EVALUATION OF B-LYMPHOCYTE MARKER (CD19) AND INTERLEUKIN-4 (IL-4) IN WOMEN INFECTED WITH TRICHOMONAS VAGINALIS

The aim of this investigation was to evaluate the B-lymphocyte subset (CD-19) and interleukin- 4 (IL-4) in women infected with Trichomonas vaginalis. Vaginal swabs, washes and blood specimens were collected from 65 women attending outpatient clinic at Al-Kadhimyia Teaching Hospital in Baghdad suffering from vaginal discharge starting from January 2005, to October 2005. Twenty healthy looking age matched women were also included for control studies. Blood was taken to heparinized tubes and serum was separated. Heparinized blood was used for evaluation of the CD marker, CD-19 using the indirect immunostaining technique. The cytokine IL-4 was evaluated in serum and vaginal washes using the ELISA technique. Trichomonas vaginalis was isolated from 25 women with a prevalence rate of 38.5%. The results of CD marker showed significant differences between the infected women and controls. There was a significant increase in IL-4 in the infected women. It was found that this parasite has the ability to stimulate the cell-mediated immunity which eventually led to production of specific immunoglobulin against Trichomonas vaginalis.