Intestinal parasitic infections and eosinophilia in an human immunedeficiency virus positive population in Honduras
Mem. Inst. Oswaldo Cruz
;
99(7): 773-778, Nov. 2004. tab
Article
in English
| LILACS
| ID: lil-391611
RESUMO
The occurrence of intestinal parasites, their regional distribution and their relations to eosinophilia were studied in 133 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) positive individuals from Honduras. After signing an informed consent, participants answered a socio-demographic and risk factor questionnaire, a complete physical examination, medical history, and a series of laboratory tests. All participants were HIV positive but not acquired immunodeficiency syndrome positive. Of them, 67 percent were co-infected with pathogen and non pathogen parasites. Overall occurrence of nematodes was 44.3 percent for Trichuris trichiura, 24 percent for Ascaris lumbricoides, 12 percent for Hookworm and 7.5 percent for Strongyloides stercoralis. No cases of Giardia lamblia, acute amebiasis or cryptosporidiasis were diagnosed. Mean eosinophil percents for participants were consistently and significantly higher in infected than in non infected individuals 22 percent for Hookworm vs 7.2 percent (p < 0.001), 11 percent for Trichuris compared to 5.2 percent (p < 0.001), 13.2 percent compared to 7.5 percent for S. stercoralis (p < 0.05), and 12 percent compared to 6 percent for Ascaris cases (p < 0.05). Helminths and non pathogenic protozoa, as single or mixed infections, occurred among the participants. There was a strong correlation between eosinophilia and helminthiasis infections; however, none was identified between CD4 levels and eosinophilia. Because parasitic infections aggravate malnutrition and promote a disbalanced Th2 response in a potentially immuno-compromised host, their effect on HIV disease progression needs further study, mainly in countries were HIV and parasitic infections are highly prevalent.
Full text:
Available
Index:
LILACS (Americas)
Main subject:
HIV Seropositivity
/
Eosinophilia
/
Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic
Type of study:
Etiology study
/
Observational study
/
Prevalence study
/
Prognostic study
/
Risk factors
Limits:
Animals
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
Country/Region as subject:
Central America
/
Honduras
Language:
English
Journal:
Mem. Inst. Oswaldo Cruz
Journal subject:
Tropical Medicine
/
Parasitology
Year:
2004
Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Honduras
/
United States
Institution/Affiliation country:
Florida International University/US
/
Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Honduras/HN
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