title: Intestinal parasitic infection and total serum IgG in asymptomatic adult males in an urban slum and efficacy of antiparasitic therapy.
abstract: Malnutrition is thought to potentiate the polyclonal stimulation of IgE by parasites. This diminishes immunity due to the decrease in specific anti-parasitic IgE. Prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections in chronically undernourished, asymptomatic adult males from a slum and efficacy of anti-parasitic therapy and its effect on total serum IgE were evaluated. Stool specimens from 51 subjects were examined. Anti-helminth and anti-protozoan therapy consisted of oral, single dose albendazole (400mg) and tinidazole (2g) respectively. Total serum IgE was measured. 23 (45.1%) subjects were positive. Albendazole and tinidazole cleared intestinal parasites but had no significant effect on total serum IgE levels.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, St. John's Medical College, Bangalore - 560 034, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nagaraj
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Raghavan
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Macaden
authors.forename: A V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Kurpad