[Role of blood platelets in parasitic diseases]

A Panasiuk1, J Matowicka-Karna

  • 1Klinika Obserwacyjno - Zakaźna, Instytut Diagnostyki Laboratoryjnej Akademii Medycznej w Bialymstoku, 15-540 Białystok, Zurawia.

Blood platelet are of crucial importance in hemostasis. Little attention has been paid to their bacteriocidal activity and their potential role in parasitic infections. Activation of blood platelets may result from direct contact with a parasite or IgE, IgG, complement factors, lymphokines, CRP. Blood platelets reveale cytotoxic activity through release various inflamatory mediators, phagocitic activity and cooperation with other cells of immunologic system. The precise mechanism of all platelet cytotoxic effects remains unclear.

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