Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41661452›Full record

ArticleActa parasitologica2026

Prevalence and Subtypes of Blastocystis in Symptomatic Children in Egypt and Anti-Blastocystis Efficacy of Artemisia alba-Loaded Silver Nanoparticles In Vitro and in Swiss Albino Mice.

Doaa Naguib, Nabeel H Alhussainy, Hany M El-Wahsh, Faten A Al Braikan, Osama Salem Basalem, Walaa Abdulsamad Mal, Ashraf Fawzy Mosa Ahmed, Fadi Baakdah, Mohammad Mousa Alshumrani, Wael Sobhy Darwish and 1 more

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Article in Acta parasitologica, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Doaa NaguibDepartment of Hygiene and Zoonoses, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, 35516, Egypt. doaanaguib246@yahoo.com.
Nabeel H AlhussainyDepartment of Clinical Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, 21589, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Hany M El-WahshMarine Biology Department, Faculty of Marine Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, 21589, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Faten A Al BraikanDepartment of Clinical Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, 21589, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Osama Salem BasalemDepartment of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Walaa Abdulsamad MalDepartment of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Ashraf Fawzy Mosa AhmedParasitology Department, Medical Research Institute, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt.
Fadi BaakdahDepartment of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, 21589, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Mohammad Mousa AlshumraniSpecialization: Statistics and Research Methods, Department of Psychology, Taif University, Taif, Saudi Arabia.
Wael Sobhy DarwishDepartment of Basic Science, College of Dentistry, Al Maaqal University, Al Basrah, 61003, Iraq.
Wesam Kamal BakhshDepartment of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Jeddah, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeBlastocystis hominis (B. hominis) is a common protozoan pathogen that affects the health of both humans and animals. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of Blastocystis in children and evaluate the effects of Artemisia alba aqueous extract-loaded silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) on B. hominis infection, both in vitro and in mice.

methodsFresh fecal samples were collected from 235 children and analyzed for the presence of B. hominis using microscopy and culture techniques. Fifty positive samples were further subtyped using subtype-specific primers through PCR. Additionally, the effectiveness of Artemisia alba aqueous extract-loaded AgNPs in treating B. hominis infection was assessed both in vitro and in Swiss albino mice.

resultsOf the 235 children's fecal samples, 75 (32%) tested positive for B. hominis. Genotyping of 50 positive samples revealed that ST3 was the most common genotype, followed by ST1, ST2, and ST4. The results of the second phase showed that treatment with Artemisia alba aqueous extract-loaded AgNPs significantly inhibited the growth of Blastocystis in culture. Additionally, it significantly reduced the number of Blastocystis cysts found in the feces of treated mice. Furthermore, this treatment had minimal adverse effects on the liver, kidney, and intestine, especially when compared to metronidazole.

conclusionBlastocystis is commonly found among children, with subtype ST3 being the most prevalent. The administration of Artemisia alba aqueous extract-loaded AgNPs demonstrated significant anti-Blastocystis activity, both in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, the treatment was shown to be safe and may represent a promising option for addressing blastocystosis.

Indexed as

Antiprotozoal AgentsArtemisiaBlastocystis hominisBlastocystis InfectionsMetal NanoparticlesPlant ExtractsSilverAnimalsChildChild, PreschoolEgyptFecesFemaleGenotypeHumansMaleAntiprotozoal AgentsPlant ExtractsSilverAgNPsArtemisia albaBlastocystisChildrenMicePrevalenceZoonoses

Identifiers

PMID41661452

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