Hussain R, Jaferi W, Zuberi S, Baqai R, Abrar N, Ahmed A, Zaman V
Department of Microbiology, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan.
Am J Trop Med Hyg. 1997 Mar;56(3):301-6. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.1997.56.301.
Blastocystis hominis is a common intestinal parasite of humans in the tropics whose pathogenic role is in dispute. Its presence has been reported in a variety of intestinal disorders resembling irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) such as diarrhea, anorexia, and flatulence. We have therefore investigated a possible link between IBS and blastocystosis by determining IgG antibody levels to B. hominis in patients with IBS. Levels of IgG antibodies were significantly elevated in patients with IBS compared with asymptomatic controls (P < 0.0001, by Student's t-test) in both B. hominis stool culture-positive and stool culture-negative IBS patients. When IgG antibodies were divided into their respective subclasses, only IgG2 levels were significantly increased in IBS patients compared with asymptomatic controls, indicating that the predominant response in these patients may be directed to carbohydrate antigens. The diagnostic usefulness of this test in IBS patients remains to be established because these data are only suggestive of a possible link between B. hominis and IBS. However, we hope that this antibody test will help in elucidating the controversy that surrounds the role of B. hominis as a pathogen at present.
人芽囊原虫是热带地区人类常见的肠道寄生虫，其致病作用存在争议。在各种类似肠易激综合征（IBS）的肠道疾病如腹泻、厌食和肠胃胀气中均有其存在的报道。因此，我们通过测定IBS患者中人芽囊原虫的IgG抗体水平，研究了IBS与芽囊原虫病之间可能存在的联系。在人芽囊原虫粪便培养阳性和粪便培养阴性的IBS患者中，与无症状对照组相比，IBS患者的IgG抗体水平均显著升高（通过Student's t检验，P < 0.0001）。当将IgG抗体分为各自的亚类时，与无症状对照组相比，IBS患者中仅IgG2水平显著升高，这表明这些患者的主要反应可能针对碳水化合物抗原。由于这些数据仅提示人芽囊原虫与IBS之间可能存在联系，该检测在IBS患者中的诊断价值仍有待确定。然而，我们希望这种抗体检测将有助于阐明目前围绕人芽囊原虫作为病原体的作用所存在的争议。
