Evaluation of myrrh [Mirazid] therapy in fascioliasis and intestinal schistosomiasis in children: Immuno - logical and parasitological study

This study was done on 21 children with fascioliasis and 8 children with schistosomiasis mansoni treated with myrrh [mirazid], which is an oleo-gum resin from the stem of Commiphora molmol tree [family Burseraceae]. Also, ten healthy cross matched children were utilized as controls. The diagnosis was based on the detection of Fasciola hepatica or Schistosoma mansoni eggs in stool by Kato-Katz technique. Mirazid was given as 10 mg/kg/d an hour before breakfast for three consecutive days in schistosomiasis and for six days in fascioliasis. Clinical evaluation and stool analysis were done initially and at 2, 4 and 12 weeks post treatment to evaluate the cure rate. Rectal snip was done for responding schistosomiasis cases to confirm recovery. Automated complete blood count with manual assessment of eosinophils, serum total IgE [enzyme immunoassay] and in vitro cytokines assay [IL-1 beta, IL- 4 and IL-5] by ELISA were performed for all subjects before treatment and repeated at 12 weeks only for patients after therapy. It was concluded that mirazid is an effective fasciolicidal and schistosomicidal drug. IL-1 beta and IL-5 were high in fascioliasis and schistosomiasis, but decreased with therapy denoting immunopathogenesis. The depressed IL-4 production may be a parasite immune evasion or host regulatory mechanism and the cytokines levels may be the criteria of cure

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%