Purpose: This study was carried out to assess the prevalence of Trypanosoma evansi infection in naturally diseased Dromedary camels in Dammam, Eastern region of Saudi Arabia. The detection of Trypanosoma evansi was performed using the parasitological, serological, and molecular diagnosis and a comparison between such methods were analyzed. In addition, evaluation of therapeutic efficacy of selected antitrypanosomal drugs, cymelarsan and quinapyrmine (aquin-1.5), was trialed for treatment of diagnosed infected cases. 

 Methods:  A total 350 randomly selected camels were evaluated using thin blood smear (TBS), RoTat1.2 PCR and CATT/T. evansi techniques.

Results: The total prevalence was 6.9%, 7.7%, and 32.8% by TBS, RoTat1.2 PCR and CATT/T. evansi techniques. respectively. Although PCR detect T. evansi in more samples than TBS, the agreement was good (K = 0.9). Among the CATT/T. evansi results, PCR detect T. evansi in 12 and 15 CATT positive and negative camels, respectively, with low agreement (Kappa = 0.1). The use of cymelarsan and quinapyramine sulfate in the treatment of naturally infected cases demonstrated a very efficient therapeutic response.

Conclusion: It was found that

1. Comparing the CATT/T. evansi and PCR results, the positivity of CATT was higher than PCR detection, while the agreement was poor (K= 0.1).
2. Cymelarsan presented with higher effectiveness (100%) than aquin-treated camels (83.3%).
3. The use of cymelarsan and CATT are recommended for disease treatment and control.

Keywords: Trypanosoma evansi, RoTat 1.2VSG PCR, CATT/T. evansi, Cymelarsan

To investigate the role of NLRP3 inflammasome in muscular aging, we evaluated here the morphological and functional markers of sarcopenia in the NLRP3-knockout mice, as well as the beneficial effect of melatonin supplementation. The gastrocnemius muscles of young (3 months), early-aged (12 months), and old-aged (24 months) NLRP3-knockout female mice were examined. Moreover, locomotor activity and apoptosis were assessed. The results revealed early markers of sarcopenia at the age of 12 months, including reduction of lactate, ratio of muscle weight to body weight, muscle fibers number, and mitochondrial number. Increased interstitial tissues, apoptosis, and muscle fibers area, as well as mitochondrial damage were detected, with little muscular activity effects. In the old-aged, these alterations progressed with a reduction in locomotor activity, mitochondrial cristae destruction, nuclear fragmentation, tubular aggregates (TAs) formation, and increased frailty index. Oral melatonin supplementation preserved the normal muscular structure, muscle fibers number, and muscular activity in old age. Melatonin enhanced lactate production, recovered mitochondria, inhibited TAs formation, reduced apoptosis, and normalized frailty index. The fewer sarcopenic changes as well as the highly detectable prophylactic effects of melatonin treatment reported here in the muscle of NLRP3- knockout mice comparing with that previously detected in wild-type mice, confirming NLRP3 inflammasome implication in muscular aging and sarcopenia onset and progression.

This study was conducted to determine the seroprevalence of Coxiella burnetii in cows from Assiut Governorate, Egypt. A total of 268 blood samples were collected from cows (176 females and 92 males). The age of these animals ranged between 2 months and more than 3 years. Screened for C. burnetii using indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. A total of 15.67% (42/268) was serologically positive. The seropositivity was high in females (19.56%) than males (13.63%). The native breed was more infected (17.44%) than Fresian (13.33%) and mixed ones (11.76%). In cows, a higher seroprevalence was observed in the age group more than 1 to 2 years (22.38%). Dairut city recorded the highest seroprevalence rate (40.74%) of C. burnetii. C. burnetii seroprevalence was higher in hot season (20.10%) than cold season (5.95%). Cows free from ticks recorded higher seroprevalence (22.58%) than those infested with ticks (12%). Cows with fever and pneumonia recorded higher seroprevalence (14.29%) compared to animals with other signs. In conclusion, findings of this study revealed the wide spread of C. burnetii infection among cows at Assiut Governorate, Egypt.