International Conference on Medical Parasitology and Zoology October 17-19, 2016 Houston, USA

Ahmed A. Mohammed has completed his M.Sc. in Immunoparasitology at the age of 25 years from the University of Baghdad college of Science and now doing his Ph.D. in the the University of Salford School of Environment and Life Sciences-Biomedical Research Centre. He has been working as a formal staff member (Assistant Professor) in the branch of Clinical laboratory Sciences in the College of Pharmacy Al-Mustansiriyah University in Iraq and now has a scholarship to get the PhD degree in Immunoparasitology. He got a patent in 2002 and has 11 published papers in local Iraqi reputed journals. He authored two curricular books and one practical guide booklet in Medical Parasitology for his students of pharmacy. He served as a referee in three valued journals one in Iraq and two international journals.

Cystic Echinococcosis is characterised by the presence of slow growing hydatid cysts, usually in the liver or lungs. Survival of the parasite is based on an interaction of the host immune system and a range of parasite immune-evasive strategies. Fibrosis in the tissues surrounding the cysts can be seen as a host protective response isolating the parasite and restricting its growth or, from another perspective fibrosis may be protective for the parasite by providing a barrier to more effective immunological responses. In this study the adenocarcinomic human alveolar basal epithelial cell line (A549) was used as model system. This cell line can be involved in fibrosis as cells can transform into mesenchymal cells and differentiate later to fibroblasts and/or myofibroblasts which can ultimately secrete collagen. Cells were initially cultured in vitro in RPMI-1640 medium containing 1-10% hydatid cyst fluid (HCF).The possible effect of the parasite extracts on cell migration was investigated using a wound healing assay. The ability of HCF components to modify cell surface markers of mesenchymal transition was also investigated by fluorescence microscopy. Results showed that there was a dose-dependent increase in cell growth in the presence of cyst fluid after 5 days of culture. The migratory response of cells was also enhanced by the presence of HCF. Both the enhanced growth and migratory activity were still evident when the HCF had been boiled indicating that the components responsible were thermostable. Semipurified extracts of a major HCF component, Antigen B showed a similar high stimulatory effect similar to that of HCF. The fluorescence microscopy showed a significant expression in the fibronectin and E-Cadherin cell markers in cells treated with HCF. These results indicate that components within HCF have a stimulatory effect in the possible enhancement of fibrosis.

Patrick Tayag Janapin is an undergraduate student of Medical Technology at Holy Angel University, Philippines. He has a great interest in medical parasitology. He strongly advocates for the practice of proper hygiene and sanitation by volunteering to different community outreach projects especially to the members of different ethnic groups such as the Badjaos.

Documented reports on the health and sanitation status of Badjao are very limited to date. In view of their cultural practices, Badjaos are considered to be at high risk of acquiring the parasitic triad infections. This study focused on the determination of the prevalence of parasitic triad infection and the establishment of possible associations of each to the demographic profile of the respondents. 100 badjao individuals were chosen as the population of the study. After stool testing which includes Direct Fecal Smear (DFS) and Formalin-Ethyl acetate Concentration Technique (FECT), 100% prevalence was noted on the determination of Ascaris lumbricoides and Trichuris trichuria infections. Discrepancy of +4 Hookworm isolates was noted during the isolation of parasite using FECT. This study was able to establish association between the manner of excreta disposal and the presence of Hookworm infection. Other associations were not obtained because of the constant response of the research population. Immediate deworming project was organized by the researchers and the local government units in response to the significant results of the study.

Junaid Rahim is currently a PhD student in Universiti Sains Malaysia, Malaysia. He has published few papers in reputed journals.

Insecticide based vector control approaches are facing challenges due to the development of resistance in vector mosquitoes. Therefore, a proper resistance surveillance program using baseline lethal concentrations is crucial for the resistance management strategies. Currently, the World Health Organization’s (WHO) diagnostic doses established for Aedes aegypti and Anophlese are being used to study the resistance status of Aedes albopictus. In this study we established the diagnostic doses for permethrin, deltamethrin and malathion using a known susceptible reference strain and 5 field collected populations were screened against these doses following the WHO protocol. This study established the diagnostic dose of malathion 3.4%, permethrin 0.45% and deltamathrin 0.08%, that differs than the WHO doses. Among the insecticides tested on 5 wild populations only deltamethrin showed high effectiveness. While, different susceptibility and resistance patterns where observed against permethrin, malathion and DDT 4%. This study may facilitate the health authorities in future to improve chemical based vector control operations in the dengue endemic areas.

Odeyemi Adebowale Toba has completed his PhD from Ekiti State University, Nigeria. He is the Sub Dean of Faculty of Science, Ekiti State University. He has published more than 40 papers in reputed journals and has been serving as an Editorial Board Member of repute.

Plasmid curing of bacteria isolated from leachate samples in Ebira communities of Ekiti Central and South in Ekiti State senatorial district were carried out. Antibiotics sensitivity and plasmid profile were assayed using pour plate, disk diffusion and gel electrophoresis techniques respectively; while the plasmids were cured using acridine orange. The percentage distributions revealed that Escherichia coli with 29.2% had the highest frequency of occurrence while Enterobacter aerogenes (7.5%) had the lowest. The antibiotics sensitivity test showed the least percentage (3%) of isolates was resistant to ofloxacin while the highest percentage (99%) of the isolates was resistant to cefuroxime. Multiple antibiotics resistant bacteria subjected to plasmid analysis showed nine devoid of plasmid while six isolates carried plasmid with high molecular weight, ranging from 9.41 kbp to 23.130 kpb. Three of the MAR isolates (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Enterococcus faecalis) were selected for curing. Incidence of cured MAR bacterial isolates in leachate samples is however an indication of possible environmental hazard.

Chideraa Obasi is currently a Masters student of Public Health from Imo State University .He has published more than 10 papers in reputed journals.

Study on ectomicrobial and endomicrobial flora of Cockroach (Periplaneta americana) from residential homes was carried out. A total of 500 cockroaches made up of 250 (50.0%) adult and 250 (50.0%) nymph cockroaches were collected. Parts of residential environment studied include stores, kitchen, toilets, living rooms, bathrooms and bedrooms. After collection, the cockroaches were immediately transported to the laboratory for identification as Periplaneta americana followed by examination for microbial flora using standard bacteriological and parasitological methods. Out of the 500 cockroaches examined, 222 (44.4%) and 165 (33.0%) respectively were infected with bacteria and gastrointestinal tract parasites. The study revealed the presence of Escherichia coli (27.0%), Shigella sp. (12.6%), Bacillus sp. (23.0%), Staphylococcus sp. (20.3%) and Salmonella sp. (17.1%). Parasites identified were Gardia lamblia (11.5%), Ascaris lumbricoides (18.8%), Strongyloides stercoralis (9.7%), Enterobius vermicularis (7.9%), Hookworm (14.5%), Balatidium coli (9.1%), Trichuris trichura (15.8%) and Entamoeba histolytica (12.7%). From the study, cockroaches can be vector of many bacterial and parasitic diseases since they are important reservoir of some bacteria and parasites, as a result control of this insect is very crucial.