Soluble adhesion molecules versus lymphoblast transformation in diagnosis of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis

Twelve parasitologically proven ZCL patients [one with non-ulcerative lesion and eleven with multiple ulcerative lesions] were subjected to estimation of the levels of lymphoblast transformation [LTT] and soluble adhesion molecules [sICAM-1and sELAM-1 by ELISA]. The results proved high percentage of LTT in relation to number and clinical picture of the ZCL lesions. As to the soluble adhesion molecules, s ICAM-1 levels were significantly increased than in normal controls and correlated positively with the number of ulcerative lesions. s ELAM-1 levels were not significantly increased than the normal controls but correlated positively with the number of ulcerative lesions. Consequently, soluble adhesion molecules mainly s ICAM-1 is a good marker of endothelial damage in ZCL as related to number and clinical type of lesions

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%