Effect of toxoplasma co-inefected with intestinal helminthes on cell mediated immunity to tuberculosis patients

The effect of intestinal helminthes [IH] and Toxoplasma gondii [Tox] coinfection on anti-mycobacterium tuberculosis [MTB] immunity in patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis was studied in 96 patients of 4 groups. Thirteen patients had TB+IH+Tox [Gl], 15 had TB+IH [G2], 21 had TB+Tox [G3] and 47 had TB [G4]. The mean diameter of tuberculin and toxoplasmin tests was measured to assess cell mediated immunity. Anti-Toxoplasma IgG[1] and IgG[4] antibodies were sought in toxoplasmic patients by EL1SA for Thelper[1] [Th[1]] and Th[2] cytokine responses respectively. All patients were treated by 6 months anti-MTB therapy. Specific anti-IH therapies were given for patients with concomitant IH. Sputum examination for acid fast bacilli was done 2 weeks post-treatment and duration of sputum clearance was recorded. The results showed that IH co-infection had significant negative effect on mean diameter of tuberculin test compared to.G4 [5.87 +/- 0.08 vs 8.65 +/- 0.05mm; P < 0.01]. Concurrent Tox with TB significantly increased tuberculin test mean diameter [10.89 +/- 0.11 vs 8.65 +/- 0.05mm; P < 0.05]. Mean level of anti-Tox IgG[1] among G3 was significantly higher than in Gl [0.88 +/- 0.05vs0.55 +/- 0.02; P < 0.001], but vice versa was with IgG[4]. Mean tuberculin diameter increased significantly post-treatment in all Gs except G3. Anti-Tox IgG[1] showed significant increase [0.55 +/- 10.02 to 0.82 +/- 0.03; P < 0.001] but IgG[4] showed significant decrease [0.62 +/- 0.07 to 0.45 +/- 0.06, P < 0.01] post-treatment in Gl, but G3 was insignificantly affected. The duration of sputum clearance was significantly longer in patients with IH co-infection compared to G4 [29 +/- 1 vs 21.8 +/- 4.6, days p < 0.001]

Efficacy of five chemicals on fasciola gigantica encysted metacercariae infectivity

The efficacy of treating encysted metacercariae [EMC] of Fasciola gigantica with different concentrations [conc] of acetic acid, citric acid, cetrimide, potassium permanganate and sodium hydroxide, for 15 and 30 minutes was evaluated. The efficacy of these chemicals on the vitality and infectivity of the EMC was evaluated by the development of fascioliasis infection, and the histopathological changes in the livers of experimentally infected Albino rabbits. The results showed that 1% sodium hydroxide had a lethal effect on EMC, 10% to 40% potassium permanganate destroyed the infectivity power of EMC, and acetic acid gave an adverse effect on the EMC in cone, more than 2.5%. But, neither citric acid nor cetrimide affected the vitality or infectivity of EMC and all rabbits acquired fascioliasis