Diagnosis of typhoid fever by detection of specific IgM antibodies

Detection of specific IgM antibodies is usually indicative of recent or ongoing infection. The study was conducted on 57 cases, 30 typhoid cases diagnosed clinically and serologically by Widal test [titre >/ 160], 17 nontyphoid patients and 10 normal healthy controls. The study utilized the IgM capture approach in which IgM antibodies react specifically with antihuman IgM adsorbed to a solid phase followed by application of stained Salmonella typhi antigen suspension which shows adherence in positive cases. By this test, 18 [60%] of 30 cases had IgM antibodies to the H and/or O antigens of S. typhi. None of the serum samples from non typhoidal fevers; Brucellosis [8 cases], infectious mononucleosis [5 cases] and urinary tract infection [4 cases], showed reactivity in this test. In normal sera, there was no detectable IgM antibodies to S. typhi antigens. Therefore, detection of IgM could be used directly as a sole serological test or alternatively as a confirmatory test following screening of sera by the Widal test. In addition, the IgM adherence method was simple, specific, sensitive and economic in using readily available inexpensive materials

Study on HBV and HCV infection in chronic liver disease

The study was conducted on 200 liver cases attending Mattareya Teaching Hospital and Coptic Hospital. They were submitted to clinical examination and laboratory investigations including liver function tests and serological tests for HBs-Ag and anti-HCV. The aim of the study was to assess the role of HBV and HCV infection in chronic liver disease and the development of decompensation. Seroprevalence of anti-HCV was twice as common as HBs-Ag [63.7% and 30.1% respectively]. Seropositive cases for both HBs-Ag and anti-HCV were 6.2%. Most seropositive cases for HBs-Ag were in the active compensated group. Cases positive for HBs-Ag and anti-HCV were mostly decompensated [57%]. Prevalence of seropositive cases with no evidence of active liver disease was 29.2% for anti-HCV, 20.6% for HB- Ag and 14.3% for both. Those patients should be managed by close follow up to prevent the development of progressive liver disease and decrease the risk of infectivity