CYTOKINE PRODUCTION BY PERIPHERAL BLOOD MONONUCLEAR CELLS OF SCHISTOSOMIASIS PATIENTS

Abstract

Schistosomiasis is endemic iiJ Egypt and leads to serious complications. The infection of the human host by Schistosoma mansoni is characterized in most cases by mild forms of the disease or asymptomatic infection (intestinal schistosomiasis), whereas in a few individuals (10- 15 %) severe forms of the disease (hepatosplenic schistosomiasis) develops (Mahmoud, 1981). This work was done on 20 patients infected with S. mansoni and 15 normal control subjects in order to assess humoral and cellular responses against a recombinant candidate vaccine antigen (Sm20.8). • The control subjects were 15 healthy individuals,

6 females and 9 males with age range between 17 and

42 years.

• The diseased persons were selected from the inpatient clinic of the Tropical Medicine Research Institute. They included :- 1- Eight hepatointestinal schistosomiasis patients excreting

variable numbers of eggs with or without hepatomegaly, diarrhea and bloody stools. They were 1 female and 7 males, their age ranged between 20 and 55 years.

2- Twelve hepatosplenic schistosomiasis patients with markedly enlarged spleens and enlarged livers. Ultrasounographic examination of some these patients revealed periportal fibrosis and ascites.