Blastocystis in ulcerative colitis patients:Genetic diversity and analysis of laboratory findings

Objective:To determine Blastocystis frequency and subtypes(ST) in ulcerative colitis(UC) patients and analyse some laboratory findings between Blastocystis positive and negative cases.Methods:Faecal samples from 150 UC patients in Adnan Menderes University,Training and Research Hospital were examined by direct microscopy and cultivated in Jones medium.Blastocystis positive cultures were subjected to DNA isolation and subtypes were identified by sequencing of barcode region.A retrospective analysis was conducted on C reactive protein(CRP),leukocyte counts(WBC),neutrophil counts,and sedimentation rates.Results:The overall positive rate of Blastocystis was 8%(12 patients) and the most abundant subtype was ST3(eight isolates,66.7%),followed by ST1,ST2 and ST7.Laboratory findings between Blastocystis infected and non-infected UC patients were not significantly different.Blastocystisfrequency was 3.8% among the patients in active stage,while it was 11.8% among the patients in remission stage.Conclusions:The present study confirms previous findings that have indicated the predominance of Blastocystis ST3 in humans and contributes additional evidence that suggests the low colonization of Blastocystis infection in ulcerative colitis patients during active stage.

Interleukin (IL) 5 levels and eosinophilia in patients with intestinal parasitic diseases

AIM:Intestinal parasitic diseases are commonly accompanied with diarrhoeal symptoms and allergic reactions.Eosinophilia occurs as a result of IL-5 synthesized from Th2 cells during allergic reactions.IL-5 acts as a factor activating eosinophils. The aim of this study was to compare the IL-5 cytokine measurements in serum samples and cell cultures.And also to compare eosinophilia observed in helminth infections and protozoon infections accompanied with allergy. METHODS:Twenty-three patients who presented with diarrhoeal symptoms and allergic complaints were tested positive for intestinal parasites,as well as 21 controls with allergic complaints who did not have any intestinal parasites were included in this study.IL-5 production in in vitro cell cultures prepared by using phytohemaglutinin (PHA) to stimulate peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) obtained from the blood samples taken from these patients were compared with the IL-5 level in serum.Furthermore, the IL-5 production in protozoon and helminth infections was also compared.Absolute eosinophil values in 1 mm^3 of blood were calculated by means of peripheral smear in both groups within the scope of the study. RESULTS:Parasites such as helminth detected in 15 (65.2%) and protozoon in 8 (34.8%) of the patients were included in this study.As regards the values of the sera in both patients with parasite infection and controls,the IL-5 production was found to be higher in the cell culture supernatant (P<0.001 and P<0.05).When the IL-5 level of the patients with helminth parasites was compared with that of those with protozoon,it was determined that the IL-5 level in serum was more significant in the patients with protozoon than in those with helminth (P<0.05).In the study group,the patients were found to have parasites, the percentage of eosinophil was 7.0% compared to 6.5% in the control group.Thus,there was no significant difference between the eosinophil values (P>0.05). CONCLUSION:It was found that IL-5 cytokine levels in serum samples from the patients with helminth and protozoon displayed more measurable values as compared to the IL-5 levels after stimulation with mitogen.It is concluded that IL-5 acts as a triggering factor in the toxiallergic complaints commonly seen in helminth and protozoon infections.