study on patients with eosinophilia of suspected parasitic origin

ABSTRACT

A study of 53 patients with eosinophilia of suspected parasitic origin was conducted. Investigations done for each case included stool and urine examinations, absolute eosinophilic count and countercurrent immunoelectrophoresis [CIEP] using crude antigens of Fasciola hepatica, Schistosoma mansoni worms, Trichinella spiralis and Toxocara canis larvae and hydatid. Stool examination revealed 6 cases with Fasciola eggs, 2 with Ascaris lumbricoides and 1 with S. mansoni eggs. The eosinophilic count ranged from 682 to 10560 cell/mm3. 26 cases showed mild eosinophilia, 24 moderate and 3 marked eosinophilia. Out of the 53 cases examined by the CIEP, 30 were positive with Fasciola antigen. Their eosinophilic count ranged from 770 to 10560 cell/mm3. 6 cases were positive with hydatid antigen and had an eosinophilic count ranging from 825 to 2970 cell/mm3. Only one case was positive with S. mansoni antigen and its eosinophilic count was 935 cell/mm3. 16 cases were negative with the different antigens used and their eosinophilic count ranged from 682 to 2200 cell/mm3