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Clinical insight
P R O B E
• V o l . L I I I • N o . 3 • A p r – J u n 2 0 1 4
elevated in the gastrointestinal tract
of some forms of inflammatory colitis,
cryptosporidiosis,
E histolytica
-related
diarrhea, and giardiasis. In this study,
the serum level of TNF-
α
was also
significantly higher in infants infected
with parasites than those uninfected.
In addition, the level of infected
infants was significantly lower in the
breastfed group than that in the non-
breastfed group. The serum level of
TNF-
α
in the breastfed group was
also significantly lower than that in
the non-breastfed group with the
same intensity of parasite infections.
TNF-
a
induced nitric oxide
production by macrophages leads to
cytotoxicity of
E histolytica
in vitro.
The serum levels of TNF-
α
of male
infants were significantly lower than
those of female infants in the infected
breastfed group. Gender differences
exist in the incidence, morbidity, and
mortality associated with diseases
with an inflammatory component.
The relationship between TNF-
α
levels and gender will be a topic
for further studies. There were no
significant differences in IgE levels
between parasite-infected males and
females in this study, in agreement
with the previous report. The present
study showed positive relationships
between the intensity of infection and
serum levels of IgE and TNF-
α
in the
breastfed group. Thus, the serum levels
of IgE and TNF-
α
may be a marker
of the intensity of infection and an
indicator for therapy and prognosis in
infants with persistent diarrhea.
The present study revealed the effect
of breastfeeding on lowering the rate
and ameliorating the intensity of
protozoan parasite infections. The
spread of breastfeeding by education
and encouragement of mothers, with
attention to transmission of pathogens
such as human immunodeficiency
virus through breastfeeding, can
prevent protozoan-caused diarrhea,
the main cause of death in infants.
Abdel-Hafeez, et al.
Breast-feeding Protects Against Infantile Diarrhea
