ORIGINAL_ARTICLE
Detection of Histamine and Tyramine in some Cheese
The biogenic amines content of various food has been widely studied because of their potential toxicity. This study aims at presenting data about histamine and tyramine content in some locally and imported soft, hard, and semihard cheese available in Alexandria markets throwing lights on its public health hazard. A total of 140 random cheese samples included a large variety of types of soft cheese (kareish, old cheese (Mish), Demietta), Semihard cheese, (Roquefort and Gouda), and hard cheese (Ras and Cheddar) as twenty samples of each were analysed for histamine and tyramine using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Results showed that histamine and tyramine were detected in (35–55%) and (70-100%) of samples, respectively. All examined samples contained histamine level lower than the critical oral dose toxic to human (100 mg/100 g). Tyramine exceeded the dangerous dose for patients receiving MAOI, (6 mg) by the percentage of (30, 100, 60, 100, 50, 80, and 60%), respectively. Histamin concentration increased in the order of cheddar > Mish> Gouda>Demietta> Ras > Roquefort > Kareish cheese. Also, tyramine increased in these manner Roquefort > Cheddar > Mish > Demietta > Gouda > Kariesh. The highest level of histamine and tyramine (20.46±7.73 and 32.76±10.32 mg/100g) recorded in cheddar and Roquefort cheese, respectively but the lowest level showed in kareish cheese (4.02±1.74 and 7.12±3.75 mg/100 g) of histamine and tyramine, respectively.
https://jhiphalexu.journals.ekb.eg/article_22558_4219a9002d221cb3b730a8a2cdc0f2cc.pdf
2007-10-01
796
808
10.21608/jhiph.2007.22558
histamine
Tyramine
cheese
Thannae
Amine
1
Department of Food Hygiene and Animal Health, National Research Institute, Doki, Giza, Egypt
LEAD_AUTHOR
Azza
Abouel Waffa
2
Department of Food Hygiene and Animal Health, National Research Institute, Doki, Giza, Egypt
AUTHOR
Mona
Abou El-Nile
3
Department of Food Hygiene and Animal Health, National Research Institute, Doki, Giza, Egypt
AUTHOR
ORIGINAL_ARTICLE
The Effects of Multidispesnary Program on Children with Autism
The aim of the present work is to evaluate the role of multidispensary program in improvement of children with autism. The sample of the study was 15 autistic children. The children were subjected (before and after the program) to evaluation of motor skills, languages behaviour, social skills, and life skills. There was a significant important change in motor skills, language skills, and social skills after the program. The nature of autistic spectrum disorder has significant implications for approaches to education and intervention.
https://jhiphalexu.journals.ekb.eg/article_22559_2d823ae537bc987eab656d69cdb8ff7f.pdf
2007-10-01
809
818
10.21608/jhiph.2007.22559
Multidispesnary Program
children
autism
Hala
Elgrawany
1
Department of Child Health, Kindergarten Collage, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt
LEAD_AUTHOR
Rehab
Sadek
2
Department of Psychology, Kindergarten Collage, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt
AUTHOR
ORIGINAL_ARTICLE
The Effect of Patients Positioning on Oxygen Saturation in the Acute Phase of Ischemic Stroke
Body position is known to influence respiratory function in normal subjects & those with respiratory pathology. Its effect on respiratory function after stroke has received little attention. It's generally thought that stroke morbidity is increased by inappropriate position during early recovery phase. The present study was designed to identify changes in arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2) associated with different four positions of the patient in order to detect proper position which maintain the optimum level of SaO2. Quasiexperiment research design was applied in this study. This study was conducted in stroke intensive care unit of Neurological Department of Assuit University Hospitals. The subjects of this study consist of 60 patients with acute ischemic stroke within 48 hours following mild to moderate and sever stroke. Three tools were included in the study, tool of sociodemographic data, tool of the positions and tool of the Scandinavian stroke scale. The result of the present study revealed that there was statistically significant difference between SaO2 and blood pressure of the patients before and after the positions. It was found also that total mean of SaO2 during right side, supine and semi-setting position was nearly equal and there was statistically significant difference between left position and 3 other positions. So, the study recommended the importance of changing patient's positions which improve ventilation and blood pressure. The importance of the use of positions tested (Rt. side, supine and semi-setting position) in the clinical practice to maintain SaO2 in patients of ischemic stroke.
https://jhiphalexu.journals.ekb.eg/article_22560_ada5209d3b7fb0503d3696f1f814c28b.pdf
2007-10-01
819
832
10.21608/jhiph.2007.22560
Patients Positioning
Oxygen saturation
Acute Phase
Ischemic stroke
Mogedda
Mehany
1
Department of Critical Care Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Assuit University, Assuit, Egypt
LEAD_AUTHOR
Magda
Mohamed
2
Department of Medical–Surgical Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Assuit University, Assuit, Egypt
AUTHOR
Mohamed
Ahmed
3
Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Assuit University, Assuit, Egypt
AUTHOR
Amal
Ahmed
4
Department of Medical–Surgical Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Assuit University, Assuit, Egypt
AUTHOR
ORIGINAL_ARTICLE
Quality of Health Care in Private Nursery Schools at Mansoura City
Childhood is a unique period of rapid growth and development that requires a health system that promotes healthy development of the child. Preschoolers receive care in nursery schools while parents are unavailable due to work or other causes. The care must be affordable, reliable, and accessible. Health services for children exhibit numerous deficiencies in quality of care. The deficiencies are in all major domains of pediatric care, and preventive services. This study was carried out to monitor the quality of health care for preschoolers in private nursery schools. The study was conducted in 8 private nursery schools at Mansoura City by using a systematic random sample. The sample included 607 children, 8 nurses, 48 teachers, and 8 physicians. The data was collected by using two tools. The first tool was used to assess preschoolers’ health problems and care provided via medical records. The second tool was used to assess teachers’ and nurses’ knowledge about preschoolers' health problems and management. An educational program was conducted for nurses and teachers concerning preschoolers’ quality health care. The study revealed that there are significant differences in prevalence of preschoolers health problems in relation to educational program. There were significant differences in both nurses’ and teachers’ knowledge about care of preschoolers after the educational program. All physicians had only a diagnostic role and were not available all of the time. This study recommended that making a significant progress will require not only sustained attention by those concerned about improving child's health and healthcare, but also specific activities to build a broad base of support among the public and key healthcare decision markers.
https://jhiphalexu.journals.ekb.eg/article_22561_db49784dffe1ba513dee9631da05f16a.pdf
2007-10-01
833
854
10.21608/jhiph.2007.22561
Quality
Health Care
Private Nursery Schools
Mansoura city
Hoda
Nafee
1
Department of Pediatric Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt
LEAD_AUTHOR
Lamia
Awad
2
Department of Community Health Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt
AUTHOR
ORIGINAL_ARTICLE
Food Safety Knowledge among some Women in Alexandria
Poor food handling practices in the home are likely the cause of gastroenteritis. This study interviewed 105 Egyptian women to see how often reported practices met public health food safety recommendations. Face to face interviews were conducted asking respondents about aspects needed during the flow of food through the operation, including; sanitation, food purchasing and food preparation and serving. Results showed that 60.00% of respondents did not wash hands throughout preparation, 30.76% of them didn’t cover hair while preparing food, 55.23% of them exposed refrigerated food to temperature abuse because of frequent opening of the refrigerator door during food preparation and 64.61 did not wash utensils between food preparation. Regarding food purchasing, 60.00% of respondents could buy from unclean stores, 30.76% continued purchasing although the improper cleanliness of the food handler, 43.07% preferred low price rather than good quality foods. Although many respondents knew the characteristics of good quality food, 42.00% of them could buy non-refrigerated meat and 78.46% could buy fish not surrounded by ice crystals. For food preparation and serving, 42.85% of respondents thawed food improperly by leaving it at ambient kitchen temperature, 80.95% of subjects held food at room temperature up to or more than one hour, 86.15 cooled foods by leaving it covered on the stove, and 40.00% and 45.00% of them just warmed prepared food for reheating and reheated it more than once, respectively. People preparing food in the home need to be reminded of the increased risk of disease that can arise from poor food handling practices.
https://jhiphalexu.journals.ekb.eg/article_22563_71b0409eb33a19116e5560fdb0a35aef.pdf
2007-10-01
855
868
10.21608/jhiph.2007.22563
Food Safety
Knowledge
Women
alexandria
Naglaa
Gomaa
1
Department of Nutrition (Division of Food Hygiene and Control), High Institute of Public Health, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt
LEAD_AUTHOR
ORIGINAL_ARTICLE
Outcome of Elderly Patients Enrolled in Home Health Care Program Affiliated to Al-Hada and Al-Tayef Military Hospitals Program in KSA
Home health care is a rapidly growing health care sector. An increasing older population and the desire to reduce acute health care costs have contributed to its growth. Moreover, older persons and their family members do prefer home care. A prospective cohort study was implemented to determine the outcome of elderly patients enrolled inthe Home Health Care program affiliated to Al-Hada and Al-Tayef Military Hospitals program, KSA and investigate some factors associated with the outcome of those patients. A total of 131 elderly enrolled inthe program were included. Sociodemographic and medical history were obtained, medical records were reviewed and full clinical assessment was conducted. The study extended for 19 months. All elderly were followed-up until discharge from services, readmission to hospital, death, or end of the study. Results revealed that by the end of the study, 65.5% of the elderly were still in the service, 6.9% died, and 17.6% were readmitted to the hospital and didn’t’ return back. The factors significantly associated with death or readmission to the hospital were the principal diagnosis, higher number of comorbidities, presence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), atrial fibrillation (AF), presence of associated problems, and higher number and earlier timing for emergency visits to hospitals. The independent predictors for death and readmission to hospitals were altered consciousness on admission, presence of AF, COPD, and higher number of emergency visits to hospitals. Further studies including control groups receiving different modalities of care are required to assess the effectiveness of the program. Cost effective analysis of the service is recommended. Better selection of the patients for the service and assuring their stabilization before admission may improve the outcome of these patients and enhance the quality of care.
https://jhiphalexu.journals.ekb.eg/article_22564_dbb3a979e09198fdefd5fe87d182459a.pdf
2007-10-01
869
887
10.21608/jhiph.2007.22564
Outcome
elderly patients
Home Health Care Program
KSA
Mohamed
Makhlouf
1
Department of Family Medicine, Al-Hada Armed Forces Hospital, Tayef, KSA
LEAD_AUTHOR
ORIGINAL_ARTICLE
Biological Aspect of Dates Supplementation in Lactating Rats’ Diet
In the current study on lactation in rats’ dates (D) ratio in diet was examined in supporting this physiological case. Dates were used both at 25 or 50% with another food sources such as skimmed milk (SM) at 10 or 30% plus a source for CHO such as sweet potatoes (SP) at a variable ratio of 10, 25, or 35%. A special herbal mixture of extract as additives (AD) was added to all groups except the NC. The NC control composition was 46% both SM and corn starch (S), wherein the ratio of proteins in diet, almost 17.5%, was corrected using 10 or 20% of a plant-rich protein antioxidant semimodified food (AC). Date has been found to be preferable up to 25% in a special combination as lactating diet. The food component of the best diet under the condition of this experiment, i.e., the diet met the most healthy both mothers and infants, were the skimmed milk (SM) of 10% plus sweet potatoes (SP) at a high ratio of 25%. It seems that little higher ratio of proteins, i.e., 18%, most of which are plants with plenty amount of vegetable CHO and less than 10% fat in oily form with an adequate amount of minerals and vitamins, particularly found in D and SP, are important food toleration for those rats. This is formally seen in pregnancy. Fortunately, the diet of choice according to the above mentioned role gave also the optimal BW measurement. However, rapid weight loss through diet or medication should not be attempted during lactation. Under the light of blood cell counts, blood analysis and both liver and kidney histopathology, the special extract used seemed to be important as source for some minor elements. The conjugation of those micronutreints and the macronutreints provided by the food system mentioned above has strongly supported that sort physiological nutritional requirements. Lactation is a special physiological case with a specific metabolic hormonal balance. This is an adapted hormonal shift (HS) follows this particular physiological status. It is such a hormonal program that strongly connected to feeding category. The present data show an alternative food combination that support mother health based on biological evaluation used, i.e., liver function and histology was group 4 of 25 D, 10 AC, 30 SM, and 25 SP. More investigation is needed to observe the role of the food additives used in the presence of main nutrients on this profounded kind of hormonal status.
https://jhiphalexu.journals.ekb.eg/article_22566_d11c48e29a4a14ba8083396424a32397.pdf
2007-10-01
888
903
10.21608/jhiph.2007.22566
Biological Aspect
Dates Supplementation
Lactating Rats
diet
Nahla
Elbostany
1
Department of Special Food and Nutrition, Food Technology Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center, Giza, Egypt
LEAD_AUTHOR
Fathia
Soliman
2
Department of Special Food and Nutrition, Food Technology Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center, Giza, Egypt
AUTHOR
Maha
Mahmoud
3
Department of Special Food and Nutrition, Food Technology Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center, Giza, Egypt
AUTHOR
Ali
Ahmed
4
Department of Special Food and Nutrition, Food Technology Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center, Giza, Egypt
AUTHOR
ORIGINAL_ARTICLE
Nutritional Biochemistry of Imbalanced Dietary Systems in Rats
Food is of great role in human health. The best goal in this concept is variety in the diet and moderation. This hypothesis has been observed on bases of nutritional biochemistry. A single food, i.e., Phaseolus bean, was used at rates of 30, 50, and 100% replacements of the basal diet for aged rats. It was clear that the higher rate of morbidity and mortality due to this sort of malnutrition, or semistarvation, has been associated with some biological changes. Although beans are rich in containing proteins, the partial replacement of this plant food origin at 30% has shown to be a good help in keeping an optimal body weight (BW) of those aged animals, but any more degree of replacement has seen to be vital in affecting the animal health, hence 50% or over might resulted in animal death. It seemed that 25% may be useful in maintaining BW, meanwhile, a further rate of this plant origin replacement up to a specific level should be an effective way in treating obesity if used in a proper dietary system. In more details, organ morphologies and histopathological examination of some of which as spleen, brain, and liver are greatly affected by imbalanced diets. In another word, the metabolic differences rolled up by this sort of feeding negatively affected liver and brain expectancy or longevity. A number of tissues up normality, such as liver tissues dilatation and congestion of hepatoportal vessels, hepatocytes karyomegaly nuclei, congestion of central vein, and granular degeneration of hepatocytes with both most higher rates of replacement groups. Moreover, there were focal gliosis, pyknosis of neurons, brain edema, and hemorrhage in cerebrum and cerebellum in brain of the same groups. It is obvious that all these organ dysfunctions are frequently occurred as a response to these and similar kind of malnutrition, other than energy one, that has been existed for a long enough time. This weak homeostatic system has been shown as less control on the metabolic constants such as blood glucose (G), triglycerides (TG) and total cholesterol (TC). All those are most likely correlated with the organs subclinical defects mentioned before. It seems that this biological control that actually supported in the presence of balanced diet can be a biological up regulatory mechanisms, and the death eventually occurs due to a protein catabolic pathway due to a protein, the quality but not only quantity, malnutrition. It is an emergence metabolic system (EMS) that runs for longer time caused by a strengthen need for some micronutrients as well as high rate of nitrogenous metabolite accumulation. This protein turnover in such high rates beyond the biological capacity of both intracellular and extracellular compartments negatively affect the whole biological system including cells, tissues, organs, and eventually the blood chemistry as well. Refeeding with a proper system of animal high quality protein and some micronutrients might be vital.
https://jhiphalexu.journals.ekb.eg/article_22568_b080d217e603807d7b16590c6988489d.pdf
2007-10-01
904
919
10.21608/jhiph.2007.22568
Nutritional Biochemistry
Imbalanced Dietary Systems
Rats
Abear
El-Dakak
1
Department of Special Food and Nutrition, (Division of Meat and Fisheries), Food Technology Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center, Giza, Egypt
LEAD_AUTHOR
Mona
Hanafi
2
Department of Special Food and Nutrition, (Division of Meat and Fisheries), Food Technology Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center, Giza, Egypt
AUTHOR
Ghada
Yossife
3
Department of Special Food and Nutrition, (Division of Meat and Fisheries), Food Technology Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center, Giza, Egypt
AUTHOR
Ali
Ahmed
4
Department of Special Food and Nutrition, (Division of Meat and Fisheries), Food Technology Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center, Giza, Egypt
AUTHOR
ORIGINAL_ARTICLE
Assessment of Chemical, Physical, and Safety Hazards in Paper Industry in Dammam
Paper and pulp industry represent a major industrial sector in Saudi Arabia. Workers in the paper industry may be exposed to a variety of chemicals, chlorinated organic compounds carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), benzene, methane, and a variety of physical hazards such as noise, heat, and illumination. The present study aimed at assessing the occupational chemical, physical, and safety hazards in different departments of paper industry, and administrative area. Levels of noise, heat, and illumination were measured using a standardized technique. Chemical exposure was assessed by measuring different pollutants as SO2, CO, Methane, and Benzene. safety measures were conducted in different paper plant. Analyzed data revealed high significant differences in the level of noise and heat between exposed and controlled area. However, there are no significant differences between the levels of illumination. Nevertheless, there are high significant differences in the levels of measured chemicals in paper plant departments in comparison with administrative area. These observations clearly support the need for further research on the effect of occupational exposure to chemicals and physical agents on workers in paper industry.
https://jhiphalexu.journals.ekb.eg/article_22569_3e8074c1e3e93a3af0af688e5a63c6ab.pdf
2007-10-01
920
931
10.21608/jhiph.2007.22569
chemical
physical
Safety Hazards
Paper Industry
Dammam
Khaled
El-Said
1
Department of Occupational Health and Air Pollution, (Division of Occupational Hygiene and Air Pollution), High Institute of Public Health, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt
LEAD_AUTHOR
ORIGINAL_ARTICLE
Factors Affecting Complementary Feeding Pattern in Alexandria
The nutritional needs of infants and young children change rapidly and their eating pattern progresses from breast milk and formula to more varied diets initiated by complementary feeding. Inappropriate feeding pattern is a major cause of the onset of malnutrition. The mother is responsible for the initiation, timing, and composition of complementary foods. This study was carried out to evaluate the impact of maternal factors on complementary feeding in Alexandria. The sample included 360 mothers of children in the age group 6-24 months attending the well baby Clinic in 3 MCH centers in Alexandria. Each mother was privately interviewed using a structured questionnaire to collect the needed data. The results show that 50-60% of the mothers derived their information about complementary feeding from family and friends, while 32.2% relied on the health team. More than 60% of the infants received complementary feeding before the age of 4 months, dairy products were the major complementary food (51.9%) followed by cereals (23.3%). The majority of the children (45.0%) were given 3 meals daily while 21.9% were given two meals only. The foods were prepared for every meal (68.6%), once daily (25.3%) or every two days (6.1%). Spicy, fatty, and sweetened foods are omitted from the infants’ food. The results show that maternal factors such as the level of education of the mother, her employment status, and age had a clear significant effect on the source of information regarding complementary feeding, age at introducing food and the type used, meal frequency, and types of foods omitted.
https://jhiphalexu.journals.ekb.eg/article_22570_4a470c658c2cc0ac9c3b0767b7d40de6.pdf
2007-10-01
932
950
10.21608/jhiph.2007.22570
complementary feeding
Feeding Pattern
alexandria
Sally
Ezzat
1
Fellow of Nutrition, Student’s Hospital, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt
LEAD_AUTHOR
ORIGINAL_ARTICLE
Dangerous and Unapproved Abbreviations at A Joint Commission International Accredited Hospital in Saudi Arabia
Background: Abbreviations which resulted in harmful patient errors or death are termed dangerous abbreviations. These abbreviations were included in The Joint Commission “Do Not Use” list of abbreviations launched in May 2005. Objectives: The aim of the present study is to assess physicians’ and nurses’ use of unapproved and dangerous abbreviations and to explore physicians’ and nurses’ opinion regarding the use of these abbreviations. Methods: The study was conducted in a Joint Commission International (JCI) accredited hospital in Eastern Saudi Arabia. Two study designs were used: retrospective descriptive and cross-sectional descriptive. Data were collected through reviewing 384 paper records and distributing a questionnaire to a random sample of 58 physicians and nurses. Results: The study revealed that the average number of dangerous abbreviations per record was 2.2 while the average number of unapproved abbreviations per record was 1.96. The most frequent dangerous abbreviation reported in the present study was Discharge/Discontinue D/C accounting for 73% of the total identified dangerous abbreviations for both physicians and nurses. The ability of physicians and nurses to correctly identify the meaning of the most commonly used dangerous abbreviation and unapproved abbreviation ranged between 37.9% and 69.0%. Conclusions: The study revealed high use of dangerous and unapproved abbreviations at the study hospital. Few dangerous abbreviations constitute the majority of identified abbreviations. A quality improvement intervention needs to be instituted to reduce abbreviation use at the study hospital.
https://jhiphalexu.journals.ekb.eg/article_22572_bc094d6f470d590e9c3b498b2db991b2.pdf
2007-10-01
951
962
10.21608/jhiph.2007.22572
Dangerous
Unapproved
Abbreviations
Joint Commission International Accredited Hospital
KSA
Nour El-Din
MM
1
Department of Health Administration and Behavioural Sciences (Division of Hospital Administration), High Institute of Public Health, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt
LEAD_AUTHOR
ORIGINAL_ARTICLE
Pesticides in Shallow Groundwater: Exposure Estimates and Prediction of Cancer Risk
A Monitoring system of shallow groundwater samples gathered from 7 villages in Etay El-Baroud rural area aiming at detecting the extent of water contamination via pesticide residues and the potential health risks imposed on community residents consuming such water, were the main targets of the current study. Chronic daily intake (CDI) of the detected pesticides was estimated for different exposure pathways and different age categories at both 50th and 90th percentiles of probability. Data disclosed that organochlorine pesticides were prevalent and SDDT, heptachlor and endrin represent the most critical contaminants. SCDI values of ingestion pathway were higher than those resulting from dermal pathway in an age-dependent manner particularly among children at 90th percentile. Estimated cancer risk and non-cancer risk values resulting from oral exposure were higher than dermal exposure. Children cancer risk was age-dependent and the total risk due to exposure ranged from 1.02x10-4 to 3.01x10-4 and 5.76x10-4 to 2.09x10-3 at 50th and 90th percentiles, respectively. Adults are expected to be exposed to higher burden of risk than children through the both tested pathways where, risk values recorded 7.68x10-4 and 3.07x10-3 at 50th and 90th percentiles, respectively. Residents (either children or adults) may be at risk since under the current exposure estimations since the predicted risk values exceeded the EPA threshold value (1x10-4 -1x10-6) particularly at 90th percentile. Furthermore, hazard index values showed a higher trend than unity (2.19-6.48) at 90th percentile in case of children while the value increased in case of adults (9.37). Risk prevention could be reached by minimizing the use of pesticides, raising farmer awareness with particular emphasis on using low-leaching-potential pesticides over high risk areas.
https://jhiphalexu.journals.ekb.eg/article_22573_7bf2eccbbe62e689e2865faa2ab7f25f.pdf
2007-10-01
963
985
10.21608/jhiph.2007.22573
Pesticides
Shallow Groundwater
Exposure Estimates
prediction
Cancer risk
Abdallah
SM
1
Department of Mammalian Toxicology, Central Agricultural Pesticides Laboratory(CAPL), Agricultural Research Center, Ministry of Agriculture, Egypt
LEAD_AUTHOR
Abdel-Halim
KY
2
Department of Mammalian Toxicology, Central Agricultural Pesticides Laboratory(CAPL), Agricultural Research Center, Ministry of Agriculture, Egypt
AUTHOR
ORIGINAL_ARTICLE
West Nile Virus Existence in Humans and Mosquitoes in Alexandria Governorate
Background: West Nile virus (WNV) is a zoonotic mosquito–transmitted arbo-virus belonging to the genus flavivirus in the family Flaviviridae. Objective: The aim of the present study was to determine the role of WNV in human cases with fever of unknown etiology and to study the immune status to WNV among healthy humans. In addition, the prevalence of WNV in Culex mosquito vectors was estimated. Methods: The study included 210 patients (with undiagnosed acute febrile illness for more than 2 days; admitted to Alexandria Fever Hospital during a period of one year), 200 healthy humans (volunteer blood donors accepted for donation at Alexandria Regional Blood Bank) and 200 mosquito pools (from six administrative districts of Alexandria). WNV antibodies of the IgM and IgG types were detected in patients and healthy humans using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), respectively. WNV was detected in mosquito by virus isolation on Vero cell culture. Results: WNV IgM antibodies were detected in 56 (26.7%) patients, while WNV IgG antibodies were detected in 42 (21%) out of the 200 healthy humans. WNV was isolated from 27 (13.5%) out of the 200 mosquito pools. Patients in the age groups 20- and 40- had the highest percentages of WNV IgM antibodies. The highest WNV IgM antibodies positivity rates occurred in spring and in fall seasons. Male samples had significantly higher percentage of the IgG antibodies than female samples (25.6%Vs 13.3%). Conclusion: WNV should not be overlooked in diagnosis of fevers as the main problem may be not due to the disease itself but the economic consequences from the hospitalization of indeclinable numbers of patients. WN disease can be difficult to monitor; almost unpredictable and appearing unexpectedly, this disease has to be surveyed and the viral circulation rapidly detected so that the sanitary authorities can take protective measures.
https://jhiphalexu.journals.ekb.eg/article_22574_727d1fd453aa9cc90b3832ebcb1dcf69.pdf
2007-10-01
986
1004
10.21608/jhiph.2007.22574
West Nile Virus
Existence
humans
Mosquitoes
alexandria
Heba
Abdel Hady
1
Animal Health Research Institute, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt
LEAD_AUTHOR
Nawal
Yossef
2
Animal Health Research Institute, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt
AUTHOR
Mohamed
El-Barrawy
3
Department of Microbiology, High Institute of Public Health, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt
AUTHOR
Mona
Hashish
4
Department of Microbiology, High Institute of Public Health, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt
AUTHOR
Nadia
Abou El-Ela
5
Department of Tropical Health (Division of Vector Control and Pesticide Risks), High Institute of Public Health, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt
AUTHOR