ABSTRACT
We performed a prospective field study in the village of Kafer Daoud in Menofia, Egypt to compare the fecal culture method with enzyme linked immuno assay (ELISA) for detection of 170 kDa lectin antigen in feces for diagnosis of asymptomatic Entamoeba histolytica and Entamoeba dispar infection. All subjects with E. histolytica or E. dispar infection detected by culture also had positive ELISA for amebic antigen in their feces and an additional 57 Entameoba infections missed by culture were detected by ELISA (P < 0.001 compared to culture). The presence of fecal anti-lectin IgA antibodies and serum anti-LC3 (recombinant cysteine-rich lectin protein) IgG antibodies were positive predictors for E. histolytica infection (P < 0.03). Of interest, infection with Trichomonas hominis but not Blastocystis hominis was positively associated with E. histolytica infection (P < 0.05). In conclusion, ELISA for detection of fecal lectin antigen is a more sensitive method than fecal culture for detecting asymptomatic E. histolytica infection.
Subject(s)
Antigens, Protozoan/analysis , Entamoeba/isolation & purification , Entamoebiasis/diagnosis , Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay/methods , Feces/parasitology , Adolescent , Adult , Animals , Child , Culture Media , Egypt , Entamoeba/immunology , Entamoeba histolytica/immunology , Entamoeba histolytica/isolation & purification , Female , Humans , Lectins/immunology , Male , Middle Aged , Prospective StudiesABSTRACT
Cell mediated immune response (CMIR) was studies in 120 patients having chronic liver diseases. Patients were divided into 6 groups, (20 each). (1) Early hepatosplenic Schistosomiasis. (EHSS), (2) Late hepatosplenic Schistosomiasis. (LHSS), (3) Hepatosplenic Schistosomiasis with hepatitis B and/or C infections, (4) Hepatitis B virus cases. (HBV), (5) Hepatitis C virus cases (HCV), (6) Hepatocellular carcinoma cases. (HCC). Twenty within normal subjects taken as controls. Laboratory investigations revealed significant esinophilia in patients of group (1), haemoglobin level was significantly reduced in patients of group (1, 2, 3, & 6), serum albumin was significantly reduced in group (2). The percentage of positivity of skin testing using purified protein derivative, ranged between 10% of patients with LHSS, HBV, HCC and HSS with HBV and/or HCV, 20% of patients with HCV and 25% of patients with EHSS. Percentage of positivity in control group was 100%. The mean diameter of delayed intradermal reaction (2.2 +/- 0.5-6.1 +/- 2.1 mms.) was significantly lower in patients than controls. The response of lymphocyte transformation test to phytohaemmagglutinin was significantly lower in patients when compared to controls. The association of HBV and/or HCV with hepatosplenomegaly was accompanied with a marked depression in cell mediated immune response. Anaemia, hypoalbuminemia and nutritional status of the patients with chronic liver diseases play a major role in the suppression of cell mediated immune response.
Subject(s)
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/immunology , Hepatitis, Viral, Human/immunology , Liver Diseases, Parasitic/immunology , Liver Neoplasms/immunology , Schistosomiasis/immunology , Adolescent , Adult , Chronic Disease , Hepatitis B, Chronic/complications , Hepatitis B, Chronic/immunology , Hepatitis C, Chronic/complications , Hepatitis C, Chronic/immunology , Humans , Immunity, Cellular , Middle Aged , Schistosomiasis/complicationsABSTRACT
This study was done on 45 patients with bilharzial hepatosplenomegaly and active bilharzial infection classified into 3 groups. The first group was given oral oxamniquine 2nd group was given oral praziquantel, the third group was left as control. It was proved that praziquantel gave a remarkable decrease in portal vein diameter and regression of the size of enlarged liver and spleen but oxaminiquine had no significant effect on the portal vein diameter and liver profile.