IL-8 is a valuable laboratory marker for detection of amoebiasis severity

Abstract

Background: Amoebiasis is caused by Entamoeba histolytica and is an important human parasitic disease. IL-8, also known as neutrophils chemotactic factor, induces chemotaxis in target cells. The aim of current study was to assess using IL-8 as a laboratory marker for amoebiasis severity. Methods: Sixty three cases with clinical diagnosis of amoebiasis were selected in addition to 26 apparently healthy controls with negative diagnosis of amoebiasis. For both cases and controls, general stool examination using wet mount and assessment of IL-8 were done using IL-8 ELISA kit (Biosource ) according to manufacture instructions. Student's t-test was used to compare the mean and standard deviation and P value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: This study showed that in patients less than 15 years old, the incidence of amoebiasis was 52.94 % in males and 47.06% in females with no statistical significance (P value >0.05) while in those more than 15 years old, incidence of amoebiasis was 82.75% in males and 17.24% in females with statistical significance at P value <0.05). The mean±SD IL-8(pg/ml) was 153.23±28.47 in those who had pus cells +++ (30 pus cell /HPF) with statistical significance (P value <0.05).While the mean±SD IL-8(pg/ml) was 168.49±41.47 in patients with mild amoebiasis, it was (233.45±29.66pg/ml) in patients with severe amoebiasis with statistical significance (P value <0.05). Conclusion: Amoebiasis has a male predominance in those more than 15 years old. IL-8 is a valuable laboratory marker that can be used for detection of severity of amoebic colitis and it is a helpful laboratory marker to differentiate mild from severe amoebiasis.