Abstract
Background. Parasitic infections are public health dilemma especially in developing countries. Immune system plays integral role in controlling and clearing these infections. Some chemotherapeutic agents used in cancer treatment damage body's anatomical barriers, damage rapidly dividing cells as blood cells or suppress bone marrow. Treatment with radiation, even if administered to limited target volume, causes immune dysfunction due to decrease in T and B lymphocytes. For these reasons infections were documented as one of most significant complications of therapy and major cause of mortality among cancer patients. This study was performed to estimate prevalence of enteric opportunistic parasites in Egyptian cancer patients.
Methods. Two hundred patients were included and divided into 4 groups. Group A: 50 patients with hematological malignancies treated with chemotherapy. Group B: 50 patients with solid tumors treated with chemotherapy. Group C: 50 patients with solid tumors treated with radiation. Group D (control group): 50 patients free of malignancy but having GIT complaints. Different techniques were used to detect parasites including direct smear, ethyl-acetate concentration, staining with modified Ziehl Nelson and modified trichrome stains, culture on Jone's media and culture on Nutrient Agar and Harrada Mori.
Results. Opportunistic parasites were more prevalent in cancer patients (57%) than in control group (43%) maybe due to reduction in local and cell-mediated responses in immunosuppressed patients that may favor establishment of some organisms. Blastocystis hominis was most prevalent protozoon in neoplastic patients (28.5%) followed by Cryptosporidium spp (23.5%), Microsporidium spp (9.5%), Cyclospora cayetanensis (2.5%) while least opportunistic parasite detected was Isospora belli (0.5%). Strongolyides stercolaris was not detected in any sample. Patients treated with radiation had higher rates of infection (68%) than those treated with chemotherapy (52%). Patients having solid organ tumors had significantly higher rates of infection (63%) than those with hematological malignancies (46%).
Conclusion. This study highlights importance of routine screening for enteric opportunistic parasites in cancer and immune suppressed patients as this may be a treatable cause of some of patients' symptoms.
Methods. Two hundred patients were included and divided into 4 groups. Group A: 50 patients with hematological malignancies treated with chemotherapy. Group B: 50 patients with solid tumors treated with chemotherapy. Group C: 50 patients with solid tumors treated with radiation. Group D (control group): 50 patients free of malignancy but having GIT complaints. Different techniques were used to detect parasites including direct smear, ethyl-acetate concentration, staining with modified Ziehl Nelson and modified trichrome stains, culture on Jone's media and culture on Nutrient Agar and Harrada Mori.
Results. Opportunistic parasites were more prevalent in cancer patients (57%) than in control group (43%) maybe due to reduction in local and cell-mediated responses in immunosuppressed patients that may favor establishment of some organisms. Blastocystis hominis was most prevalent protozoon in neoplastic patients (28.5%) followed by Cryptosporidium spp (23.5%), Microsporidium spp (9.5%), Cyclospora cayetanensis (2.5%) while least opportunistic parasite detected was Isospora belli (0.5%). Strongolyides stercolaris was not detected in any sample. Patients treated with radiation had higher rates of infection (68%) than those treated with chemotherapy (52%). Patients having solid organ tumors had significantly higher rates of infection (63%) than those with hematological malignancies (46%).
Conclusion. This study highlights importance of routine screening for enteric opportunistic parasites in cancer and immune suppressed patients as this may be a treatable cause of some of patients' symptoms.
| Original language | English |
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| Publication status | Published (in print/issue) - 24 Oct 2016 |
