ABSTRACT
The interaction between cytokines such as interleukin-12 [IL-12] and IL-18 play an important role in malaria pathogenesis and outcome, modulating the immunoresponce in Plasmodium falciparum [P. falciparum] malaria. This work aimed at detecting the plasma levels of IL-12 and IL-18 in P. falciparum malaria patients and to correlate the production of these cytokines with the severity of the disease .this study was conducted on two groups: Group I, consisted of 80 patients with P. falciparum malaria infection they were classified into two groups according to disease severity, 30 patients with severe malaria and 50 patients with mild malaria. Group II, consisted of 30 healthy persons as a control group. The levels of IL-12 and IL-18 were higher [16.2 +/- 8.3 pg/ml and 2682.8 +/- 332.0 pg/ml, respectively] in patients with mild malaria than in patients with severe form of the disease [12.3 +/- 6.42 pg/ml and 1226 +/- 267.2 pg/ml respectively] A positive correlation was observed between IL-12 and IL-18. These findings suggest that the production of these cytokines may be coregulated and both have an immunoregulatory effect on the immune response to P. falciparum infection, so can be used as a reliable parameter to predict the progression of the disease and may be used as an immunotherapy against P. falciparum malaria infection, especially in the early phase of the disease. Further studies are needed to find out the relation between these cytokines and individual forms and complications of P. falciparum malaria infection
ABSTRACT
Background: parvovirus B19 is a small DNA virus that belongs to the genus Erythrovirus. It is the cause of erythema infectiosum in children and incriminated in the pathogenesis of chronic fatigue syndrome [CFS], which is a heterogeneous disorder of unknown pathogenesis and etiology
Objective: we aimed to determine the possible role of parvovirus B19 in the etiology of CFS
Methods: 50 patients with CFS and 45 people with no symptoms comparable with CFS as a control were investigated for specific anti B19 IgG and IgM, also B19 DNA in their sera
Results: no specific anti B19 IgM was detected in both CFS patients and control, anti B19 IgG was detected in 26 of 50 CFS patients [52%] and in 23 of 45 control [51.1%]. Also B19 DNA was found in 4 of 50 CFS cases [8%], and in 3 of 45 controls [6.7%]. There was no statistical difference between patients with CFS and control for the presence of parvovirus B19
Conclusion: B19 infection bears no apparent relationship to CFS