Atopik çocuklarda toxocara canis, toxoplasma gondii, echinococcosus granulosus seroprevalansi ve sağlikli çocuklardan farki

SUMMARY In developed countries, the prevalence of asthma and other allergic diseases has increased significantly over the past century, although this is observed less in developing countries. In developing tropical countries, parasitic infections are an important public health problem. Although epidemiologic studies have shown that these two diseases are inversely related, the relationship between allergic diseases and parasitic diseases is still uncertain. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible relationship between parasitic diseases and atopy, to clarify whether there is a relationship between allergic diseases and the seroprevalence of parasites such as Toxocara canis, Echinococcus granulosus and Toxoplasma gondii and the possible relationship between parasitic diseases and immunopathogenetic mechanisms of atopic diseases. In our study, patients who were followed up with atopic and allergic rhinitis in the policlinic of Pediatric Allergy Science and Respiratory Unit of Celal Bayar University Faculty of Medicine were taken as atopic group. Children in the Pediatrics Polyclinic, who were not sensitized to any of the allergens used in the allergy skin test and did not have any history and symptoms that suggested asthma and allergic rhinitis, were used as a control group. The level of serum total IgE was measured and eosinophil count was done on children in both groups in addition to the allergen skin prick test in order to show whether they had allergic symptoms. Toxocara canis, Echinococcus granulosus and Toxoplasma gondii IgG levels were determined in these two groups. In order to determine the socioeconomic level of the parents, the educational level and profession of the parents were questioned. The socioeconomic level of the parents of the children in the atopic group was higher than parents of the children without atopy. Serum total IgE levels and eosinophil counts of children in the atopic group were significantly higher than control group. There was no difference in the presence of intestinal parasites between the atopic and control groups. There was no difference in the seroprevalence of Toxocara canis between the two groups. Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii was lower in the atopic group than in the control group, but this difference was not statistically significant. We consider that this may arise from comparing only the relationship between a single infection agent and atopy. However, the maturation of Th1 cells in the immune system is caused by a large number of microbial stimuli rather than a single infection. Therefore, similar results were obtained in epidemiological studies in which the effect of a single infection agent on atopy was examined. We found that seroprevalence of Echinoccus granulosus was significantly higher in the atopic group than in the control group. Th2-mediated immunological response and IL-10 mediated tolerance are common features of allergy and Echinococ. The results have shown that Echinococcosis can potentiate Th2 immunological response during childhood atopic diseases. In our study, this relationship between Echinococ seropositivity and increased sensitization to the inhaled allergen suggests that immunological response against Echinococ and predisposition to atopic diseases share probably common mechanisms. The understanding of how immune deviations lead to pathological events is helpful in comparing atopic and parasitic diseases. This relationship between Echinococ and allergy will help to find new therapeutic approaches. Understanding the parasitological and immunological relationship with atopy will help us fighting against the increasing number of allergic diseases. In addition, investigating the effects of parasitic infections on allergies may contribute to elucidating the factors controlling the progression of the disease.