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High-quality animal protein, vitamins B1, B6, and B12, as well as minerals like zinc, selenium, and iron, can all be found in buffalo meat and milk. Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) have been widely utilized for many years because of their long duration of action, low cost, and toxicity against a variety of pests. Despite being outlawed everywhere, OCPs are still being used illegally. One of the main responsibilities of the food safety and public health sectors is to guarantee the safety and wholesomeness of such food products before they are made available to the public. In order to determine the residual OCP contents in retailed buffalo meat, liver, kidney, milk, and kariesh cheese, this study was conducted. The obtained results in the current investigation revealed the detection of OCPs at 75%, 40%, 25%, 60%, and 80% in the examined buffalo raw milk, kariesh cheese, meat, kidneys, and liver. Different OCPs were detected at variable concentrations; however, such concentrations were within the established permissible limits in Egypt. In conclusion, OCPs are still in use in Egyptian agricultural activities and residual concentrations can be detected in the meat, offal, and dairies. Therefore, it is highly advised to continuously check for OCP residues in foods with both animal and plant origins. Additionally, it is strongly advised that farmers become more aware of the negative consequences of OCPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) is an inherited primary immunodeficiency disorder of phagocytes, characterized by recurrent fungal and bacterial infections. Our aim is to describe the different clinical presentations, non-infectious auto-inflammatory features, types and sites of infections, and to estimate the mortality among our large cohort. Methods: This is a retrospective study conducted at the Pediatric Department of Cairo University Children's Hospital in Egypt, including cases with a confirmed CGD diagnosis. Results: One hundred seventy-three confirmed CGD patients were included. AR-CGD was diagnosed in 132 patients (76.3%) including 83 patients (48%) with p47phox defect, 44 patients (25.4%) with p22phox defect, and 5 patients (2.9%) with p67phox defect. XL-CGD was diagnosed in 25 patients (14.4%). The most common recorded clinical manifestations were deep-seated abscesses and pneumonia. Gram-negative bacteria and Aspergillus were the most frequently isolated species. Regarding the outcome, 36 patients (20.8%) were lost from follow-up. Among patients with known outcome, 94/137 patients (68.6%) are living, while 43/137 patients (31.4%) died. Conclusion: AR-CGD is predominant in Egypt; CGD must always be ruled out in any patient presenting with typical or atypical mycobacterial or BCG-disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Residual content of lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn) in the retailed meat and dairy products in Egypt was estimated. Calculation of estimated weekly intake (EWI) and health risks was followed. Results revealed detection of tested metals in all samples at variable concentrations with higher Pb and Cd than maximum permissible limits. However, the calculated EWI did not exceed the provisional tolerable weekly intake established by the World Health Organization. Furthermore, calculation of the hazard ratio and index for mixed metal contaminants did not exceed one, indication that products consumption would not pose adverse effects on consumers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Inborn errors of immunity (IEI) are a group of heterogeneous disorders with geographic and ethnic diversities. Although IEI are common in Egypt, genetic diagnosis is limited due to financial restrictions. This study aims to characterize the genetic spectrum of IEI patients in Egypt and highlights the adaptation of the molecular diagnostic methods to a resource-limited setting. Methods: Genetic material from 504 patients was studied, and proper diagnosis was achieved in 282 patients from 246 families. Mutational analysis was done by Sanger sequencing, next-generation sequencing (NGS) targeting customized genes panels, and whole-exome sequencing (WES) according to the patients' phenotypes and availability of genetic testing. Results: A total of 194 variants involving 72 different genes were detected with RAG1/2 genes being the most encountered followed by DOCK8, CYBA, LRBA, NCF1, and JAK3. Autosomal recessive (AR) inheritance was detected in 233/282 patients (82.6%), X-linked (XL) recessive inheritance in 32/282 patients (11.3%), and autosomal dominant (AD) inheritance in 18/282 patients (6.4%), reflecting the impact of consanguineous marriages on the prevalence of different modes of inheritance and the distribution of the various IEI disorders. Conclusion: The study showed that a combination of Sanger sequencing in selected patients associated with targeted NGS or WES in other patients is an effective diagnostic strategy for IEI diagnosis in countries with limited diagnostic resources. Molecular testing can be used to validate other nonexpensive laboratory techniques that help to reach definitive diagnosis and help in genetic counseling and taking proper therapeutic decisions including stem cell transplantation or gene therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: This work aimed to determine the occurrence, virulence, antibiogram, carbapenem resistance genes and susceptibility to disinfectants of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from animals, environment and workers in intensive farms. Methods and Results: A total of 610 samples from intensive beef cattle and sheep farms in Kafr El Sheikh Governorate, Egypt were screened for the presence of P. aeruginosa using bacteriological assays. The isolates were characterized by PCR and tested for susceptibility to antibiotics using disk diffusion method and disinfectants by quantitative suspension test. In all, 60 P. aeruginosa isolates were recovered in this study and all isolates harboured at least one of the virulence genes tested. Human P. aeruginosa isolates were highly resistant to cephalosporins, fluroquinolones, aminoglycosides, carbapenems and penicillins+β‐lactamase inhibitors than non‐human isolates. Colistin resistance was higher in non‐human than human P. aeruginosa isolates, whereas low resistance to aztreonam was observed in non‐human and human isolates. Carbapenem‐resistant P. aeruginosa (CRPA) strains were recovered from workers (56.5%), sheep (8.3%) and cattle (8.3%). All CRPA harboured at least one of the carbapenem resistance genes tested and most of them showed multidrug resistance (MDR) or extensive drug resistance (XDR) phenotypes. Glutaraldehyde 1% and hydrogen peroxide 3% eliminated P. aeruginosa completely in the absence and presence of organic matter within short contact time compared with other disinfectants. Conclusions: This study reported the occurrence of CRPA in animals and workers in intensive farms. Glutaraldehyde and hydrogen peroxide were the most effective disinfectants against P. aeruginosa. Significance and Impact of the Study: The occurrence of CRPA in intensive livestock farms is a serious challenge that threatens animal and human health and increases the risk of P. aeruginosa infection in the community. Therefore, it is vital to control the spread of CRPA by banning or restricting the use of antibiotics and applying proper cleaning and disinfection protocols in livestock farms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacillus cereus is one of the foodborne pathogens that is incriminated in several outbreaks worldwide. The objectives of the current study were first to determine the prevalence of B. cereus -contaminated milk and dairy products retailed in Egypt. Secondly, the antimicrobial resistance profiling and virulence-associated genes of the recovered B. cereus isolates were assessed. Finally, natural and eco-friendly natural additives such as d -tryptophan and l -ascorbic acid were used for controlling the viability of Bacillus cereus spores. A total of 200 samples including market raw milk, Ultra-Heat Treated (UHT) milk, Kariesh cheese, soft white cheese (Damietta), and rice pudding, 50 of each were examined. The results of our study indicated that 31% of the examined dairy samples were contaminated with B. cereus. Surprisingly, 90% of the isolates showed multidrug-resistance against ampicillin, amoxicillin, oxacillin, and streptomycin. The molecular characterization revealed that 15 isolates harbored both hemolytic and non-hemolytic enterotoxin genes. Co-treatment of B. cereus spores-contaminated rice pudding with d -tryptophan at a concentration of 40 mM and l -ascorbic acid at a concentration of 3% revealed a significant reduction (P < 0.05) in the spore growth. Therefore, d -tryptophan and l -ascorbic acid are considered promising eco-friendly food preservatives with anti- B. cereus effects in the dairy industry. • Bacillus cereus could be isolated from Egyptian dairy products. • B. cereus isolates had multidrug resistance profiling. • B. cereus isolates had the ability to produce enterotoxins. • Ascorbic acid, and d -tryptophan had anti- Bacillus cereus effect. • The tested additives might act as promising tools against B. cereus growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Leukocyte adhesion deficiency (LAD) represents a rare group of inherited inborn errors of immunity (IEI) characterized by bacterial infections, delayed umbilical stump separation, and autoimmunity. This single-center study aimed at describing the clinical, immunological, and molecular characterizations of 34 LAD-I Egyptian pediatric patients., Methods: Details of 34 patients' personal medical history, clinical and laboratory findings were recorded; Genetic material from 28 patients was studied. Mutational analysis was done by Sanger sequencing., Results: Omphalitis, skin and soft tissue infections with poorly healing ulcers, delayed falling of the umbilical stump, and recurrent or un-resolving pneumonia were the most common presentations, followed by chronic otitis media, enteropathy, periodontitis; and recurrent oral thrush. Persistent leukocytosis and neutrophilia were reported in all patients, as well as CD18 and CD11b deficiency. CD18 expression was < 2% in around 90% of patients. Sixteen different pathological gene variants were detected in 28 patients who underwent ITGß2 gene sequencing, of those, ten were novel and six were previously reported. Three families received a prenatal diagnosis. Patients were on antimicrobials according to culture's results whenever available, and on prophylactic Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole 5 mg/kg once daily, with regular clinical follow up. Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) was offered for 4 patients. However due to severity of the disease and delay in diagnosis, 58% of the patients passed away in the first 2 years of life., Conclusion: This study highlights the importance of early diagnosis and distribution of ITGß2 gene mutation in Egyptian children. Further molecular studies, however, remain a challenging necessity for better disease characterization in the region., (© 2024. The Author(s).)