Effect of human milk and colostrum on Entamoeba histolytica.
OBJECTIVE
Many defense factors of the mother's colostrum or milk protect infants from intestinal, respiratory and systemic infections. In the present study, we investigated the effect of colostrum and mature human milk on E. histolytica parasites in vitro.


METHODS
Samples of human milk were collected from 5 healthy lactating mothers. The medium with human milk at concentrations of 2%, 5% and 10% was obtained.


RESULTS
The lethal effect of E. histolytica on the medium supplemented with different concentrations of both colostrum and mature human milk was significant during the first 30 min. We also detected that the results of colostrum and mature human milk were similar. No statistically significant differences were found between same concentrations of colostrum and mature human milk at the same times.


CONCLUSIONS
Colostrum and mature human milk have significant lethal effect on E. histolytica and protect against its infection in breast fed children.
Department of Parasitology, School of Medicine, Dokuz Eylul University, 35340 Inciralti-Izmir, Turkey. ciler.akisu@deu.edu.tr
Ciler
C
Akisu
Umit
U
Aksoy
Hasan
H
Cetin
Sebnem
S
Ustun
Mete
M
Akisu
D000818:Animals; D003126:Colostrum / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology*; D004748:Entamoeba histolytica / Q000254:growth & development / Q000276:immunology*; D004749:Entamoebiasis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007223:Infant; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology*