Human toxocariasis is a helminth zoonosis resulting from accidental infection of humans by the roundworms Toxocara canis (T. canis) and cati (T. cati). The infection occurs in five forms: systemic (VLM), ocular, neurological, covert and asymptomatic. The aim of this study was to characterize the radiological and immunological findings in hepatic inflammation during the course of systemic infection by Toxocara sp. in children. Fifteen children, 2 to 17 years of age, with serological diagnosis of T. canis infection underwent abdominal ultrasonography and computer tomography (CT). Eosinophil counts, immunoglobulin E titres, interleukins IL-1α, IL-4, Il-6, IL-10 and interferon gamma were measured for all patients. Abdominal ultrasound revealed multiple hypoechoic areas in the livers of all patients. On the CT images, the hepatic lesions were seen as multiple, ill-defined, oval low-attenuating nodules that measured 6 to 9 millimetres in diameter. The nodules were usually best seen in the portal venous phase and were not seen on arterial-phase images. Significant intergroup differences were observed in the concentrations of IL-1α, IL-4, IL-6 and IL-10. The level of IFN-γ was not significantly elevated in patient sera relative to controls. The analysis shows that the production of anti-inflammatory cytokines is insufficient for granuloma formation in children presenting liver lesions in the course of VLM.
Infections with human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) are widely spread worldwide. A clinical picture of the infection varies and depends on the age of the patient and the condition of the immune system. Rapid dissemination of HCMV is related to the presence of the virus in the peripheral blood cells. The most severe course of the disease is observed in patients with congenital cytomegaly, organ transplant recipients and patients with either acquired or inborn immune deficiencies. Chronic HCMV infection may lead to atherosclerosis and as a consequence, to cardiovascular diseases such as: myocardial ischemia or infarction and hypertension. In addition, the relation between HCMV infection and neoplastic transformation was noticed. Since diagnostic and therapeutic methods are still imperfect, a development of an effective vaccine seems to be of key importance for a significant reduction of the consequences of HCMV infection.
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