Enas Fakhry Abdel-Hamed1, Mohamed N Ibrahim2, Nahed E Mostafa3, Howayda S F Moawad3, Nahla E Elgammal4, Ehab M Darwiesh4, Dina S El-Rafey5, Nissreen E ElBadawy6, Emad Ali Al-Khoufi7, Salwa I Hindawi8. 1. Medical Parasitology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, El Kawmia Square, Zagazig, 44511, Sharkia Governorate, Egypt. enas_refae1983@yahoo.com. 2. Clinical Laboratories Department, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Jouf University, Al-Jouf, 77451, Saudi Arabia. 3. Medical Parasitology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, El Kawmia Square, Zagazig, 44511, Sharkia Governorate, Egypt. 4. Tropical Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, 44511, Egypt. 5. Community, Environmental and Occupational Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, 44511, Egypt. 6. Microbiology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, 44511, Egypt. 7. Internal Medicine Department, College of Medicine, King Faisal University, 31982, Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia. 8. Haematology and Transfusion Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, 21577, Saudi Arabia.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: By 27 June 2020, almost half a million people had died due to COVID-19 infections. The susceptibility and severity of infection vary significantly across nations. The contribution of chronic viral and parasitic infections to immune homeostasis remains a concern. By investigating the role of interferon (IFN)-γ, we conducted this study to understand the connection between the decrease in numbers and severity of COVID-19 cases within parasitic endemic regions. Our research included 375 patients referred to hospitals for diagnosis of COVID-19 infection. Patients were subjected to full investigations, in particular severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 nucleic acid and Toxoplasma IgM and IgG antibody detection, stool examination, and quantitative IFN-γ measurement. RESULTS: The majority of the studied cases had chest manifestation either alone (54.7%) or in association with gastrointestinal (GIT) manifestations (19.7%), whereas 25.6% had GIT symptoms. We reported parasitic infections in 72.8% of mild COVID-19 cases and 20.7% of severe cases. Toxoplasma gondii, Cryptosporidium, Blastocyst, and Giardia were the most common parasitic infections among the COVID-19 cases studied. CONCLUSION: The remarkable adaptation of human immune response to COVID-19 infection by parasitic infections with high levels of IFN-γ was observed in moderate cases compared with low levels in extreme cases. The potential therapeutic efforts aimed at the role of parasitic infection in immune system modulation are needed if this hypothesis is confirmed.
BACKGROUND: By 27 June 2020, almost half a million people had died due to COVID-19infections. The susceptibility and severity of infection vary significantly across nations. The contribution of chronic viral and parasitic infections to immune homeostasis remains a concern. By investigating the role of interferon (IFN)-γ, we conducted this study to understand the connection between the decrease in numbers and severity of COVID-19 cases within parasitic endemic regions. Our research included 375 patients referred to hospitals for diagnosis of COVID-19infection. Patients were subjected to full investigations, in particular severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 nucleic acid and Toxoplasma IgM and IgG antibody detection, stool examination, and quantitative IFN-γ measurement. RESULTS: The majority of the studied cases had chest manifestation either alone (54.7%) or in association with gastrointestinal (GIT) manifestations (19.7%), whereas 25.6% had GIT symptoms. We reported parasitic infections in 72.8% of mild COVID-19 cases and 20.7% of severe cases. Toxoplasma gondii, Cryptosporidium, Blastocyst, and Giardia were the most common parasitic infections among the COVID-19 cases studied. CONCLUSION: The remarkable adaptation of human immune response to COVID-19infection by parasitic infections with high levels of IFN-γ was observed in moderate cases compared with low levels in extreme cases. The potential therapeutic efforts aimed at the role of parasitic infection in immune system modulation are needed if this hypothesis is confirmed.
Authors: Gonzalo Luengo-Alonso; Fernando García-Seisdedos Pérez-Tabernero; Miguel Tovar-Bazaga; José Manuel Arguello-Cuenca; Emilio Calvo Journal: Int Orthop Date: 2020-05-30 Impact factor: 3.075
Authors: Hoai Thi Thu Tran; Philipp Peterburs; Jan Seibel; D Abramov-Sommariva; Evelyn Lamy Journal: Evid Based Complement Alternat Med Date: 2022-09-06 Impact factor: 2.650