Evaluation of the role of ancylostoma caninum in human as a cause of acute and recurrent abdominal pain

ABSTRACT

Ninety-five patients with obscure acute or recurrent abdominal pain and ten asymptomatic healthy parasite free cases were subjected to thorough history taking, clinical examination, sonography, routine laboratory investigations and sero-testing by IgG ELISA to detect antibodies to excretory/secretory [ES] antigens of adult A. caninum and by IgG and IgG4 Western blot [WB] to detect antibodies to Ac68 antigen. Eleven male patients [5 with acute abdomen, 3 diagnosed as appendicitis and 3 had recurrent mild to moderate abdominal pain] fulfilled the criteria of case definition of human enteric infection with A. Caninum [GI]. The study also detected human hookworm infection in 14 patients [G.IIb], other parasites in 34 patients [GIIc] and 36 patients had no parasite [G.IIa]. Although 3 patients from group I were diagnosed as appendicitis and were dealt with surgically, the pain recurred and mebendazole only ameliorated the patients complaints. The obtained appendices of these operated cases showed marked eosinophilic infiltration, but no adult canine hookworms were detected. IgG ELISA was positive in 72.7%, 8.3%, 100%, 23.5% and 0% in groups and control, respectively