ABSTRACT
Fasciola infection (fascioliasis) appeared to be endemic in Egypt. Stool samples of fourty eight patients were coprologically diagnosed. According to Fasciola egg counting per gram stool, the severity of infection was divided into light infection in 60.5%, moderate in 27.1% and severe infection in 12.5%. No significant correlation was detected between severity of infection and patients' sex. Complete blood picture, reticylocytic count, serum iron, immunological assays as anti-nuclear, anti-smooth muscle antibody, anti-mitochondrial anti-body, anti-DNA tests and rheumatoid factor and occult blood in stool were investigated. Normocytic normochromic anaemia was detected in 62.5% of the fascioliasis patients, microcytic hypochromic anaemia in 31.3% and macrocytic one in 6.3%. Highly significant negative correlation (R = -0.68) was detected between haemoglobin concentration and egg count per gram faeces. Human fascioliasis was associated with normocytic normochromic anaemia and to a lesser extent microcytic hypochromic anemia.
Subject(s)
Anemia/epidemiology , Fascioliasis/epidemiology , Feces/parasitology , Anemia/blood , Anemia/etiology , Egypt/epidemiology , Fascioliasis/blood , Fascioliasis/complications , Female , Humans , Male , Parasite Egg Count , Severity of Illness Index , Sex FactorsABSTRACT
This study was conducted to assess cholestasis in human fascioliasis. Twenty five patients, passing Fasciola eggs, were compared to twenty age- and sex-matched healthy controls. All were subjected to thorough clinical examination, stool analysis, complete blood picture, liver function tests (AST, ALT, SAP, GGT and total serum bilirubin). Autoimmune and viral hepatitis (HCV & HBV) were excluded. All cases were subjected to radiological examinations (chest x-ray and abdominal ultrasonography). The study revealed significant elevation of liver enzymes in the patients compared to the controls (p < 0.001). Calcular and non-calcular cholecystitis were common findings among patients (32% and 24% respectively). Ascites (4%) and dilated intra-hepatic biliary radicals (32%) were encountered; pleural effusion was detected by chest x-ray in 20% of cases. So, fascioliasis should be considered in the diagnosis of cholestasis in Fasciola endemic areas.
