IL-5 as indicator of acute toxoplasmosis

Exposure to Toxoplasma gondii may result in either chronic infection or acute infection, the latter being asymptomatic or symptomatic. Toxoplasma infection stimulates humoral immune response, in addition to cellular mediated immunity. Also cytokines have a role in resistance to T. gondii like IL-5 which has protective role during infection with the parasite. This study aimed to assess the correlation between IgM and IgG Toxoplasma antibodies and IL-5 in the course of acute toxoplasmosis. 45 women suspected of having toxoplasmosis were tested by ELISA 1gM and IgG toxoplasma antibodies, and the level of serum IL-5 was tested using ELISA technique only on 32 women. The results showed that there are higher titer of IgM and IgG-Toxoplasma antibodies and higher levels of serum IL-5 in women with Toxoplasma infection. Serum IL-5 can be used as indicator to predict the presence of acute toxoplasmosis in pregnant women at high risk to toxoplasmosis

Visceral leishmaniasis complicated by secondary bacterial infections in Iraqi Kala-Azar

Kala-azar is a vector borne parasitic disease endemic in Iraq. This disease is complicated by secondary bacterial infections which may lead to death. The study was carried out to detect the bacterial infections associated with kala-azar and the effective treatment. Collection of blood, urine, stool and ear exudate specimens from 63 proved kala-azar patients. The bacterial isolates from the specimens were subjected to antibiotics sensitivity test. 63 [46.7%] of 135 hospitalized children with visceral leishmaniasis, developing 102 episodes of infections. The sites of these infections were urinary tract 46 [45.1%], lower respiratory tract 37[36.3%], gastrointestinal 10[9.8%] and middle ear 9[8.9%]. Both Gram negative and Gram positive bacteria were isolated. Most of the isolated bacteria belong to the family Enterobacteriaceae. The antibiotics gentamicin, amikacin and co-trimoxazole were the most effective. Bacterial infections were common among hospitalized children with kala-azar. The commonest were Gram negative bacteria of the family Enterobacteriaceae

Adhesion and haemagglutination activity of gram-negative bacilli associated with bladder tumor tissues

Certain virulence determinants of uropathogens have been demonstrated to provide a selective advantage for the ability to colonize and cause infection. Attachment depends on the interaction between such bacterial pili and receptor structures present on target cells. Erythrocytes and some epithelial cells such as uroepithelial cells [UECs] seem to have similar receptor for such adhesions. This study was conducted to determine the ability of Gram-negative bacilli isolated from bladder tumor tissues for exhibiting certain virulence factors like; attachment to uroepithelial cells and observe their ability to agglutinate human RBCs. Adhesion and haemagglutination activity were studied on 49 isolates of Gram-negative bacilli [Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Klebsiella oxytoca and Proteus mirabilis] isolated from biopsy specimens of patients with bladder cancer. This activity assayed in vitro according to the procedure mentioned in the text [12,15,16]. It has been observed that heavy attachment among these isolated bacteria and UECs and most of the isolates have the ability to agglutinate human type O erythrocytes. 1- Gram-negative bacteria isolated from bladder tumor tissues demonstrated some bacterial characteristics like adhesion and haemagglutination activity which might enhance persistence of bacterial infection and increasing the inflammatory response to the infection. 2 -Pili may be considered as an important virulence factor of Gram-negative bacilli isolated from bladder tumor tissues which enhance the persistence of bacterial infections

Evaluation and comparison of immunchromatography and immunofluorescent techniques in diagnosis and epidemiological studies in Iraqi Kala-Azar

Infantile kala-azar is an endemic protozoal disease prevalent among children in Iraq. A rapid diagnostic laboratory tests are required for immediate treatment. A prospective study was conducted in two pediatric hospitals in Baghdad during the period from Oct. 2005 to Sept. 2006 to evaluate the efficiency of immunochromatography strip test [IC] with rK39 antigen compared to indirect fluorescent antibody test [IFAT] for serodiagriosis of visceral leishmaniasis [VL] to investigate its use for epidemiological studies in Iraqi kala-azar. The study included 54 proved cases for Leishmania donovani [L.D.] bodies in bone marrow, 108 clinically diagnosed cases, 38 with diseases other than VL [tuberculosis, acute amoebic dysentery, urinary schistosomiasis, brucellosis, toxoplasmosis and malaria] and 24 healthy controls. In addition of 3000 patients presented with fever, anaemia and hepatosplenomegaly. The highest sensitivity of the sera was obtained by IC [92.6%] and by IFAT [96. 3%], and the highest specificity by IC [100%] and by IFAT [86.8%]. In the epidemiological study with rK39 strip test 66.1% positive reactions were obtained in patients with fever, anaemia and hepatosplenomegaly. IC strip test with rK39 antigen was more easy to perform but less sensitive than IFAT and the former was more specific than the latter