 1:1. The most affected age group among patients was 20-29 years. Eczema represented a larger proportion of dermatologic conditions during spring and summer. Of all cases of eczema, 72.6% were endogenous and 24.9% were exogenous (p<0.001). The most common type of eczema was contact dermatitis (22.7% of all cases), followed by atopic dermatitis (19.7%) and pityriasis alba (10.5%). In conclusion, eczema is a public health problem in Zliten-Libya, and this necessitates prospective studies to determine its incidence and prevalence

Shared and non-shared antigens from three different extracts of the metacestode of Echinococcus granulosus

Hydatid cyst fluid (HCF), somatic antigens (S-Ag) and excretory-secretory products (ES-Ag) of Echinococcus granulosus protoscoleces are used as the main antigenic sources for immunodiagnosis of human and dog echinococcosis. In order to determine their non-shared as well as their shared antigenic components, these extracts were studied by ELISA-inhibition and immunoblot-inhibition. Assays were carried out using homologous rabbit polyclonal antisera, human sera from individuals with surgically confirmed hydatidosis, and sera from dogs naturally infected with E. granulosus. High levels of cross-reactivity were observed for all antigenic extracts, but especially for ES-Ag and S-Ag. Canine antibodies evidenced lesser avidity for their specific antigens than antibodies from human origin. The major antigenic components shared by HCF, S-Ag, and ES-Ag have apparent molecular masses of 4-6, 20-24, 52, 80, and 100-104 kDa, including doublets of 41/45, 54/57, and 65/68 kDa. Non-shared polypeptides of each antigenic extract of E. granulosus were identified, having apparent masses of 108 and 78 kDa for HCF, of 124, 94, 83, and 75 kDa for S-Ag, and of 89, 66, 42, 39, 37, and 35 kDa for ES-Ag