Relation between T lymphocytes activities and the intensity of schistosoma mansoni infection

This study was done on 60 schistosome patients and 12 cross matched healthy control persons. The schistosome patients were classified on the bases of intensity of infection into: 22 patients with light infection [one to 100 eggs/gm stool], 24 patients with moderate infection [101- 400 eggs/gm stool], 14 patients with heavy infection [>400 eggs/gm stool]. All the studied cases were submitted to flow cytometric analysis of peripheral blood mononuclear cells using monoclonal antibodies against CD3, CD4, CD8, CD28, HLA-DR. It was found that there was a significant decrease in CD3, CD4 and the expression of costimulatory molecule CD28 on CD8 T lymphocytes, while CD8 T lymphocytes and the activation marker HLA-DR expression on CD4 T lymphocytes were increased. These changes were more obvious with the increase in intensity of infection

Protozoal infections in zinc deficient children from rural areas around Mansoura City

Zinc deficiency in children is an important public health problem in the developing world [Manary et al, 2002]. Several lines of evidence suggest that zinc status of our infants and children are marginal or low. First, animal products, the main source of zinc, represent only a small percentage of the usual diet. Second, high consumption of rice and vegetablesmay preclude adequate zinc absorption because of their high phytate and fiber contents. Third, gastrointestinal disease [diarrhea, parasites] may increase intestinal losses of zinc. So, in our locality, the magnitude of marginal zinc deficiency problem in apparently healthy infants and children is expected to be high [Hegazi et al., 2002]. The pattern and intensity of protozoal infections in zinc deficient children were studied in comparison to children with normal serum zinc level. The present study [case control study] was conducted on 55 children from rural areas around Mansoura, attending the outpatient clinic of Mansoura University Children's Hospital. They were of both sexes and their ages ranged from 4-11 years. Cryptosporidium parvum was the commonest parasite prevalent among both groups. Other protozoal infections detected were Entamoeba histolytica, Giardia lamblia, with a prevalence of 60.6% and. 57.6% respectively in children with low serum zinc compared to 54.5%, and 50% in children with normal serum zinc level. These differences were statistically insignificant. However, zinc deficient children had statistically significant heavy intensity of protozoal infections compared to children with normal serum zinc level. Also, it was observed that zinc deficient children showed statistically significant co-infection with 3 protozoa compared to children with normal serum zinc level who suffered from only one or two protozoal infection at most

Evaluation of soluble adhesion molecules in the diagnosis of amonebiasis, Giardiasis and toxoplasmosis

A total of 47 patients with toxoplasmosis [21 cases] with amoebic liver abscess [14 cases] and with giardiasis [12 cases] as well as 14 healthy control were subjected to thorough history taking, clinical examination stool and urine analysis, complete blood picture, ESR, C-reactive protein, ASO, widal test, blood cultures, liver function tests, serum creatinine, hepatitis viral markers, rheumatoid factor, auto-antibodies, stool culture, rectal snip, chest X-ray, abdominal sonar, level of serum adhesion molecules [sLCAM-1, sELAM-1], ELISA detection of Toxoplasma antibodies in serum, liver biopsy, detection and counting of Giardia cysts. In toxoplasmosis group, highly significant increase in serum levels of sICAM-1 [P<0.01] and significant increase in serum levels of sELAM-1 [P<0.05] in comparison to control. However, only sICAM1 levels were significantly increased in IgM cases more than in IgG cases. In amoebic liver abscess group, both sICAM-1 and Selam-1 significantly increased when compared with control. In giardiasis group, highly significant increase of serum levels of sELAM-1 was noticed than in control group [P<0.01], while sICAM-1 showed no significant difference [P>0.05]. There was no correlation between sELAM-1 and number of cysts in the stool [intensity of infection]. Soluble forms of adhesion molecules especially sICAM-1 have the potentiality as good markers of endothelial damage, severity of disease and to less extent load of infection