Cellular immunity in Hymenolepis nana infection

ABSTRACT

Hymenolepis nana affects both humoral and cellular components of the immune system. This work studied cellular immune changes occurring in cases infected with H. Nana and to determine whether or not these responses could be affected by antihelminthic treatment. Fifteen patients and 10 normal healthy controls were investigated. Patients received a 7-day course of aminosidine in a dose of 45 mg/kg/day for adults and 30 mg/kg/day for children. Stool examination was done before, one week and three weeks after treatment. In both controls as well as patients before and after treatment, T cell count, T and B cell function were studied by blast transformation of peripheral blood lymphocytes in response to mitogens, e.g. phytohemagglutinin [PHA] and Pokweed mitogen [Pwm]. The results suggested that, H. nana suppresses T cell count, T and B cell function. These changes return to normal level after elimination of infection