Breast-Feeding Protects Infantile Diarrhea Caused by Intestinal Protozoan Infections

• Published in: Korean journal of parasitology 2013-10, Vol.51 (5), p.519-524
• Main Authors: Abdel-Hafeez, E.H., Minia University, Minia, Egypt, Belal, U.S., Minia University, Minia, Egypt, Abdellatif, M.Z., Minia University, Minia, Egypt, Naoi, K., Medical Corporation Kohitsujikai, Chiba, Japan, Norose, K., Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antigens, Protozoan - analysis; Antigens, Protozoan - immunology; BLASTOCYSTIS; CRYPTOSPORIDIUM; DIARREA; Diarrhea, Infantile - diagnosis; Diarrhea, Infantile - parasitology; DIARRHEE; DIARRHOEA; Entamoeba; Entamoeba histolytica - isolation & purification; Entamoeba histolytica, Entamoeba dispar, Giardia lamblia, breast-feeding, breast milk, intestinal protozoa, IgE, TNF-α; Entamoebiasis - diagnosis; Entamoebiasis - parasitology; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Feces - parasitology; Female; GIARDIA DUODENALIS; Giardia lamblia; Giardiasis - diagnosis; Giardiasis - parasitology; Humans; Infant; Intestines - parasitology; Original; Protozoan Infections - diagnosis; Protozoan Infections - parasitology; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha - metabolism
• ISSN: 0023-4001; 1738-0006; 1738-0006
• DOI: 10.3347/kjp.2013.51.5.519

This study investigated the effect of breast-feeding in protection against protozoan infection in infants with persistent diarrhea. Infants were classified into 2 groups; 161 breast-fed infants and the same number of non-breast-fed infants. Microscopic examinations of stool were done for detection of parasites and measuring the intensity of infection. Moreover, serum levels of IgE and TNF-α were measured by ELISA. Cryptosporidium spp., Entamoeba histolytica/Entamoeba dispar, Giardia lamblia, and Blastocystis sp. were demonstrated in infants with persistent diarrhea. The percentage of protozoan infections was significantly lower in breast-fed infants than that in the non-breast-fed infants. The levels of IgE and TNF-α were significantly lower in the breast-fed group than in the non-breast-fed group. There were significant positive associations between the serum levels of IgE and TNF-α and the intensity of parasite infection in the breast-fed group. It is suggested that breast-feeding has an attenuating effect on the rate and intensity of parasite infection.