ABSTRACT

Schistosomiasis, also known as bilharzia, is an infection caused by a parasitic worm that lives in fresh water such as ponds, lakes, rivers, reservoirs, and canals in subtropical and tropical regions. 

Female genital schistosomiasis is a complication of Schistosomiasis caused by Schistosoma haematobium, a waterborne parasite that affects both the urinary and genital tract of infected individuals. Pathological changes due to infection with Schistosoma haematobium include cytokine-mediated urinary tract inflammation. The involved cytokines maybe excreted in urine and their presence in urine may therefore reflect Schistosoma haematobium-related urinary tract pathology. Cytokines are therefore any of a number of substances, such as interferon, interleukin, and growth factors, which are secreted by certain cells of the immune system and have an effect on other cells.

 The purpose of this research is to determine the level of INF-γ in infected and non-infected individuals. In order to carry-out this research, samples such as urine, vaginal secretion and blood of females in the Magba community was collected through a number of ways and analyzed using lab analysis such as the PCR analysis, microscopical analysis and cytokine analysis to detect the presence of Schistosoma haematobium and cytokine concentration. The results obtained were analyzed using T-test (two sample T-test with unequal variance) and the P-value for both serum and vaginal secretion was found to be less than the significance level. This result confirmed that INF-γ level in blood and serum was low in the infected population compared to the healthy population.

BIOCHEMISTRY PROJECT TOPICS WITH MATERIALS