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Several expeditions were carried out to four localities (Al-Madinah Almona-warah, Tabouk region, Al-Jouf and Northern Frontiers regions) in Northern and Western Saudi Arabia for sampling zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ZCL) cases from patients and rodents. Biopsy samples were collected from 51 patients complaining of skin lesions, most of which (40 or 78.4%) proved to be ZCL. Amastigotes were detected in 33 patients (64.7%), but only 30 (58.9%) gave successful growth of promastigotes in the culture media. The positive cases were Saudis 14(35%) and non-Saudis 26 (65%). Five species of rodents were caught, Meriories libycus, Psammomys obesus, Rattus rattus, jaculus and Hystrix indica. The first species was the most dominant (90%) in which Leishmania parasites were detected. The Leishmania isolates from man and rodents were identified by isoenzyme electrophoresis and proved to be Zymodeme LON-4.

The alteration in the concentrations of metallic ion Pb, Zn, K, Na, Co, Fe, and Cu in the soft parts of the Biomphalaria alexandrina snails shedding Schistosoma mansoni cercariae was detected by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. Six elements Pb, Zn, K, Na, Co, and Cu were found to be present at significantly higher concentrations in cercariae-shedding snails compared with uninfected snails. The concentration of Fe ion showed non-significant decrease in the tissues of cercariae-shedding snails. Variation in the present results compared with related previous studies lead to the suggestion that the effect of trematode parasitism on fresh-water snails should not be considered universal and might be varies according to the trematode-snail combination, the organs or the tissues analyzed and the analytical method used.

Biomphalaria alexandrina are known to be intermediate hosts for both Schistosoma mansoni and Echinostoma liei. RAPD-PCR assay offers a new approach to host-parasite relationships. This was performed by investigating the genetic variation and compatibility among S. mansoni, E. liei and their intermediate host B. alexandrina with special emphasis on variations occurring in snails infected with S. mansoni and/or E. liei. Six primers were screened for DNA analysis and gave total patterns from 28 to 37 reproducible bands for each species. All specimens analyzed by the RAPD-PCR gave interpretable electrophoretic banding patterns that were polymorphic and compatible in the amplified products of these primers within each species.

Anchitrema sanguineum and Prosthodendrium (Prosthodendrium) urna are two digenean trematodes infecting many species of bats in Egypt. The surface topography of them was studied by scanning electron microscopy. Examination of A. sanguineum revealed the presence of posteriorly directed broadbase spines allover the body. The oral sucker is bordered by several small sucker-like papillae and few irregularly distributed pores. The ventral sucker is smaller than the oral one and surrounded by several papillae. In P. (P.) urna the body is covered with simple, spines posteriorly directed. The oral sucker has few papillae and its tegumental rim slightly elevated. The ventral sucker is slightly larger than the oral one.

The 124-bp repetitive and highly abundant DNA sequence--used as a specific probe for the detection of Fasciola hepatica infection in snails--was tested in the detection of F. gigantica infection in Lymnaea natalensis. The probe did not show any positive PCR results with Lymnaea natalensis, Physa acuta, Biomphalaria alexandrina and Bulinus trucatus or with Schistosoma mansoni, S. haematobium and Echinostoma liei. However, the probe was found capable to detect F. gigantica infection within L. natalensis at very early stages of the prepatent period and at very low concentrations. Thus, the present assay is specific and sensitive for the detection of F. gigantica within its intermediate host. It confirmed the idea that 124-bp repetitive and highly abundant DNA sequence in Fasciola sp. genome could be used as an epidmiological tool for examination of fasciolosis intermediate host. The nucleic acid-based assay could eliminate both inherent uncertainties and lengthy periods of time required for visual examination of the snails. Also, the assay is valuable in epizootiology of F. gigantica, vector suitability and host-parasite relationship.

Affection of the spinal cord with schistosome eggs, although rare but do occur, causing many neurologic complications. The resulting mass may give rise to controversy in diagnosis. This can be more or less easily judged by MRI. However, radical surgical excision is not always recommended. Biopsied materials for histopathological studies should be done first before any surgical treatment.

A total prevalence of cryptosporidiosis was carried out on 1087 diarrheal patients of all age groups attending the outpatient clinics using modified Ziehl-Neelsen stain (MZN) and Meriflour direct immunofluorescent technique (IFA). IFA was more sensitive, specific and gave positive results 19.5% than MZN stain which gave a positivity 13.5% Cases were divided into 3 groups, each group was treated by one of nitazoxanid (NTZ), or co-trimoxazole or placebo. The most effective drug was NTZ which cured 39 patients (79.6%) out of 49 patients followed by co-trimoxazole that gave cure of 20 (41.6%) out of 48 patients. Placebo cured 20 (40%) out of 50 patients.

Cyromazine was fed to Luhmann hens at 0.15 ppm level supplemented the basal diet for 3 weeks. The build up of cyromazine residues in liver and muscles of hens up to 7th day, the balance between cyromazine intake and elimination had taken place between 7 and 10 days. After cyromazine was withdrawn from the diet its residues was depleted within 7 days. During the 3 weeks of feeding on the treated diet, the accumulated residues reduced the blood glucose and hepatic protein significantly up to 2 weeks, while the hepatic lipids was slightly increased on the 7th day. Also such residues had adverse effects on the activities of alkaline phosphatase (AP) and transaminases (GOT, GPT) and extend on red blood cells, white blood cells, hemoglobin content (Hb) and packed cell volume (PCV) compared with the untreated hens.