Document Type : Original Articles
Authors
1
Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.
2
Department of Immunology, Blood Research Center in the Egyptian Armed Forces, Cairo, Egypt.
10.32598/ARI.80.5.3374
Abstract
Introduction: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a viral infection affecting 71 million people worldwide. A high prevalence of co-infection has been observed with parasitic infections, such as Schistosoma mansoni, Fasciola sp., and Toxoplasma gondii, all of which can contribute to the progression of liver disease. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of co-parasitic infections with HCV-positive individuals within Egyptian populations and the resulting biochemical changes in liver and kidney biomarkers.
Materials and Methods: A total of three hundred and thirty-seven blood samples were screened molecularly for HCV and immunologically for parasitic infections using PCR and ELISA, respectively. Liver functions were monitored by measuring serum levels of glutamic oxaloacetic aminotransferase (GOT), glutamate pyruvate alanine aminotransferase (GPT), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), total protein (TP), albumin (Alb), total bilirubin (T Bil), and alkaline phosphatase (ALK). Kidney functions were evaluated by measuring creatinine, uric acid, urea, sodium (Na), and potassium (K) levels. Patients were categorized by gender and age <21, 21-50, and >50 years. Results indicated that 120 out of 287 HCV-infected cases (41.8%) have Schistosoma infection, of which 57, 31, 24, and 8 cases were mono-infected and co-infected with Fasciola, Toxoplasma, and Fasciola/Toxoplasma, respectively Additionally, 99 patients (34.5%) were infected with Fasciola hepatica infection, of which 51 were mono-infected and 9 were co-infected with Toxoplasma.
Results: A total of 87 patients (30.3%) tested positive for T. gondii infection, of which 46 cases were mono-infected. Additionally, the proportion of male patients with monoparasitic infection ranged from 78.2% (Toxoplasma) and 84.3% (S. mansoni or F. hepatica). On the other hand, the highest incidences of single infections among males (Fasciola and Toxoplasma) were over the age of 50 years for Fasciola (43.1%) and Toxoplasma (39.1%), respectively. In contrast, S. mansoni mono-infection was most prevalent (42.1%) among males aged 21–50 years.
Conclusion: Liver enzyme levels (GPT, GOT, Alk, and GGT) and kidney parameters (creatinine and urea) were significantly affected by the type (mono or mixed) and species of parasitic infections in HCV patients. Additionally, most serological parameters were significantly in cases of viral/parasitic co-infections, especially, among patients with high viral loads.
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