Eosinophilic cationic protein [ECP] in fascioliasis and hydatidosis

Eosinophils and their granules were shown to be significant participants in the inflammatory processes of various helminthic infections. So far, only few reports have dealt with ECP level in parasitic diseases. So, this study aimed at evaluating the serum ECP in fascioliasis and hydatid disease and to compare the ECP level with the blood eosinophil count and serum IgE antibody levels in both diseases. This work included 90 individuals [30 patients with fascioliasis [group I], 30 patients with hydatid disease [group II], and 30 normal persons as control group]. All patients were free from concomitant parasitic infections, viral hepatitis B or C, allergic and autoimmune disorders. ECP was estimated in all patients and controls by radioimmuno assay. Moreover, peripheral blood eosinophil count and serum IgE were also estimated. The mean serum level of ECP was significantly higher in patients with fascioliasis and hydatid disease [31.1 +/- 21.4, 20.3 +/- 11.6 micro g/L, respectively] than the control group [7.1 +/- 4.0 micro g/L], P=0.001 in each case. Moreover, ECP was significantly higher in fascioliasis group than in hydatid group [P=0.001]. The mean eosinophil count was 3.1x10[9]/L +/- 2.2 in patients with fasciola infection, 1.4x10[9]/L +/- 1.0 in patients with hydatid disease, and 0.2x10[9]/L +/- 0.1 in the control group. Serum level of IgE antibody was found to have a mean value of 178.9 +/- 66.7 IU/ml in patients with fascioliasis, 157.9 +/- 54.1 IU/ml in patients with hydatid disease, and 90.9 +/- 35.5 IU/ml in the control group. ECP was shown to have significant positive correlations with the peripheral blood eosinophil count in both groups of patients. However, it was more significant with fascioliasis, a disease with more degree of eosinophilia. In contrast, no significant correlations existed between ECP and IgE antibody in either the groups. The data indicate a generally greater activity of the eosinophil cell system in fascioliasis and hydatid disease. So, ECP appears to be a useful clinical parameter in parasitic infections with eosinophilia to assess disease activity, inflammatory process, or may serve as a new tool for monitoring therapy

Immune receptors on liver macrophages in patients with hepatic schistosomiasis: relationship to plasma fibronectin and circulating immunne complexes

Liver macrophages carry receptor sites for immunoglobulin [Fc], complement [C] and fibronectin receptors, which can mediate the immnune-phagocytic function.As the function of hepatic macrophages could be impaired in many liver diseases, this work aimed at studying Fc and C receptors on isolated liver macrophages in cases of hepatic schistosomiasis and to correlate these with plasma fibronectin [FN] and circulating immune compIexes [CIC]. The study included 55 schistosaomal patients divided into 4 groups, group1: 15 patients with early hepatic schistosomiasis, group2: 15 patients with late hepatic schistosomiasis, group3: 15 schistosomal patients with HCV infection and group4: 10 schistosomal patients with HBV infection. In addition, 10 normal controls were included, liver biopsies were taken from all patients either during an elective surgery or by Tru-cut needle to isolate liver macrophages by Dabes method. Total nucleated cells and liver macrophages were counted for each patient. Fc and C receptors were studied by using sheep erythrocytes coated with immunoglobulin and complement respectively. Moreover, plasma FN and CIC were estimated in all patients and controls. Our results concluded that liver biopsies obtained from cases with early hepatic schistosomiasis yielded higher macrophage numbers and more Fc and C receptors than those obtained from late hepatic affection. When schistosomiasis was associated with viral hepatitis C or B, the cell counts and their receptors decreased further. There was a significant positive correlation between immune receptors and PFN level,while a significant negative correlation was found between these receptors and CIC. Thus, immune receptors could be an indirect index for the immunophagocytic function of liver macrophages

Immunopathological changes in schistosomiasis and pulmonary tuberculosis: an approach towards an effective immunotherapy

Schistosomiasis and pulmonary tuberculosis [T.B.] are diseases that have a special importance in the developing world. Information derived from experimental models suggested that a number of cytokines released from Th-I and Th-2 cells play a role in granuloma formation in such diseases. Yet, it had not revealed a common underlying mechanism in order to compare the immunopathological events in a systematic manner. Although both schistosomiasis and T.B. can be acquired due to living under unhygienic conditions, we seldom meet cases of active or patent mixed schistosomiasis and T.B. in our clinical work. This motivated us to study the immunopathogenesis of inflammatory responses in these two diseases. 45 patients and 15 healthy controls constituted the material of this study. Patients were divided into 3 groups, each one included 15 patients: group I:pure schistosomal cases, group II:pure T.B. patients and group III: mixed T.B. and schistosomiasis. Beside routine laboratory investigations for diagnosis of schistosomiasis and T.B.,the following cytokines were estimated: IL-2, TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, and IL-10. Our results revealed that in pure schistosomal patients, Th-2 cytokines were significantly dominated which reflect a major role of these cytokines in humoral immunity. In the near future, this finding may allow the use of anti-idiotype antibodies as a therapeutic option in schistosomiasis. On the other hand, in pure T.B. patients Th-1 cytokines were statistically increased which may indicate the major role of hyperactive state of cellular immunity. Hence, this approach may allow therapeutic interventions to target critical cytokines to be used as a tool in the concerned disease process

Prevalence of HCV among leprosy patients

Family contacts of hepatitis C virus infected patients have a higher incidence of HCV infection than that expected in the general population. The same applies to leprosy which is acquired through prolonged contact [community acquired]. It was reported that HCV serologic prevalence was 5% in leprosy patients living in Senegal. So, the aim of this study was to find the prevalence of HCV among leprosy patients in Alexandria. Fifty leprotic patients constituted the material of this study. Blood samples were collected aseptically and subjected to routine laboratory investigations, as well as liver function test. Diagnosis of HCV was done by both second generation ELISA. Also, detection of hepatitis B markers were made. Our results showed a high prevalence of anti HCV among our leprotic patients [24 patients out of 50 had reactive anti-HCV = 48%]. On the other hand, HBsAg was significantly lower than anti-HCV in the same group [8 out of 50 had HBsAg = 16%], while co-infection was detected in only two cases [4%]

Maintenance of resistance to challenge infection, reduction in tissue egg load and hepatic granuloma modulation in treated schistosoma mansoni infection

In this work 100 Swiss albino mice were infected with Schistosoma mansoni. A combined regimen of Praziquantal and Colchicine was used three weeks post infection. After the second dose of Praziquantel a challenge infection was given to a number of mice in each group. Parasitological, pathological and immunological studies were carried out on mice sacrificed eight weeks post infection. Egg excretion was earlier in the group of mice which received Colchicine only. It was significantly higher in mice treated with combined therapy than in Praziquantel treated mice. Egg load in the livers and intestines was reduced after Praziquantel treatment and with combined treatment. These were more apparent in the intestine. As regards resistance to challenge infection, mice treated with Colchicine and Praziquantal still maintained their resistance to challenge infection than mice treated with Praziquantel only. Pathological changes in the liver showed reduction in the size of the granulomas in mice treated with Colchicine and in group that received combined therapy. Immunological changes were monitored by the level of nitrogen and oxygen metabolites from the peritoneal macrophages