Study of soluble adhesion molecules in some intestinal and tissue helminthes.

Soluble adhesion molecules namely soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) and soluble E-selectin (sELAM-1) were assayed in hydatid patients with or without complications. It was found that sICAM-1 was significantly increased in patients with hydatid cysts as compared to the control group. In lymphoedemic filariasis cases both sICAM-1 and sELAM-1 showed highly significant increase more than the control group. However, non of both soluble adhesion molecules were significantly elevated in patients with ascariasis, hymenolepiasis, heterophyiasis and strongyloidiasis as compared to controls. The results indicated that SICAM-1 & S ELAM-1 are useful markers for hydatidosis and filariasis, but not for ascariasis, hymenolepiasis, heterophyiasis and strongyloidiasis

Studies on patients with Schistosomiasis mansoni, HCV and/or typhoid fever.

Two groups of patients were studied. First one included 50 schistosomiasis mansoni patients, 30 with simple infection, 10 with splenomegaly and with ascites. Second group included 111 patients of whom 20 with pure S. mansoni, 27 with pure HCV infection, 54 with mixed infection of schistosomiasis and HCV and 10 with schistosomiasis, HCV and typhoid fever. Serum transaminases and anti-HCV antibodies performed, showed anti-HCV raised levels in 10% of simple schistosomiasis, 60% in splenomegalic patients, 80% in ascites patients, and 7.1% in controls. Liver function tests in first group were within normal range except in those with ascites. In second group, liver function tests was norma in pure schistosomiasis patients, in pure HCV patients serum bilirubin was normal in 22.2%, AST, ALT and alkaline phosphatase were higher. In mixed infection, serum bilirubin was normal in 18.5%, serum transaminases were higher and alkaline phosphatase was normal among 77.7%. Patients with typhoid fever, HCV and schistosomiasis (12.6%) showed significant increase of liver function as compared with each of pure HCV or HCV and schistosomasis. Results were discussed.

Evaluation of soluble adhesion molecules in the diagnosis of amoebiasis, giardiasis and toxoplasmosis.

A total of 47 patients with toxoplasmosis (21 cases) with amoebic liver abscess (14 cases) and with giardiasis (12 cases) as well as 14 healthy control were subjected to thorough history taking, clinical examination, stool & urine analysis, complete blood picture, ESR, C-reactive protein, ASO, widal test, blood cultures, liver function tests, serum creatinine, hepatitis viral markers, rheumatoid factor, auto-antibodies, stool culture, rectal snip, chest X-ray, abdominal sonar, level of serum adhesion molecules (sICAM-1, sELAM-1), ELISA detection of Toxoplasma antibodies in serum, liver biopsy, detection and counting of Giardia cysts. In toxoplasmosis group, highly significant increase in serum levels of sICAM-1 (P<0.01) and significant increase in serum levels of sELAM-1 (P<0.05) in comparison to control. However, only sICAM-1 levels were significantly increased in IgM cases more than in IgG cases. In amoebic liver abscess group, both sICAM-1 and sELAM-1 significantly increased when compared with control. In giardiasis group, highly significant increase of serum levels of sELAM-1 was noticed than in control group (P<0.01), while sICAM-1 showed no significant difference (P>0.05). There was no correlation between sELAM-1 and number of cysts in the stool (intensity of infection). Soluble forms of adhesion molecules especially sICAM-1 have the potentiality as good markers of endothelial damage, severity of disease and to less extend load of infection.

Coccidiosis among immuno-competent and -compromised adults.

There was significant increase in coccidia positive cases among Hodgkin lymphoma receiving chemotherapy as compared to control group (p < 0.05). The increase was highly significant in the group of acute lymphocytic leukaemia receiving chemotherapy as compared to control group (P < 0.01). The total percent of cases with single type of coccidia were 12.2% compared to multiple coccidial infections (4.3%). The most commonly associated parasite was Cryptosporidium. The total cryptosporidial infections (single and mixed with other coccidia) were 12.1% of the total studied cases. In the immunocompromised the prevalence was 14.3%. In the immunocompetents with diarrhoea, was 8.3% and in control was 5.6%. Microsporidial infections (single and mixed with other coccidia), being the least detected among the four intestinal spores forming coccidia, were 2.4% in the immunocompromised groups. No Microsporidium was detected in the immunocompetent or adult control groups. The total cyclosporal infections (single and mixed with other coccidia) were 6.3% of the total studied cases. In the immunocompromised groups, the prevalence was (8.3%) where in immunocompetent group, was 2.8%. None was detected in the control subjects. Single cyclospora was 3.0% while mixed Cyclospora represented 3.3% of all studied cases. The Isospora infections (single and mixed) were 3.8% of total patients. The prevalence among immunocompromised group was 5.2% and in immunocompetent patients was 2.8%.

Soluble adhesion molecules as a marker of disease severity in human fascioliasis.

Fasciola gigantica is one of the parasites which affect the liver by producing biliary tract lumen syndrome. Soluble adhesion molecules namely soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) and soluble E-selection (sELAM-1) were assayed in human fascioliasis cases with or without complications. It was found that sICAM-1 and sELAM-1 were significantly increases in complicated cases more than the control group, while only sICAM-1 was significantly increased in complicated cases more than non complicated ones. However, non of both soluble adhesion molecules were significantly elevated in non complicated cases as compared to controls suggesting that sICAM-1 is a useful marker for differentiation between complicated and non complicated cases of human fascioliasis.

Isolation of dust mites from houses of Egyptian allergic patients and induction of experimental sensitivity by Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus.

Six house dust mite (HDM) species were isolated from dust of floors and mattresses of allergic patients houses in Alexandria. Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (D.p.) was the dominant species in dust of floors and mattresses with average percentages of 68.9% and 78.3% respectively. It was used to induce experimental sensitivity in Swiss albino mice by repeated weekly intranasal instillation of D.p. mites in phosphate buffer saline (PBS). Cytological examination of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid of mice revealed prolonged eosinophilia, that peaked on day 28 of the experiment and persisted till the end of the study. Blood eosinophilic counts were progressively increased during the course of the experiment. Histopathological findings showed evident eosinophilic infiltration in nasal and lung tissues of the sensitized mice. Specific IgE response to D.p. was progressively increased, reaching 30 times higher than the control group on day 42. The detected levels of interluekin-4 (IL-4) were in accordance with immunoglobulin response. D.p. provoked severe allergic response and this may help to design an effective therapy to ameliorate such allergic diseases.

Immunodiagnosis of bancroftian filariasis.

The indirect fluorescent antibody test, the enzyme-linked immuno sorbent assay and the indirect haemagglutination test were evaluated in immunodiagnosis of bancroftian filariasis using W. bancrofti microfilarial antigens. The tests gave a higher positive reactions with microfilaraemic, clinical filarial and endemic normal sera respectively. Non-specific cross-reactions were common in the three tests, so immunodiagnosis should be preceded by stool examination. IFAT gave the highest sensitivity and specificity, while IHAT was the least one. ELISA is simple, sensitive and can be used in seroepidemiological studies.