Serum Cytokine Profile in Patients with Chronic Rhinosinusitis with Nasal Polyposis Infected by Aspergillus flavus

BACKGROUND: Fungi, especially Aspergillus flavus, can cause chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis and modulate host innate immune components. The objective of this study was to examine the serum levels of T helper (Th) cell subset Th1, Th2, and Th17 cytokines and total IgE in patients having chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis and Aspergillus flavus infection. METHODS: A case-control study including 40 patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis and 20 healthy controls was conducted. Aspergillus flavus infection was confirmed by standard potassium hydroxide (KOH) testing, culture, and PCR. Serum samples of all patients and controls were analyzed for various cytokines (interleukins [IL]-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-17, IL-21, IL-27, TGF-β) and total IgE by ELISA. Data from patients with Aspergillus flavus infection and healthy volunteers were compared using the independent t-test and non-parametric Mann-Whitney U test. RESULTS: Aspergillus flavus infection was found in 31 (77.5%) patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis. IL-1β, IL-17, IL-21, and TGF-β serum levels were significantly higher in these patients than in controls; however, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, and IL-27 levels were lower. Compared with nine (22.5%) patients without Aspergillus flavus infection, IL-17 level was higher while IL-2 level was lower in patients with Aspergillus flavus infection. Total IgE was significantly higher in patients with Aspergillus flavus infection than in controls. CONCLUSIONS: High levels of IL-17 and its regulatory cytokines in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis infected by Aspergillus flavus raise a concern about effective disease management and therapeutic recovery. Surgical removal of the nasal polyp being the chief management option, the choice of post-operative drugs may differ in eosinophilic vs. non-eosinophilic nasal polyposis. The prognosis is likely poor, warranting extended care.

Detection of coproantigens by sandwich ELISA in rabbits experimentally infected with fasciola gigantica

The study was targeted to report the appearance of coproantigens in feces and circulating antibodies in the serum of Fasciola gigantica experimentally infected rabbits. Copro Hyper Immune Serum [HIS] and Excretory-Secretory Hyper Immune Serum [ES HIS] antigens were used in a sandwich ELISA for the detection of F. gigantica antigens in feces of 12 rabbits experimentally infected with different doses of F. gigantica encysted metacercariae [EMC] [10, 25 and 30 EMC]. The relation between time of appearance of coproantigens in feces and anti-Fasciola antibodies in serum was evaluated. The earliest diagnostic coproantigen was recorded at 21[st], 25[th] and 28[th] day post-infection [p.i.] in groups of rabbits infected with 30, 25 and 10 F. gigantica EMC respectively. Both HIS and ES HIS were able to detect coproantigens in feces of rabbits infected with 30 EMC at day 21 p.i. The appearance of F. giganticacoproantigens in feces of infected rabbits was concurrent to the appearance of anti-Fasciola antibodies in blood [3[rd] week p.i.]. However, coproantigen has specific ability for direct assessment of active infection with minimal cross-reaction with other heterologous parasitic infections. The findings hold promise for a more accurate diagnostic technique in the near future for suspected Fasciola infection

Ecological attributes of Hepatozoon lacertilis Gupta et al., 2011 susceptibility in Indian lizards, Hemidactylus flaviviridis (Gekkonidae) and Calotes versicolor (Agamidae)

Ecological attributes of haematozoan parasites are poorly understood. In this study, we report haematozoan prevalence in two species of Indian lizards, Hemidactylus flaviviridis (Family: Gekkonidae) and Calotes versicolor (Family: Agamidae) under three macro-environmental variables: host location, weight and seasonal variations. Hemidactylus flaviviridis (n= 199) and Calotes versicolor (n= 34) were sampled from Bareilly, Chandausi and Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh, India belonging to different weight groups [Group I (0-5 gm), Group II (5-10 gm) and Group III (10-15 gm)] and during various seasons [Summer (May-July), Rainy (August-October), Winter (November-January), Spring (February-April)] of the year. A haemogregarine, Hepatozoon Miller, 1908 was discovered from both host species. Test for identity of the parasites was conducted by feeding infected Culex quinquefasciatus (Diptera: Culicidae) on infection-free H. flaviviridis and C. versicolor and blood examinations on 22nd day (H. flaviviridis) and 25th day (C. versicolor) post feeding (pf) revealed similar haematozoan parasites and were identified as Hepatozoon lacertilis Gupta et al., 2011. Infectivity from different locations indicated a prevalence of 5.26% (Bareilly) and 16.36% (Mirzapur) in H. flaviviridis whereas infectivity was comparatively higher (19.23%) in C. versicolor. In different weight groups, Group III indicated highest infectivity in both lizards being 21.42% (C. versicolor) and 17.85% (H. flaviviridis). Parasites showed highest prevalence during spring season (H. flaviviridis : 9.52%; C. versicolor : 25%). Values of significance were determined by chisquare test to compare the prevalence within different variables (host location, weight and season). The study has importance for its contribution to the knowledge on the diversity of reptilian hosts infected by haemogregarines. It is the first record of Hepatozoon infectivity in both lizard species with respect to the three macro-environmental variables.

Oxysomatium bareilliana n sp. a nematode parasite from bufo melanostictus from Rohilkhand region, India: variance in infectivity during growth of the host

Examination of gastrointestinal contents of Bufo melanostictus collected from Bareilly, India revealed the presence of a nematode parasite Oxysomatium in 100% of the hosts sampled. The concentration index of the parasite decreased with the growth of the host [1-20 gms: 32 parasites per host, 25-50 gms.: 20 parasites per host and 50-75 gms. :2-5 parasites per host]. Its ovo-viviparous in mature, the nerve absence of ring, lateral alae and gubernaculum, the absence of preanal papillae and presence of reduced number of post anal papillae [4-6 pairs] and difference in the spicule length differentiate the present species from the earlier reported ones and is described herein as Oxysomatium bareilliana n sp

Immunological responses in carps [Labeo rohita and Catla catla] exposed to cadmium

The present experiment has been designed to find out the effect of heavy metals on the immunological parameters of Labeo rohita and Catla catla as these are major pollutants of the fish habitat. The effect was observed on mean W B C count, lymphocyte and neutrophil count and other related parameters like general behaviour and stress on the controlled and experimentally exposed fishes to sub-lethal concentration of cadmium. Observations were-decreased in mean W B C and percent lymphocyte count, whereas neutrophilia was observed in both the species when exposed to sublethal concentrations of cadmium. The agglutination test conducted on the fishes exposed to cadmium revealed that the titre were higher in the exposed fishes indicating that the fishes are under stress. The study is relevant in the light that the pollutants causes sufficient stress to fish and ultimately affects its performance to harvest he benefits in the form of growths etc