A study on the aetiological factors of bilharzial bladder cancer in Egypt. 3. Urinary β-glucuronidase

Human tissues and E. coli β-glucuronidase showed distinct differences in their properties with respect to substrate specificity, pH optima and effect of different agents. E. coli and pseudomonas sp. the most commonly occurring bacteria in the urine of bilharzial and bladder cancer patients showed markedly high levels of β-glucuronidase. Increased level of β-glucuronidase activity had been found in the urine of bilharzial and bladder cancer patients compared to that of normal urine. β-glucuronidase in urine showed two peaks of activity one was found to be of tissue origin and the other of bacterial origin, with optimal activity at pH 5.0 and 7.0 respectively. A positive correlation was clearly demonstrated between type and severity of bacterial infection and urinary β-glucuronidase level. The possible role of urinary β-glucuronidase in the aetiology of bilharzial bladder cancer had been discussed.