Journal of

Background and Aim: Human Giardisis infection is caused by the flagellate protozoa. Giardia lamblia, which lives in the small intestine, causing damage and may also cause gastrointestinal symptoms. This parasitic disease has a worldwide distribution and prevalence varies from 5% to 30%. The role of both humeral and cellular immune response in the host defense against parasites has proven. Since an immune response is directly affected by cytokine, study of cytokines changes in patients with giardiosis is of particular importance.

Materials and Methods: In this study the serum levels of IL-2 - 4 - 6 to 17 and 23 in patients and healthy subjects were measured and compared. Fasting blood samples were taken from the volunteers, ELISA was performed to measure cytokines.

Results: In this study, the amount of IL-2 and IL-6 in infected patients was significantly more than the controls, but IL-4 levels were significantly lower in infected individuals (P=0.0001). Also for the first time in people with giardiasis IL-17 and IL-23 was measured and there was a significant aifference in these cytokines between the infected patients healthy controls(respectively P=0.044 and P=0.03)

Conclusion: Host defense response against parasitic infections, is directly and affected by cytokines. Increased interleukin 2, 6, 17 and 23 in patients with Giardiosis was probably caused by immune response and local intestinal inflammation.

Background and Aim: Giardiasis is the most common pathogenic gastrointestinal parasite worldwide and transmitted by ingesting parasite cyst, through water and food and person-to-person contact. Therefore in food handlers and child care workers it is of high importance. In this study we surveyed the job of individuals with giardiasis.
Materials and Methods: This study was a pilot descriptive-analytic study. Hundred and nine stool samples were collected from individuals referred to medical centers affiliated to Tehran University of Medical Sciences for health certificate. 
Samples were examined with wet mount smear and formol-ether concentration methods. Also a questionnaire was given to each individual.
Results: Sixty nine samples were infected with Giardia lamblia. among positive samples for Giardia lamblia 25 (36.23%) were related to food handlers and occupations which are most  frequently associated with food, one (1.44%) nurse, one (1.44%) managing director of the nursery, two (2.89%) housekeepers  and one servant (1.44%).
Conclusion: Person-to-person Giardia lamblia transmission is often associated with poor hygiene and sanitation, most commonly by food handlers.
Also, day- care workers have a higher risk of infecting children attending day-care centers. Therefore particular attention should be paid to health of this workers as well as three times stool examination.