Identification of Candida cultured from various clinical specimens to the species level is increasingly necessary for clinical laboratories. Although sn PCR identifies the species within hours but its cost-effectiveness is to be considered. So there is always a need for media which help in the isolation and identification at the species level. The study aimed to evaluate the performance of different chromogenic media and to compare the effectiveness of the traditional phenotypic methods vs. seminested polymerase chain reaction (sn PCR) for identification of Candida species. One hundred and twenty seven Candida strains isolated from various clinical specimens were identified by conventional methods, four different chromogenic media and sn PCR. HiCrome Candida Differential and CHROMagar Candida media showed comparably high sensitivities and specificities in the identification of C. albicans, C. tropicalis, C. glabrata and C. krusei. CHROMagar Candida had an extra advantage of identifying all C. parapsilosis isolates. CHROMagar-Pal’s medium identified C. albicans, C. tropicalis and C. krusei with high sensitivities and specificities, but couldn’t identify C. glabrata or C. parapsilosis. It was the only medium that identified C. dubliniensis with a sensitivity and specificity of 100%. Biggy agar showed the least sensitivities and specificities. The overall concordance of the snPCR compared to the conventional tests including CHROMAgar Candida in the identification of Candida species was 97.5%. The use of CHROMAgar Candida medium is an easy and accurate method for presumptive identification of the most commonly encountered Candida spp.

Background and study aims: The pathophysiology of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) remains elusive. In countries where enteric parasitic infection is common, its role in the development of IBS is controversial. Parasites induce the Th2 immune response that elaborates cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-5, which causes eosinophilia. Eosinophilic cationic protein (ECP) is one of the mediators released during the activation of eosinophils. This study aims to determine the relationship between symptoms suggestive of IBS and parasitic infection in IBS patients and to evaluate the serum levels of IL-5, ECP and eosinophilic count as potentially useful serological tests in those patients. Patients and methods: Thirty-five IBS patients fulfilling Rome II criteria with absence of intestinal helminthic infection by direct smear method and no history of associated allergic conditions were studied. Ten healthy controls were included. Microscopic examination of stools for intestinal parasites, eosinophilic count and erythrocyte sedimentation rate were done. Colonoscopy was performed to rule out inflammatory bowel changes. Serum levels of IL-5 and ECP were measured. Results: Intestinal parasitic infection was present in 37% (13/35) of IBS patients vs. 20% (2/10) in controls. Of the 35 IBS patients, 13 (37%) had protozoal infection. Mean eosinophilic count, IL-5 level and ECP were significantly higher in IBS patients than in controls. Eosinophilic count and ECP serum level were significantly high in IBS patients with parasitic infection. Conclusion: A significant number of patients with symptoms suggestive of IBS demonstrated evidence of parasitic infection in their stool samples. The IL-5 serum level, eosinophilic count and ECP serum level might be useful tests for detecting parasitic infection aetiology in IBS patients after exclusion of conditions inducing the Th2 response. Larger case-controlled studies are required to clearly define the parasitic pathophysiology in IBS.

Background and study aims: The pathophysiology of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) remains elusive. In countries where enteric parasitic infection is common, its role in the development of IBS is controversial. Parasites induce the Th2 immune response that elaborates cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-5, which causes eosinophilia. Eosinophilic cationic protein (ECP) is one of the mediators released during the activation of eosinophils. This study aims to determine the relationship between symptoms suggestive of IBS and parasitic infection in IBS patients and to evaluate the serum levels of IL-5, ECP and eosinophilic count as potentially useful serological tests in those patients. Patients and methods: Thirty-five IBS patients fulfilling Rome II criteria with absence of intestinal helminthic infection by direct smear method and no history of associated allergic conditions were studied. Ten healthy controls were included. Microscopic examination of stools for intestinal parasites, eosinophilic count and erythrocyte sedimentation rate were done. Colonoscopy was performed to rule out inflammatory bowel changes. Serum levels of IL-5 and ECP were measured. Results: Intestinal parasitic infection was present in 37% (13/35) of IBS patients vs. 20% (2/10) in controls. Of the 35 IBS patients, 13 (37%) had protozoal infection. Mean eosinophilic count, IL-5 level and ECP were significantly higher in IBS patients than in controls. Eosinophilic count and ECP serum level were significantly high in IBS patients with parasitic infection. Conclusion: A significant number of patients with symptoms suggestive of IBS demonstrated evidence of parasitic infection in their stool samples. The IL-5 serum level, eosinophilic count and ECP serum level might be useful tests for detecting parasitic infection aetiology in IBS patients after exclusion of conditions inducing the Th2 response. Larger case-controlled studies are required to clearly define the parasitic pathophysiology in IBS.

Background and study aims: The pathophysiology of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) remains elusive. In countries where enteric parasitic infection is common, its role in the development of IBS is controversial. Parasites induce the Th2 immune response that elaborates cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-5, which causes eosinophilia. Eosinophilic cationic protein (ECP) is one of the mediators released during the activation of eosinophils. This study aims to determine the relationship between symptoms suggestive of IBS and parasitic infection in IBS patients and to evaluate the serum levels of IL-5, ECP and eosinophilic count as potentially useful serological tests in those patients. Patients and methods: Thirty-five IBS patients fulfilling Rome II criteria with absence of intestinal helminthic infection by direct smear method and no history of associated allergic conditions were studied. Ten healthy controls were included. Microscopic examination of stools for intestinal parasites, eosinophilic count and erythrocyte sedimentation rate were done. Colonoscopy was performed to rule out inflammatory bowel changes. Serum levels of IL-5 and ECP were measured. Results: Intestinal parasitic infection was present in 37% (13/35) of IBS patients vs. 20% (2/10) in controls. Of the 35 IBS patients, 13 (37%) had protozoal infection. Mean eosinophilic count, IL-5 level and ECP were significantly higher in IBS patients than in controls. Eosinophilic count and ECP serum level were significantly high in IBS patients with parasitic infection. Conclusion: A significant number of patients with symptoms suggestive of IBS demonstrated evidence of parasitic infection in their stool samples. The IL-5 serum level, eosinophilic count and ECP serum level might be useful tests for detecting parasitic infection aetiology in IBS patients after exclusion of conditions inducing the Th2 response. Larger case-controlled studies are required to clearly define the parasitic pathophysiology in IBS.

Background and study aims: The pathophysiology of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) remains elusive. In countries where enteric parasitic infection is common, its role in the development of IBS is controversial. Parasites induce the Th2 immune response that elaborates cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-5, which causes eosinophilia. Eosinophilic cationic protein (ECP) is one of the mediators released during the activation of eosinophils. This study aims to determine the relationship between symptoms suggestive of IBS and parasitic infection in IBS patients and to evaluate the serum levels of IL-5, ECP and eosinophilic count as potentially useful serological tests in those patients. Patients and methods: Thirty-five IBS patients fulfilling Rome II criteria with absence of intestinal helminthic infection by direct smear method and no history of associated allergic conditions were studied. Ten healthy controls were included. Microscopic examination of stools for intestinal parasites, eosinophilic count and erythrocyte sedimentation rate were done. Colonoscopy was performed to rule out inflammatory bowel changes. Serum levels of IL-5 and ECP were measured. Results: Intestinal parasitic infection was present in 37% (13/35) of IBS patients vs. 20% (2/10) in controls. Of the 35 IBS patients, 13 (37%) had protozoal infection. Mean eosinophilic count, IL-5 level and ECP were significantly higher in IBS patients than in controls. Eosinophilic count and ECP serum level were significantly high in IBS patients with parasitic infection. Conclusion: A significant number of patients with symptoms suggestive of IBS demonstrated evidence of parasitic infection in their stool samples. The IL-5 serum level, eosinophilic count and ECP serum level might be useful tests for detecting parasitic infection aetiology in IBS patients after exclusion of conditions inducing the Th2 response. Larger case-controlled studies are required to clearly define the parasitic pathophysiology in IBS.