Dot-Blot Immunoassay of Fasciola gigantica Infection using 27 kDa and Adult Worm Regurge Antigens in Egyptian Patients

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the potential role of the 27-Kilodalton (KDa) antigen versus Fasciola gigantica adult worm regurge antigens in a DOT-Blot assay and to assess this assay as a practical tool for diagnosis fascioliasis in Egyptian patients. Fasciola gigantica antigen of an approximate molecular mass 27-(KDa) was obtained from adult worms by a simple elution SDS-PAGE. A Dot-Blot was developed comparatively to adult worm regurge antigens for the detection of specific antibodies from patients infected with F. gigantica in Egypt. Control sera were obtained from patients with other parasitic infections and healthy volunteers to assess the test and compare between the antigens. The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of Dot-Blot using the adult worm regurge were 80%, 90%, 94.1%, and 69.2% respectively, while those using 27-KDa were 100% which confirms the diagnostic potential of this antigen. All patients infected with Fasciola were positive, with cross reactivity reported with Schistosoma mansoni serum samples. This 27-KDa Dot-Blot assay showed to be a promising test which can be used for serodiagnosis of fascioliasis in Egyptian patients especially, those presenting with hepatic disease. It is specific, sensitive and easy to perform method for the rapid diagnosis particularly when more complex laboratory tests are unavailable.

regulation of murine schistosome granuloma formation and fibrosis by anti-IL-4 and anti-IL-13 immunotherapy

In this study the availability of murine anti-interleukin-4 [anti IL-4] and anti-interleukin- 13[anti-Il- 13] monoclonal antibodies [mAbs] permited the intimate study of the direct role of IL-13 in a type -2-cytokine mediated infection. The present study demonstrates that blocking of IL-13 from the Th -2 response to Schistosoma mansoni infection is beneficial to host survival. This enhanced prognosis correlates with a reduction in hepatic collagen deposition and indicates the role for IL-13 in the development of hepatic fibrosis. In contrast, the study has also showed that blocking of IL-4 results in very high mortality characterized by a breakdown in intestinal integrity, indicating that IL-4- is a protective cytokine in schistosome infection. The combined blocking of both IL-4 and IL-13 demonstrates that the positive effects resulting from the ablation of IL- 13 were over-ridden by the detrimental pathology resulting from IL-4 blocking. In addition, combined cytokine blocking resulted in a condition that was considerably more severe than that observed in the IL-4 blocking group. These results indicate the potential benefits of anti- IL-13 as an antifibrogenic cytokine, but also show the dangers of blocking both IL-13 and IL-4 concurrently

Study of soluble intracellular adhesion molecule-1[s1CAM-1] as a laboratory marker for grading hepatic fibrosis in patients suffering from schistosomiasis mansoni

Chronic schistosomiasis mansoni is a serious disease that ends by periportal fibrosis with various degrees. In the present work, finding serum sICAM-1 level as an accessible laboratory method to measure the degree of pathogenecity was done to cases with different stages of Schistosoma mansoni infection. Different degrees of pathogenecity was first assessed by kato-Katz stool examination in-group I and ultrasonographic grading of periportal fibrosis in group II By sonagraphic grading, patients in group II were classified to grade I [incipient fibrosis], grade II [moderate] and grade Ill [severe] fibrosis. Results of the present work revealed high significant increase of sICAM-l serum level [P<0.005]from grade I [incipient periportal fibrosis] to grade III [serve fibrosis]. Positive correlation [R= 0.65] between portal vein diameter and sICAM-l level was also detected. These findings could suggest serum level of sICAM-1 as a good laboratory indicator for grading hepatic peripotal fibrosis in parallel with sonography in a patient suffering from chronic schistosomiasis mansoni

Application and evaluation of the immunofiltration assay in the diagnosis of human schistosomiasis

In a trial to reach fast, simple and efficient diagnostic assay for schistosomiasis, Dot Dye Immunofiltration assay using protein A conjugated gold colloid was applied and evaluated in comparison to Dipstick assay and Enzyme Immunoelectrotransfer Blot Assay [EITB], Both soluble egg antigen [SEA] of Schistosorna mansoni and Schistosoma haematobium were used as capture antigens in each assay. Dot Dye Immunofiltration assay, Dipstick assay and EITB were found to be more efficient by using SEA of S. mansoni, than by using SEA of S. haeinatobium. Using SEA of S. mansoni, Dipstick assay was found to be the most efficient [82.2%] among all performed assays followed by Dot Immunofiltration assay and EITB [80.5%] for each. On the other hand Dot Dye Immunofiltration assay was found to be simpler and faster than Dipstick assay and EITB