Evaluation the Effect of Blastocystis Hominis to the Levels of Ghrelin, Growth Hormone and Lipoproteins in Sera of Patients with Gastrointestinal Manifestations in Baghdad

Abstract

Epidemiological study was conducted to investigate the prevalence of Blastocystis hominis, in Baghdad, Iraq,
for the period from 1 July 2019 to 31 December 2019. The study included examination of 267 stool samples
which collected from patients complained of gastrointestinal manifestations attended to Baghdad Teaching
Hospital and Children Protection Teaching Hospital, in addition to examination of 30 blood samples for
healthy individuals as a control group. It was found that 60 patients (22.5%) were infected with Blastocystis
hominis. Also the study included the effect of this parasite on the levels of growth hormone (GH) and
ghrelin, in addition to some biochemical parameters in the serum of the infected persons and the control
group. These parameters included total serum protein (TSP), albumin, total cholesterol, triglycerides(TG),
high-density lipoproteins-cholesterol(HDL-C), low-density lipoproteins-cholesterol (LDL-C), and very lowdensity lipoproteins (VLDL), and the results showed a significant decrease (P<0.05) in concentrations of
ghrelin hormone, albumin, and HDL, while a significant increase (P<0.05) was observed in concentrations
of growth hormone, total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL-C, and VLDL.