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The Western Desert of Egypt is an area of the Sahara which lies west of the River Nile, up to the Libyan border, and south from the Mediterranean Sea to the border with Sudan. It is mostly rocky desert; the desert covers 2/3 of the land of Egypt. Its highest elevation is 1000 m in the Gilf Kebir plateau to the far south‒west of Egypt, on the borders of Egypt, Sudan and Libya. We used to collect available data of the earthquakes, which occurred in or near the western part of Egypt during the period from 1900 to 2018, to investigate the seismic activity and its relationship to the geology and tectonics of Egypt. The frequency statistical analysis is used to calculate the frequency-magnitude relation for the data in this period. The results indicate that about 28 earthquakes are equal or exceed Richter magnitude M ≥ 4 every 100 years. The whole Western Desert is characterized by low to moderate levels of seismic activity. The southern part of Western Desert is considered to be seismically active. The source mechanism for some earthquakes was estimated using the waveform data recorded from the records of the Egyptian national seismograph stations and our results show the normal faulting mechanism with minor strike-slip component. The NNW trend has been chosen as a preferred rupture plane in consistence with surface and subsurface faults and microearthquake seismicity in the epicentral area as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A field trial was conducted at El-Shourouk Farm, El-Beheira governorate, Egypt to determine the effectiveness of the commercial bio-product Dbx 1003, 20% containing the nematode-trapping fungus, Dactylaria brochopaga against rootknot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita infesting grapevine variety Superior. Its effects on plant growth criteria and yield production were also investigated. The fungus was introduced to soil by either of two ways; soil was drenched with spore suspension at the rate of 3L/tree and ½ kg of a vermiculite substrate, as a carrier of spores and mycelia, was added around each tree, both as single and twice applications in autumn and spring. All treatments significantly (p ⩽ 0.05) reduced M. incognita 2nd instar juvenile in the soil and number of root galls compared to the untreated control. Significant yield increases were recorded at all treatments. Twice applications of spores' suspension gave highest yield production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Bladder cancer ranks ninth in worldwide cancer incidence and it is the second most common malignancy among Egyptian males. Urothelial carcinoma (UC) of the bladder (previously known as transitional cell carcinoma; TCC)is the predominant histologic type, the two most well-established risk factors for bladder are cigarette smoking and occupational exposure to urothelial carcinogens. Aim of the Work: To analyze retrospectively the clinico-pathological features of urinary bladder cancer patients treated in Clinical Oncology Department of Ain Shams University Hospitals in Egypt. Patients and Methods: All 127 eligible patients fulfilling the inclusion criteria and the medical sheets were reviewed including history, clinical examination, routine laboratory tests, radiological investigations, and follow up. Several prognostic factors were analyzed in our study including age, sex, performance status, tumor size, site, grade, extent of surgery and type of treatment as regard chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Results: Among the included 127 patients, populatge ranged from 30 to 75 years. Males represented 81.9 % of the patients with a male to female ratio of 4:1. Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of patients at presentation was ECOG 1 in 82 patients (64.6%). The majority of the studied population presented with haematuria. The most common histological subtype in biopsied specimens was transitional cell carcinoma in 75.5% of the patients.78 patients presented with non-metastatic and 47 patients with metastatic urinary bladder cancer. The median progression-free survival (PFS) was found to be 17 months and similarly the median overall survival (OS) was 17 months. In our study we found a significant correlation between age, performance status (PS), smoking, tumor stage and the treatment modalities such as surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy with the overall survival. Conclusion: The epidemiology of bladder cancer was dramatically shifted in Egypt with a lower incidence of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), a greater incidence of TCC and older age at diagnosis. Age, PS, smoking, tumor stage and the treatment modalities such as surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy were proved to affect the overall survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to study the relation of the mobility and distribution of metals between Tamarix parts and their crystal salts - soil system, different experiments were conducted with plant-rich and plant-free soils at the banks of river Nile, Aswan, Egypt. For these purposes, Tamarix top and subsoil samples near and far from the plant were collected from six different locations at the banks of river Nile. Elemental analysis of Fe, Mn, Ca, Mg, Cr, Cu, Ni, Zn, Cd and Pb in soil, and in different parts of Tamarix and their crystal salt samples was carried out by atomic absorption spectrometry, whereas Na and K were measured by atomic emission spectrophotometry. The bioavailability of metals in the soil samples was evaluated by determining their contents using sequential extraction single-step, providing higher metal concentrations in occluded Fe/Mn oxide fraction. The ratio of heavy metal concentrations in topsoil to that in subsoil enhancement (RTE) ranged from 0.67 to 4.4 and 0.22 to 4.61 for soil Tamarix and soil free from plant, respectively for all measured total element concentrations. Data indicate that the mobility expressed as transfer factor (TF) was obtained as Fe > Mg > Cr > Mn > Ca > K > Na, for Tamarix leaves. The major part of accumulated Na in Tamarix is retained in the plant leaves, while roots accumulated high concentration of Co. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Livestock meat is considered a potential source of human infection, therefore evaluation of the infection rate with Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) in these animals’ meat is needed for public health protection. Serum and meat samples were collected from slaughtered animals (n=106) (27 sheep, 42 cattle and 37 camels) from slaughterhouses in Aswan Governorate, located in southern Egypt. T. gondii infection status was detected by Latex agglutination test (LAT), microscopic examination and PCR. Our results revealed that the overall prevalence of anti-T. gondii antibodies among serum samples was 48.1 % using LAT. Male sheep, cattle, and camels had a higher positive percentage (42.9 %, 69.4% and 33.3 %, respectively) than females (40 %, 50 % and 30.8 %, respectively). The infection rate of T. gondii was higher in adult sheep and camels, while it was lower in adult cattle (64.5 %) than in young (72.7 %). There was a high statistically significant difference (P ≤ 0.01) between the animal species using LAT. T. gondii trophozoites were detected microscopically in 47.1 % of meat samples, while T. gondii DNA was detected in 56.9 % by using conventional Polymerase Chain Reaction (cPCR) based B1 gene. There was no significant difference between the results of both microscopy and PCR methods. In conclusion, PCR outperforms LAT in the detection of T. gondii infection and can thus be applied to routine diagnosis of toxoplasmosis in red meat producing animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Red Sea is known by its unique coral reef topography that harbors many marine species making the Red Sea a biodiversity hot spot. The molluscan fauna of the Red Sea has been extensively studied for its ecology, biology and economic importance. In the present study, numerous live specimens and gastropod shells were collected from Ain El-Sokhna area on the western shore of the Red Sea's Gulf of Suez. Samplings were done during June-October, 2020. The collected species were identified based on published keys for the identification of Red Sea molluscs. A total of 24 gastropod species belonging to 12 families were identified. Among these, the highest abundant species was Thais savignyi (Muricidae) followed by Cellana rota (Nacellidea). Some other species were rarely abundant such as Conomurex fasciatus (Strombidae), the reef eating snail, Drupella cornus (Muricidae), Nassarius fenistratus, N. castus (Nassariidae), and Polinices pecelephanti (Naticidae). The present findings demonstrate a high molluscan biodiversity at Ain El-Sokhna region of the Red Sea and set the platform for further studies and assessments of biological and biomedical importance of identified molluscs species either as intermediate hosts for parasites or sources for bioactive compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lepidopteran date palm fruit pests and their associated parasitoid and predatory species were surveyed in two localities, Ireghin and Hakuk, Siwa Oasis, Egypt, during the two successive years 2012 and 2013. Five insect pest species were recorded, i.e., Arenipses sabella Hampson (Pyralidae), Batrachedra amydraula Meyrick (Cosmpterigidae), Ephestia cautella Walker, E. calidella Guenee and Ectomyelois ceratoniae Zeller (Pyralidae). Three predatory species; Chrysoperla carnea (Steph) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae); Orius spp. and Xylocoris flavipes Reuter (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae) were found associated with the pests in date orchards. Respective average infestation percentages with these pests in 2012 and 2013 were (5.8, 8.27%) in bunch dates and (79.82, 88.89%) in fallen dates at Ireghin, while in Hakuk, they were (6.23, 8.48%) in bunch date and (83.93, 87.86) in fallen dates. Only one parasitoid species Bracon hebetor (Say) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), was recorded during the study. Percentages of parasitism averaged (6.10 and 9.97%) at Ireghin and (6.10, 6.93%) at Hakuk during the two seasons, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we describe results from a high-pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza virus (AIV) surveillance program in previously H5-vaccinated commercial and family-backyard poultry flocks that was conducted from 2007 to 2008 by the Egyptian National Laboratory for Veterinary Quality Control on Poultry Production, The real-time reverse transcription PCR assay was used to detect the influenza A virus matrix gene and detection of the H5 and Ni subtypes was accomplisheci using a commercially available kit real-time reverse transcription PCR assay. The virus was detected in 35/3,610 (0.97%) and 27/8,682 (0.31%) of examined commercial poultry farms and 246/816 (30%) and 89/1,723 (5.2%) of backyard flocks in 2007 and 2008, respectively. Positive flocks were identified throughout the year, with the highest frequencies occurring during the winter months. Anti-H5 serum antibody titers in selected commercial poultry ranged from <2 (negative) to 9.6 log2 when determined in the hemagglutination inhibition test using a H5 AIV antigen. In conclusion, despite the nationwide vaccination strategy of poultry in Egypt to combat H5N1 AIV, continuous circulation of the virus in vaccinated commercial and backyard poultry was reported and the efficacy of the vaccination using a challenge model with the current circulating field virus should be revised. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fertilization have an important role in the abundance and population of different mite species associated with different agricultural crops. As a result of experiment and investigation on the population of mites inhabiting soil underneath Cotton (Gossypium barbadense L.) in Giza Governorate, (Kerdasa region) during April to September 2014 and 2015 to study the effect of applying lay soil with the rice straw as organic wastes with the inoculation with Humic acid both separately or together on the population of different soil mites. The obtained results revealed the presence of 17 different mite species belonging to 11 families related to four suborders, Prostigmata (Actinedida), Mesostigmata (Gamasida), Astigmata (Acaridida) and Cryptostigmata (Oribatida) associated with soil of cotton plants treated with different types of fertilizers. The percentage of collected four soil mites suborders, the actinedids were higher in the abundance inhabiting cotton plants soil in comparison with other three collected mite groups, followed by oribatid mites, followed by acaridid mites but the gamasid mites abundance was the lower category in all three tested methods of fertilization. The obtained data demonstrated that the mean number of collected mites in case of using recommended + humic acid fertilization method was higher than those recorded in recommended only and in case of recommended + humic + rice collectively. The study also indicated that the collected different mites during 2015 cultivated season were higher in number than those obtained during the first season 2014. The obtained data also demonstrated that September 2014 was the most study period harbored collected mites in all different methods of fertilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The endemic H5N1 high pathogenicity avian influenza virus (A/H5N1) in poultry in Egypt continues to cause heavy losses in poultry and poses a significant threat to human health. Methods: Here we describe results of A/H5N1 surveillance in domestic poultry in 2009 and wild birds in 2009-2010. Tracheal and cloacal swabs were collected from domestic poultry from 22024 commercial farms, 1435 backyards and 944 live bird markets (LBMs) as well as from 1297 wild birds representing 28 different types of migratory birds. Viral RNA was extracted from a mix of tracheal and cloacal swabs media. Matrix gene of avian influenza type A virus was detected using specific real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and positive samples were tested by RT-qPCR for simultaneous detection of the H5 and N1 genes. Results: In this surveillance, A/H5N1 was detected from 0.1% (n = 23/) of examined commercial poultry farms, 10.5% (n = 151) of backyard birds and 11.4% (n = 108) of LBMs but no wild bird tested positive for A/H5N1. The virus was detected from domestic poultry year-round with higher incidence in the warmer months of summer and spring particularly in backyard birds. Outbreaks were recorded mostly in Lower Egypt where 95.7% (n = 22), 68.9% (n = 104) and 52.8% (n = 57) of positive commercial farms, backyards and LBMs were detected, respectively. Higher prevalence (56%, n = 85) was reported in backyards that had mixed chickens and waterfowl together in the same vicinity and LBMs that had waterfowl (76%, n = 82). Conclusion: Our findings indicated broad circulation of the endemic A/H5N1 among poultry in 2009 in Egypt. In addition, the epidemiology of A/H5N1 has changed over time with outbreaks occurring in the warmer months of the year. Backyard waterfowl may play a role as a reservoir and/or source of A/H5N1 particularly in LBMs. The virus has been established in poultry in the Nile Delta where major metropolitan areas, dense human population and poultry stocks are concentrated. Continuous surveillance, tracing the source of live birds in the markets and integration of multifaceted strategies and global collaboration are needed to control the spread of the virus in Egypt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clin Microbiol Infect 2012; 18: 982-988 Abstract The aim of the study was to describe the characteristics of acute hepatitis E in Greater Cairo. Patients with acute hepatitis E were identified through a surveillance of acute hepatitis using the following definition: recent (<3 weeks) onset of fever or jaundice, alanine aminotransferase at least three times the upper limit of normal (uln), negative markers for other causes of viral hepatitis and detectable hepatitis E virus (HEV) RNA. Comparison of the liver tests between acute hepatitis E and hepatitis A virus (HAV), case-control analysis (four sex-matched and age-matched (±1 year) HAV controls per case) to explore risk factors and phylogenetic analyses were performed. Of the 17 acute HEV patients identified between 2002 and 2007, 14 were male. Median age was 16 years (interquartile range 13-22). Compared with HAV ( n = 68 sex-matched and ±1 year age-matched), HEV patients had higher bilirubin (mean (SD) 10.9 (5.7) uln versus 7.5 (4.4) uln, p 0.05) and aspartate aminotransferase levels (38.6 (27.1) uln versus 18.3 (18.1) uln, p 0.02). Co-infection (hepatitis C virus RNA or hepatitis B surface (HBs) -antigen positive/IgM anti-hepatitis B core (HBc) anitgen negative) was diagnosed in four patients. In univariate matched analysis (17 cases, 68 matched controls), HEV cases were more likely to live in a rural area than HAV controls (matched OR 7.9; 95% CI 2.0-30.4). Of the 16 isolates confirmed as genotype 1, 15 belonged to the same cluster with 94-98.5% identity in the open-reading frame 2 region. Our findings documented the sporadic nature of HEV in Greater Cairo, characterized a large number of Egyptian HEV genotype 1 strains and identified living in a rural area as a potential risk factor for infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to determine heavy-metal levels in soil from the banks of Lake Nasser, the ability of Tamarix nilotica to accumulate such metals from soil and hence its potential for phytoextraction. Soil and Tamarix samples were collected from the banks of four bights around Lake Nasser and analysed for Fe, Mn, Ca, Mg, Cr, Cu, Ni, Zn, Cd and Pb by atomic absorption spectrometry, whereas Na and K were measured by atomic emission spectrophotometry. Three different methods of extraction were used for the soil samples. Lead, copper and zinc were equally distributed between the exchangeable phase and Fe/Mn oxide-bound form, while other measured metals were mainly present in the Fe/Mn oxide fraction. With the exception of iron, all metals studied showed total concentrations within the geochemical background values. T nilotica exhibited elevated concentrations of Na (36.2–48.5mg g-1) and K (2.74–4.33mg g-1) in stems, and relatively high concentrations of Pb, Cd and Co (0.39–1.03 μg g-1, 0.24–1.3 μg g-1 and 1.94–5.3 μg g-1, respectively) are found in plant leaves. Bioaccumulation factors of Na and K (9.3 and 12.63, respectively) were high in T nilotica stems. While the bioaccumulation of Pb, Cd, Co and Ni (2870.1, 2035.4, 10.5 and 5313.2, respectively) was high in plant leaves, Fe, Mn, Ca and Mg were accumulated relatively equally in plant stems and leaves. T nilotica was found to secrete high amounts of Na, Ca and K, in addition to small amounts of all accumulated metals except Cd and Cu. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]