The use of gaita calprotectin level in the diagnosis of gastroenterites

Calprotectin is a calcium binding cytoplasmic neutrophil protein and stimulates the immunomodulation and antibacterial effects of the neutrophil. The presence of calprotectin levels in stool is a good indicator of inflammation. It is elevated in a number of inflammatory conditions such as bacterial enteritis and inflammatory bowel disease. Although it is accepted in the classical sense that there is no inflammation in viral gastroenteritis, this study was conducted with the aim of questioning the evidence of inflammation in viral gastroenteritis with a sensitive parameter. Samples sent to Gaziantep University Şahinbey Research and Application Hospital Microbiology Laboratory between June-November 2020 for the purpose of diagnosing Adenovirus, Rotavirus and Norovirus were included in the study. Cassette tests, which work with the principle of immunochromocographic method in detecting viral agents in stool samples, were studied in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations. Rotavirus and Adenovirus tests (Biomedica Diagnostic, Spain) were studied on a single cassette and the RIDA QUICK Norovirus test (Biopharm, Germany) on a separate cassette. With a prevalence of 5%, the minimum number of samples that should be included in the study was 73. 73 samples with positive viral parameters (test group) and 73 samples with negative viral parameters were included in the study. The calprotectin level in all samples was studied with the immunochromotagraphic Call Fast (Eurospital, Italy) kit, where quantitative results were obtained by reading the reaction in the test cassettes on a reader. Test result <70 µg / gr was considered negative. Of the patients included in the study and positive in any of the viral parameters, 34 were female (46.6%), 39 (53.4%) were male, and 68 (93.2%) were <18 years old. In the negative group of virological parameters taken as the control group, the gender and age distribution was found to be 32 (43.8%) female, 41 (56.2%) male and 63 (87.7%) <18 years, respectively. There was no statistical difference between them. Calprotectin was found to be positive in 33 samples (45.2%) in the test group and 12 samples (17.8%) in the control group. A statistically significant difference was found between positive and negative calprotectin levels between the test group and the control group (p <0.05). Calprotectin level was found to be high in patients with viral gastroenteritis in this study, and it is thought that more studies should be conducted to examine the inflammatory response in viral gastroenteritis.Keywords: Package chicken, Campylobacter, Salmonella, Public Health, Food Safety.