Level of eosinophil cationic protein in Strongyloides stercoralis infection in Najaf province/Iraq

Abstract

The eosinophil cationic protein (ECP), which is stored in the secretory granules of eosinophils, has a cytolytic actions against parasites and some other pathogens. Infection with Strongyloides stercoralis (thread worm) was diagnosed by direct fecal smear and formal-ether concentration. Serum ECP levels were measured by ECP assay kit (Mesacup ECP test) for 40 patients infected with thread worm and compared with same numbers of healthy patients. There was a significant increase of ECP sera levels of patients (66.358± 0.861 ng ̸ ml) (p˂0.05) when compared to that of control group (10.962±0.635 ng ̸ml). There were no significant differences of ECP in relation to sex and age (p˃0.05). This study aimed to assess serum ECP in relation to threadworm infection and their potential activity as a biological marker for infection.