Thesis (M.Sc.) - Cairo University -Faculty of Pharmacy - Department of Microbiology and Immunology

Intestinal schistosomiasis and hepatitis C viral (HCV) infections are endemic in Egypt with the highest prevalence worldwide. Co-infections are common in Egypt leading to severe liver diseases. Several studies have been concerned with the characterization of immune responses in S. mansoni/HCV co-infection in relation to treatment. The different natures of viral and parasitic infections have raised questions on how the immune system combats HCV/S. mansoni co-infection. Thus, many studies were undergone to address this particular question. Although studies on genetic polymorphism in interleukin 28B (IL-28B) gene had shown promising results in predicting a HCV patient{u2019}s response to antiviral therapy, IL-28B plasma levels role in treatment-naïve chronic co-infection is still not clear. Therefore, a case-control study was performed to investigate the behaviour and correlation between IL-28B and gamma interferon (IFN-Þ), two distinguished immune markers in both HCV and S. mansoni infections. The study included a total of 126 patients recruited from Cairo and Nile Delta attending Kasr Al-Aini Hospital, Cairo, Egypt 2012{u2013} 2014. Subjects (n = 107) meeting our inclusion criteria, 57% from Cairo and 43% from Nile Delta, were divided to three groups; treatment-naïve chronic HCV-4 patients (n = 50), S. mansoni/HCV co-infected patients (n = 22) and healthy controls (n = 35). Clinical history and liver function markers were determined for each participant. Plasma levels of IL-28B and IFN-Þ were assayed for all participants by ELISA. HCV viral load was quantified using Real-Time PCR. In addition, plasma anti-schistosoma antibody titers were assayed along with rectal snips and microscopic stool examination for identification of viable S. mansoni viable eggs in feces

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