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

Coccidiosis among immuno-competent and-compromised adults

There was significant increase in coccidia positive cases among Hodgkin lymphoma receiving chemotherapy as compared to control group [p<0.05]. The increase was highly significant in the group of acute lymphocytic leukaemia receiving chemotherapy as compared to control group [p<0.01]. The total percent of cases with single type of coccidian were 12.2% compared to multiple coccidial infections [4.3%]. The most commonly associated parasite was Cryptosporidium. The total cryptosporidial infections [single and mixed with other coccidia] were 12.1% of the total studied cases. In the immunocompromised the prevalence was 14.3%, in the immunocompetents with diarrhea, was 8.3% and in control was 5.6%. Microsporidial infections [single and mixed with other coccidia], being the least detected among the four intestinal spores forming coccidia, were 2.4% in the immunocompromised groups. No Microspordium was detected in the immunocompetent or adult control groups. The total cyclosporal infections [single and mixed with other coccidia] were 6.3% of the total studied cases. In the immunocompromised groups, the prevalence was [8.3%] where in immunocompetent group, was 2.8%. None was detected in the control subjects. Single Cyclospora was 3.0% while mixed Cyclospora represented 3.3% of all studied cases. The Isospora infections [singles and mixed] were 38% of total patients. The prevalence among immunocompromised group was 5.2% and in immunocompetent patients was 2.8%