AIM The role of parasitic infestation in the cause of acute appendicitis has been long time discussed. The aim of this study is to evaluate the role of parasitic infestation in the etiology of acute appendicitis. PATIENTS AND METHODS This retrospective study includes 5.100 patients undergoing surgical therapy for acute appendicitis between 1996 and 2005. Patients were divided into two groups ...

To date the diagnosis of abdominal angiostrongyliasis (AA) depends on the histological identification of Angiostrongylus costaricensis (AC) in surgical specimens. However, microscopic evaluation is time consuming and often fails in identifying the parasite. We tested whether PCR might help in the diagnosis of AA by identifying parasite DNA in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue. We u...

In Thailand, Mae Hong Son Province is highly endemic for malaria. Knowing this, the local Health Department has introduced a program to educate local residents about the risk factors, in particular the dangers and symptoms of malaria. This study was conducted to evaluate these efforts, by determining the number of malaria infections in a segment of the population, and also by testing for entero...

Diagnosis of opisthorchiasis is confirmed by the presence of characteristic eggs and worms. However, misdiagnosis may occur in light infections, and also due to the morphological similarity of opisthorchid eggs to other species. A finding of specific immune mediators can help confirm infection. This study used indirect ELISA to detect total IgG and IgG(1-4) with selected antigens of Bithynia si...

The present study was performed to assess the prevalence of Enterobius vermicularis infection among preschool children in Xinxiang city, Henan province, China and the changes in the egg positive rate for E. vermicularis over a 10 year period. A total of 510 preschool children in 17 kindergartens were examined using the cellophane-tape perianal swab method in 2003, while 1734 preschool children ...

To improve the serodiagnosis of human toxocariasis, a sensitive and specific enzyme-linked immunoelectrotransfer blot (EITB-IgG) test was developed and evaluated using Toxocara canislarvae excretory-secretory antigens for detecting anti-Toxocara IgG antibodies. The EITB-IgG profile of toxocariasis was characterized by comparing 27 sera from patients with toxocariasis, 110 sera from healthy subj...

Background: The Royal College of Pathologists Australasia recommends submission the entire specimen for examination in macroscopically normal appendices, but there is no strong evidence to justify this practice. Methods: All remaining portions 55 appendix specimens with initial unremarkable findings were embedded. slides showing any changes diagnosis independently reviewed by a senior registrar...