Some Aspects of Protozoan Infections in Immunocompromised Patients - a Review Marcelo Simão Ferreira/+, Aércio Sebastião Borges

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Some Aspects of Protozoan Infections in Immunocompromised Patients - a Review Marcelo Simão Ferreira/+, Aércio Sebastião Borges Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Vol. 97(4): 443-457, June 2002 443 Some Aspects of Protozoan Infections in Immunocompromised Patients - A Review Marcelo Simão Ferreira/+, Aércio Sebastião Borges Disciplina de Doenças Infecciosas e Parasitárias, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Rua Goiás 480, 38400-027 Uberlândia, MG, Brasil Protozoa are among the most important pathogens that can cause infections in immunocompromised hosts. These microorganisms particularly infect individuals with impaired cellular immunity, such as those with hemato- logical neoplasias, renal or heart transplant patients, patients using high doses of corticosteroids, and patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. The protozoa that most frequently cause disease in immunocompromised patients are Toxoplasma gondii, Trypanosoma cruzi, different Leishmania species, and Cryptosporidium parvum; the first two species cause severe acute meningoencephalitis and acute myocarditis, Leishmania sp. causes mucocutane- ous or visceral disease, and Cryptosporidium can lead to chronic diarrhea with hepatobiliary involvement. Various serological, parasitological, histological and molecular methods for the diagnosis of these infections are currently available and early institution of specific therapy for each of these organisms is a basic measure to reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with these infections. Key words: protozoa - acquired immunodeficiency syndrome-Aids - opportunistic infections Since the sixties, opportunistic infections, which fre- immunity defects (hypogammaglobulinemia) and neutro- quently occur in patients under some kind of immuno- penia (number of serum neutrophils < 1000/mm3) usually suppression, have become very common in daily clinical predispose to the occurrence of bacterial infections caused practice. The number of immunosuppressed patients sus- by Gram-positive cocci, Gram-negative bacilli and some ceptible to different infectious or neoplastic processes fungi (Candida, Aspergillus), while infections caused by has increased each decade and culminated in the advent intracellularly multiplying agents such as mycobacteria, of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (Aids) at the endemic mycosis-inducing fungi and protozoa are rare. beginning of the eighties. The increasing use of trans- These last pathogens are frequent agents of infectious plants (kidney, bone marrow, liver, heart, etc.) and the ap- processes that occur in Aids or Hodgkin’s disease, where pearance of new immunosuppressive drugs, nowadays the basic defect is the result of cellular immune depres- extensively used in these patients as well as in patients sion (Karp & Neva 1999). Aids produces the most severe with neoplasias and autoimmune diseases, has led to the form of immunosuppression known, and more than one occurrence of a large number of individuals with chronic hundred microorganisms causing opportunistic infections immunosuppression in our community, who in turn are in these patients have been identified, many of them in- predisposed to developing opportunistic infections. Tens tracellular protozoa, which will be discussed in the present of pathogens have been described as etiologic agents of review. Infection with human immunodeficiency virus these infections, including viruses, bacteria, protozoa, (HIV) leads to important alterations in the clinical course fungi, and helminths. Immunosuppression, either at the of many disorders caused by these intracellular organ- humoral or cellular level, may have different consequences isms; curiously, no significant effects of retrovirus-in- for the host depending on its magnitude, including facili- duced immunosuppression on the course of disease have tation of the occurrence of these infections, an increased been observed for some protozooses such as malaria. On disease/infection rate, alterations in the clinical manifes- the other hand, there is evidence that these infections tation of the infection or exacerbation of its course, among can accelerate the course of HIV infection due to the ca- others (Young 1981). Aids and lymphoproliferative pacity of many of these organisms to stimulate Th2 type neoplasias are examples of conditions that lead to abnor- cytokines (IL-4, IL-10, etc.), which favor the progression malities in practically all compartments of the immune sys- of the disease caused by HIV (Morrow et al. 1989, Actor tem; however, T lymphocyte-mediated immune defects et al. 1993, Gilks 1993). predominate. The therapy to which these individuals are The most frequent protozoan causing opportunistic submitted (e.g., corticosteroids) and malnutrition caused infections in immunocompromised individuals is Toxo- by the base disease itself represent important cofactors plasma gondii. Its association with severe manifestations in the predisposition to developing infections. Humoral of immunosuppression has been known for several de- cades, and the occurrence of encephalitis, myocarditis and disseminated disease has since then been observed in different clinical conditions such as lymphoreticular +Corresponding author. Fax: +55-34-3236.3151. E-mail: neoplasias, solid organ transplantation, and, at present, [email protected] mainly in patients with Aids. Before the advent of this Received 20 March 2002 viral infection, opportunistic infections caused by this Accepted 22 April 2002 and other protozoa had rarely been observed in 444 Aspects of Protozoan Infections MS Ferreira, AS Borges immunocompromised patients. Other coccidia such as Isos- reach up to 40% in patients with Aids (Krick & Remington pora belli and Cryptosporidium parvum only gained clini- 1978, Luft & Remington 1988). Therefore, toxoplasmosis cal importance after the recognition of Aids at the begin- is of great clinical importance in man in two major situa- ning of the eighties. Few cases of reactivated Chagas dis- tions: as a cause of congenital infection, with 5 to 24% of ease in immunosuppressed patients have been reported children becoming ill and dying during the neonatal pe- in the sixties and seventies, but Trypanosoma cruzi was riod, in addition to the high rate of children with severe never considered to be a true opportunistic agent. The neurological and visual sequelae who require education same was the case for protozoa of the genus Leishmania and special and costly care (Frenkel 1973), and as an op- whose association with immunosuppressive diseases rep- portunistic infection of high mortality in immunosup- resented a scientific curiosity in past decades. This pan- pressed individuals (Carey et al. 1973, Ambroise-Thomas orama changed after the Aids epidemic, and T. cruzi, and & Pelloux 1993). especially Leishmania species, are currently gaining great In immunocompetent hosts, the infection is frequently importance as agents of severe opportunistic diseases in benign, with parasitemia being self-limited, resulting in an patients affected by this retroviral infection. The advances asymptomatic clinical form of the disease in most cases. made during the last few years in the chemotherapy of However, in about 20% of cases acute infection is accom- neoplasias, in the use of transplants and in the therapy of panied by febrile lymphadenopathy, asthenia and autoimmune diseases have led to the reactivation of lymphomonocytosis, with the course of infection being protozooses under these conditions, thus confirming the self-limited (Feldman 1968, Darcy & Santouro 1994). After opportunistic character of these pathogens (Ferreira et al. this period, T. gondii remains viable in the form of tissue 1997, Borges et al. 1999, Ferreira 1999, Rosenthal et al. cysts, which reproduce slowly throughout the life of the 2000, Morgado et al. 2000). host, thus characterizing the chronic phase of infection. The objective of this review was to update and com- During this phase, the tissue cysts are controlled by the ment upon some aspects of diseases caused by protozoa humoral and cellular immune system, involving T lym- in immunosuppressed patients. Four parasites which are phocytes and macrophages which are continuously stimu- important causative agents of severe disease in these in- lated by parasite antigens, a fact that protects against dividuals were chosen, and within this context, we basi- reinfection. As a result, parasite multiplication is more cally focus on pathogenic, clinical, diagnostic and thera- active and persists for longer periods of time in less im- peutic aspects of the infections caused by T. gondii, T. munologically active tissues such as the central nervous cruzi, Leishmania sp. and C. parvum. system (CNS) (Johnson 1981, Sims & Talbot 1989, Darcy & Santoro 1994). OPPORTUNISTIC DISEASE CAUSED BY TOXOPLASMA GONDII Immunocompromised hosts, especially those with deficient cellular immunity, are at risk of recrudescence of About 50% of the world population is infected with T. the chronic infection and dissemination, with the occur- gondii, a protozoan of the coccidian family, an obligate rence of fulminating disease. The preferential reactiva- intracellular parasite that multiplies in any nucleated cell tion of T. gondii in the CNS has been demonstrated clini- of the vertebrate host and that shows universal distribu- cally and experimentally (Van Thiel 1966, Frenkel et al. tion (Cesbron-Delauw 1994). Felines are the definitive host, 1975, Ruskin & Remington 1976). This fact is probably with the domestic cat being the most important. This pro- due to low local immunity, as well as to the presence of tozoan is
Recommended publications
  • Cyclosporiasis: an Update
    Cyclosporiasis: An Update Cirle Alcantara Warren, MD Corresponding author Epidemiology Cirle Alcantara Warren, MD Cyclosporiasis has been reported in three epidemiologic Center for Global Health, Division of Infectious Diseases and settings: sporadic cases among local residents in an International Health, University of Virginia School of Medicine, MR4 Building, Room 3134, Lane Road, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA. endemic area, travelers to or expatriates in an endemic E-mail: [email protected] area, and food- or water-borne outbreaks in a nonendemic Current Infectious Disease Reports 2009, 11:108–112 area. In tropical and subtropical countries (especially Current Medicine Group LLC ISSN 1523-3847 Haiti, Guatemala, Peru, and Nepal) where C. cayetanen- Copyright © 2009 by Current Medicine Group LLC sis infection is endemic, attack rates appear higher in the nonimmune population (ie, travelers, expatriates, and immunocompromised individuals). Cyclosporiasis was a Cyclosporiasis is a food- and water-borne infection leading cause of persistent diarrhea among travelers to that affects healthy and immunocompromised indi- Nepal in spring and summer and continues to be reported viduals. Awareness of the disease has increased, and among travelers in Latin America and Southeast Asia outbreaks continue to be reported among vulnera- [8–10]. Almost half (14/29) the investigated Dutch attend- ble hosts and now among local residents in endemic ees of a scientifi c meeting of microbiologists held in 2001 areas. Advances in molecular techniques have in Indonesia had C. cayetanensis in stool, confi rmed by improved identifi cation of infection, but detecting microscopy and/or polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and food and water contamination remains diffi cult.
    [Show full text]
  • Identification of Cyclospora and Isospora from Diarrheic Patients in the Philippines
    Philippine Journal of Science RESEARCH NOTE 137 (1): 11-15, June 2008 ISSN 0031 - 7683 Identification of Cyclospora and Isospora from Diarrheic Patients in the Philippines Corazon C. Buerano1,2, Catherine B. Lago1, Ronald R. Matias1, Blanquita B. de Guzman1, Shinji Izumiyama3, Kenji Yagita3, and Filipinas F. Natividad1* 1Research and Biotechnology Division, St. Luke’s Medical Center 279 E. Rodriguez Sr. Ave., Quezon City 1102, Philippines 2Institute of Biology, University of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon City 1101, Philippines 3Department of Parasitology, National Institute of Infectious Diseases Toyama 1-23-1, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8640, Japan In recent years, Cyclospora cayetanensis and Isospora belli have been recognized as causative organisms in cases of chronic diarrhea. The aim of this study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of enteric protozoa among diarrhea patients in the Philippines. Stools were collected and from 3456 samples examined, only one sample each was found positive for oocysts of Cyclospora cayetanensis and Isospora belli. Identification was based on autofluorescence of the oocysts with a 365 nm ultraviolet excitation filter. Both samples were obtained from male patients (18 and 73 years old, respectively) living in Iloilo province in the western islands of Visayas, Philippines. Both patients obtained their drinking water from deep wells. The identification of these two emerging pathogens, which are easily overlooked by less-trained technical staff, highlights the increasing awareness and technical capability on detecting these parasites in the Philippines. Key Words: Cyclospora, Isospora, enteric protozoa, diarrhea INTRODUCTION in tropical areas of south America and southeast Asia (Wittner et al. 1993), and has also been associated with Both Cyclospora and Isospora belongs to family diarrhea outbreaks in mental wards and day care centers Eimeridae, subphylum apicomplexa, which are (Marshall et al.
    [Show full text]
  • Ehealth DSI [Ehdsi V2.2.2-OR] Ehealth DSI – Master Value Set
    MTC eHealth DSI [eHDSI v2.2.2-OR] eHealth DSI – Master Value Set Catalogue Responsible : eHDSI Solution Provider PublishDate : Wed Nov 08 16:16:10 CET 2017 © eHealth DSI eHDSI Solution Provider v2.2.2-OR Wed Nov 08 16:16:10 CET 2017 Page 1 of 490 MTC Table of Contents epSOSActiveIngredient 4 epSOSAdministrativeGender 148 epSOSAdverseEventType 149 epSOSAllergenNoDrugs 150 epSOSBloodGroup 155 epSOSBloodPressure 156 epSOSCodeNoMedication 157 epSOSCodeProb 158 epSOSConfidentiality 159 epSOSCountry 160 epSOSDisplayLabel 167 epSOSDocumentCode 170 epSOSDoseForm 171 epSOSHealthcareProfessionalRoles 184 epSOSIllnessesandDisorders 186 epSOSLanguage 448 epSOSMedicalDevices 458 epSOSNullFavor 461 epSOSPackage 462 © eHealth DSI eHDSI Solution Provider v2.2.2-OR Wed Nov 08 16:16:10 CET 2017 Page 2 of 490 MTC epSOSPersonalRelationship 464 epSOSPregnancyInformation 466 epSOSProcedures 467 epSOSReactionAllergy 470 epSOSResolutionOutcome 472 epSOSRoleClass 473 epSOSRouteofAdministration 474 epSOSSections 477 epSOSSeverity 478 epSOSSocialHistory 479 epSOSStatusCode 480 epSOSSubstitutionCode 481 epSOSTelecomAddress 482 epSOSTimingEvent 483 epSOSUnits 484 epSOSUnknownInformation 487 epSOSVaccine 488 © eHealth DSI eHDSI Solution Provider v2.2.2-OR Wed Nov 08 16:16:10 CET 2017 Page 3 of 490 MTC epSOSActiveIngredient epSOSActiveIngredient Value Set ID 1.3.6.1.4.1.12559.11.10.1.3.1.42.24 TRANSLATIONS Code System ID Code System Version Concept Code Description (FSN) 2.16.840.1.113883.6.73 2017-01 A ALIMENTARY TRACT AND METABOLISM 2.16.840.1.113883.6.73 2017-01
    [Show full text]
  • WHO Guidelines for the Treatment of Malaria
    GTMcover-production.pdf 11.1.2006 7:10:05 GUIDELINES FOR THE TREATMENT O F M A L A R I A GUIDELINES FOR THE TREATMENT OF MALARIA Guidelines for the treatment of malaria Guidelines for the treatment of malaria WHO Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data Guidelines for the treatment of malaria/World Health Organization. Running title: WHO guidelines for the treatment of malaria. 1. Malaria – drug therapy. 2. Malaria – diagnosis. 3. Antimalarials – administration and dosage. 4. Drug therapy, Combination. 5. Guidelines. I. Title. II. Title: WHO guidelines for the treatment of malaria. ISBN 92 4 154694 8 (NLM classification: WC 770) ISBN 978 92 4 154694 2 WHO/HTM/MAL/2006.1108 © World Health Organization, 2006 All rights reserved. Publications of the World Health Organization can be obtained from WHO Press, World Health Organization, 20, avenue Appia, 1211 Geneva 27, Switzerland (tel. +41 22 791 3264; fax: +41 22 791 4857; e-mail: [email protected]). Requests for permission to reproduce or translate WHO publications – whether for sale or for noncommercial distribution – should be addressed to WHO Press, at the above address (fax: +41 22 791 4806; e-mail: [email protected]). The designations employed and the presentation of the material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the World Health Organization concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. The mention of specific companies or of certain manufacturers’ products does not imply that they are endorsed or recommended by the World Health Organization in preference to others of a similar nature that are not mentioned.
    [Show full text]
  • Slide 1 This Lecture Is the Second Part of the Protozoal Parasites. in This LECTURE We Will Talk About the Apicomplexans SPECIFICALLY the Coccidians
    Slide 1 This lecture is the second part of the protozoal parasites. In this LECTURE we will talk about the Apicomplexans SPECIFICALLY THE Coccidians. In the next lecture we will Lecture 8: Emerging Parasitic Protozoa part 1 (Apicomplexans-1: talk about the Plasmodia and Babesia Coccidia) Presented by Sharad Malavade, MD, MPH Original Slides by Matt Tucker, PhD HSC4933 1 Emerging Infectious Diseases Slide 2 These are the readings for this week. Readings-Protozoa pt. 2 (Coccidia) • Ch.8 (p. 183 [table 8.3]) • Ch. 11 (p. 301, 304-305) 2 Slide 3 Monsters Inside Me • Cryptosporidiosis (Cryptosporidum spp., Coccidian/Apicomplexan): Background: http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/crypto/ Video: http://animal.discovery.com/videos/monsters-inside-me- cryptosporidium-outbreak.html http://animal.discovery.com/videos/monsters-inside-me-the- cryptosporidium-parasite.html Toxoplasmosis (Toxoplasma gondii, Coccidian/Apicomplexan) Background: http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/toxoplasmosis/ Video: http://animal.discovery.com/videos/monsters-inside-me- toxoplasma-parasite.html 3 Slide 4 Learning objectives: Apicomplexan These are the learning objectives for this lecture. coccidia • Define basic attributes of Apicomplexans- unique characteristics? • Know basic life cycle and developmental stages of coccidian parasites • Required hosts – Transmission strategy – Infective and diagnostic stages – Unique character of reproduction • Know the common characteristics of each parasite – Be able to contrast and compare • Define diseases, high-risk groups • Determine diagnostic methods, treatment • Know important parasite survival strategies • Be familiar with outbreaks caused by coccidians and the conditions involved 4 Slide 5 This figure from the last lecture is just to show you the Taxonomic Review apicoplexans. This lecture we talk about the Coccidians.
    [Show full text]
  • Cryptosporidium Isospora Cyclospora Microsporidia
    CRYPTOSPORIDIUM ISOSPORA CYCLOSPORA MICROSPORIDIA ANKUR VASHISHTHA Lesson Plan Introduction Morphology Life cycle Clinical features Lab diagnosis Treatment Introduction Phylum: Apicomplexa Class : Sporozoa Subclass : Coccidea Order : Eimeriida Genus : Isospora Cyclospora Cryptosporidium Sarcocysti Toxoplasma Cryptosporidium parvum causes cryptosporidiosis. Amongst several species of cryptosporidium only C. parvum infects human. Cryptosporidium parvum is an obligate intracellular parasite that causes an opportunistic infection in immunocompromised hosts. Isospora belli, a parasite causing isosporiasis is reported from man particularly patient with AIDS disease. The organisms can infect both adult and children . Cyclospora Cayetanensis produces prolonged diarrhoea in human. In recent years, human cyclosporiasis has emerged as an important infection. All are transmitted by faecal oral route. Cryptosporidium parvum Morphology of oocyst Size: 1.5-5μm in diameter Morphology: round, oval They are mainly located in the jejunum of the host. The infective form of parasite is oocyst exist in two forms- Z-N staining Wet mount Isospora belli Morphology of oocyst 22µm long and 15µm wide. Mature oocyst contains 2 sporocysts with 4 sporozoites each; usual diagnostic stage in feces is immature Oocyst containing spherical mass of protoplasm. They mainly located in small intestine(lower part of ileum) of host. The oocyst of isospora belli is surrounded by a cyst-wall having two layers. Z-N Staining Wet mount of isospora belli Cyclospora cayetanensis Morphology of oocyst C.cayetanensis are nonrefractile, spherical to oval, slightly wrinkled bodies Size of oocysts that are between 8 -10 micrometers in diameter. Oocyst contains 2 sporocysts, each containing 2 sporozoites. Sporozoites are semilunar in shape & 9µm by 1.2µm in size They are located within epithelial cells of gastrointestinal tract of host.
    [Show full text]
  • Prevalence of Malaria and Some Opportunistic Infections in Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) Patients with CD4 Below 200 In
    ISSN: 2469-567X Dawet and Onaiyekan. Int J Virol AIDS 2020, 7:058 DOI: 10.23937/2469-567X/1510058 Volume 7 | Issue 1 International Journal of Open Access Virology and AIDS RESEARCH ARTICLE Prevalence of Malaria and Some Opportunistic Infections in Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) Patients with CD4 Below 200 in Faith Alive Hospital, Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria Dawet A* and Onaiyekan OE Department of Zoology, University of Jos, Nigeria Check for updates *Corresponding author: Anthony Dawet, Department of Zoology, University of Jos, Nigeria early days of HIV and AIDS because better treatments Abstract reduce the amount of HIV in a person’s body and keep The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection leads to a person’s immune system stronger. However, many Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) resulting to a progressive decline in the immune system of people liv- people with HIV still develop OIs because they may not ing with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) making them susceptible to a know of their HIV infection, they may not be on treat- variety of opportunistic infections which eventually leads to ment, or their treatment may not be keeping their HIV death. This study aimed at determining the prevalence ma- levels low enough for their immune system to fight off laria and some opportunistic infections in HIV/AIDS patients with CD4 count below 200 attending Faith Alive Hospital, infections (https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/basics/livingwith- Jos, Plateau State. The testing for opportunistic infections hiv/opportunis ticinfections.html 02/01/2018. 9.08 am). was done using thick and thin blood films for haemopara- sites, formal ether concentration technique for stool, sed- Since the start of the epidemic, issues related to imentation technique for urine for intestinal parasites and Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immune De- modified Ziehl-Neelsen’s technique to examine the sputum ficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) has had a high profile in for bacteria and other parasites.
    [Show full text]
  • Isospora Belli in a Patient with Liver Transplantation Karaciğer Transplantasyonlu Bir Hastada Isospora Belli
    Case Report / Olgu Sunumu 247 Isospora belli in a Patient with Liver Transplantation Karaciğer Transplantasyonlu Bir Hastada Isospora belli Selma Usluca1, Tonay İnceboz1, Tarkan Unek2, Ümit Aksoy1 1Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Dokuz Eylül University, İzmir, Turkey 2Department of General Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Dokuz Eylül University, İzmir, Turkey ABSTRACT Isospora belli is an opportunistic protozoon which should be monitored in patients with gastrointestinal complaints such as abdominal pain, nausea and diarrhoea, in both immune-compromised and immune-competent patients. Our case was a 35 year-old male patient who had received a liver transplant because of cirrhosis and hepatic fibrosis. A diarrhoeic stool sample of the patient was sent to the laboratory for microbiological and parasitological analyses. Faecal occult blood was positive and bacteriological analysis was negative. Isospora belli infection was diagnosed by detection of the oocysts in stool samples. Per oral trimethoprim-sulphamethoxazole treatment was given in 500 mg bid dose for 10 days. At the end of the treatment, no oocyst of Isospora belli was seen but non-pathogenic cysts of Entamoeba coli and vacuolar forms of Blastocystis hominis were observed. Two months later the patient had abdominal pain, fatigue and diarrhoea again and parasitological re-evaluation showed oocysts of Isospora belli. (Turkiye Parazitol Derg 2012; 36: 247-50) Key Words: Isospora belli, post-transplant infections, liver transplantation Received: 11.06.2012 Accepted: 03.10.2012 ÖZET Isospora belli, immün yetmezlikli ve/ veya immun sistemi baskılanmış olgularda, karın ağrısı, ishal gibi gastrointestinal şikayetlerle başvuran hastalarda akla getirilmesi gereken fırsatçı bir protozoondur. Olgumuz; 2008 yılında Hepatit B’ye bağlı karaciğer sirozu ve fibroz tanısıyla karaciğer transplantasyonu uygulanmış 35 yaşında erkek hastadır.
    [Show full text]
  • A Report of 10 Cases of Human Isosporiasis in Iran
    Volume S Medical Joum�1 or the Number 1,2 Islamic Republic of Iran D:l.har&. Tabc:stan 1370 Spring &. Summer 1991 A REPORT OF 10 CASES OF HUMAN ISOSPORIASIS IN IRAN M. REZAEIAN, Ph.D. From the Dept. of Prolozoology, School ofPublic Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran. ABSTRACT Human infection with the coccidia parastite, Isospora belliis relatively uncommon. Human isosporiasis in Iran was first reported by Hadjian in 1961. 5 Yearly, about 200 stool samples have been examined by direct and formol-ether concentration techniques in the Protozoology Unit, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences. In addition to the common protozoal and helminthic infections, there were 10 cases of human infection with Isospora belli during alO year stool examination in our laboratory. MJIRI, Vo1.5, No. 1,2, 45-47, 1991 INTRODUCTION copy and electron microscopy by Brandborg, et. al. in 19701 and Trier, et. al. in 197410 have shown the l. belli was named by Wenyon in 1923.10 Wenyon schizonts, merozoites, gametocytes, gametes, and 00- and others in 1923 also reported l. belli from military cysts stages. l·lOThe oocysts undergo sporulation stages troops stationed in Egypt, Palestine, and especially in 48 hours afterexpeUing from the intestine. In this phase Turkey, as well as other eastern Mediterranean coun­ if the oocysts are ingested by man they will be infective. tries.This parasite was most prevalent during the World Infections often are symptomless and self-limited, Wars hence Wenyon named it l.belli.'Faust, et al. in but number of workers have reported symptoms rang­ 1961 reported 33 cases of l.
    [Show full text]
  • HIV-Related Opportunistic Diseases
    HIV-related opportunistic diseases UNAIDS Technical update October 1998 UNAIDS Best Practice Collection At a Glance UNAIDS Best Practice materials The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) is preparing materials on subjects of relevance to HIV infection and AIDS, the causes and consequences of the epidemic, and best practices Opportunistic diseases in a person with HIV are the products of two in AIDS prevention, care and things: the person’s lack of immune defences caused by the virus, support. A Best Practice Collection and the presence of microbes and other pathogens in our everyday on any one subject typically environment. includes a short publication for journalists and community leaders A partial list of the world’s most common opportunistic diseases and diseases includes: (Point of View); atechnical summary of the issues, challenges and • bacterial diseases such as tuberculosis (TB, caused by Mycobacterium solutions (Technical Update); case tuberculosis), Mycobacterium avium complex disease (MAC), bacterial studies from around the world (Best pneumonia and septicaemia (“blood poisoning”) Practice Case Studies); a set of • protozoal diseases such as Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP), presentation graphics; and a listing toxoplasmosis, microsporidiosis, cryptosporidiosis, isosporiasis and of key materials (reports, articles, leishmaniasis books, audiovisuals, etc.) on the • fungal diseases such as candidiasis, cryptococcosis (cryptococcal subject. These documents are meningitis (CRM)) and penicilliosis updated as necessary. • viral diseases such as those caused by cytomegalovirus (CMV), Technical Updates and Points herpes simplex and herpes zoster virus ofView are being published in • HIV-associated malignancies such as Kaposi sarcoma, lymphoma English, French, Russian and and squamous cell carcinoma. Spanish.
    [Show full text]
  • Prevalence and Genetic Characteristics of Blastocystis Hominis and Cystoisospora Belli in HIV/AIDS Patients in Guangxi Zhuang Au
    www.nature.com/scientificreports OPEN Prevalence and genetic characteristics of Blastocystis hominis and Cystoisospora belli in HIV/AIDS patients in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China Ning Xu1,2, Zhihua Jiang3, Hua Liu1,2, Yanyan Jiang1,2, Zunfu Wang4, Dongsheng Zhou5, Yujuan Shen1,2* & Jianping Cao1,2* Blastocystis hominis and Cystoisospora belli are considered to be common opportunistic intestinal protozoa in HIV/AIDS patients. In order to investigate the prevalence and genetic characteristics of B. hominis and C. belli in HIV/AIDS patients, a total of 285 faecal samples were individually collected from HIV/AIDS patients in Guangxi, China. B. hominis and C. belli were investigated by amplifying the barcode region of the SSU rRNA gene and the internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS-1) region of the rRNA gene, respectively. Chi-square test or Fisher’s exact test were conducted to assess the risk factors related to B. hominis and C. belli infection. The prevalence of B. hominis and C. belli was 6.0% (17/285) and 1.1% (3/285) respectively. Four genotypes of B. hominis were detected, with ST3 (n = 8) and ST1 (n = 6) being predominant, followed by ST6 (n = 2) and ST7 (n = 1). Females had a statistically higher prevalence of B. hominis (11.6%) than males (4.2%). The statistical analysis also showed that the prevalence of B. hominis was signifcantly associated with age group and educational level. Our study provides convincing evidence for the genetic diversity of B. hominis, which indicates its potential zoonotic transmission and is the frst report on the molecular characteristics of C.
    [Show full text]
  • Chronic Cystoisospora Belli Infection in a Colombian
    Biomédica 2021;41(Supl.1):17-22 Chronic cystoisosporiasis in an HIV patient doi: https://doi.org/10.7705/biomedica.5932 Case report Chronic Cystoisospora belli infection in a Colombian patient living with HIV and poor adherence to highly active antiretroviral therapy Ana Luz Galván-Díaz1, Juan Carlos Alzate2,3, Esteban Villegas3, Sofía Giraldo3, Jorge Botero2-4, Gisela García-Montoya5 1 Grupo de Microbiología Ambiental, Escuela de Microbiología, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia 2 Unidad de Micología Médica y Experimental, Corporación para Investigaciones Biológicas- Universidad de Santander, Medellín, Colombia 3 Unidad de Investigación Clínica, Corporación para Investigaciones Biológicas, Medellín, Colombia 4 Grupo de Parasitología, Facultad de Medicina; Corporación Académica para el Estudio de las Patologías Tropicales, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia 5 Centro Nacional de Secuenciación Genómica, Sede de Investigación Universitaria, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia Cystoisospora belli is an intestinal Apicomplexan parasite associated with diarrheal illness Received: 07/12/2020 and disseminated infections in humans, mainly immunocompromised individuals such as Accepted: 26/04/2021 those living with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or acquired immunodeficiency Published: 27/04/2021 syndrome (AIDS). An irregular administration of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) Citation: in HIV patients may increase the risk of opportunistic infections like cystoisosporiasis. Galván-Díaz AL, Alzate JC, Villegas E, Giraldo S, We describe here a case of C. belli infection in a Colombian HIV patient with chronic Botero J, García-Montoya G. Chronic Cystoisospora gastrointestinal syndrome and poor adherence to HAART. His clinical and parasitological belli infection in a Colombian patient living with HIV cure was achieved with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole treatment.
    [Show full text]