Update on Strongyloidiasis in the Immunocompromised Host
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Curr Infect Dis Rep (2011) 13:35–46 DOI 10.1007/s11908-010-0150-z Update on Strongyloidiasis in the Immunocompromised Host Luis A. Marcos & Angélica Terashima & Marco Canales & Eduardo Gotuzzo Published online: 1 December 2010 # Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2010 Abstract Immunocompromised persons are the most vul- minthic therapy. Highly sensitive screening tests are still nerable population at risk for developing life-threatening not available in the major tertiary medical centers. clinical syndromes associated with strongyloidiasis, such as Parenteral ivermectin has been used in some severe cases. hyperinfection syndrome (HS) or dissemination. This Further therapy developments and improving diagnostic review focuses on describing Strongyloides infection in tools are warranted. the immunocompromised host, including immune response against this infection, analyzing the cases with HS Keywords Strongyloides stercoralis . Strongyloidiasis . published during the past 4 years in the United States, Immunocompromised host . Hyperinfection syndrome . and describing the most sensitive diagnostic tools and the Dissemination . Autoinfection . Transplant population . most effective treatment for each clinical syndrome. Immigrant . Agar plate . Anthelminthic . Ivermectin . Strongyloidiasis is becoming an important parasitic disease Parenteral . USA in the United States, especially in the immunocompromised immigrant population. Because the transplant population is particularly at risk for developing HS, both recipients and Introduction donors should be screened for Strongyloides. Clinicians should also be aware that the development of HS can Strongyloides stercoralis and Strongyloides fuelleborni follow unexpectedly a few days after appropriate anthel- (genus: Strongyloides) are two intestinal nematodes that cause the disease strongyloidiasis, which affects an esti- mates 30–100 million people around the world [1]. An increased number of cases seen in developed countries are * L. A. Marcos ( ) related to the increased numbers of immigrants, refugees, Infectious Diseases Division, Internal Medicine Department, Washington University School of Medicine, and travelers. Without an adequate control program, this 660 South Euclid Avenue, infection might be a potential emerging global infectious St. Louis, MO 63110, USA disease [2•]. The unique life cycle in Strongyloides has e-mail: [email protected] severe clinical consequences in humans. Both the free- L. A. Marcos : A. Terashima : M. Canales : E. Gotuzzo living cycle (environment) and the parasitic cycle (in Institute of Tropical Medicine Alexander von Humboldt, humans) can develop adult worms. The adult worms can Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, survive in humans permanently for years, in a process Lima, Peru better known as autoinfection. Nonetheless, a dysregulation A. Terashima of the host’s immune response during this latent infection e-mail: [email protected] may be lethal, because multiple infective larvae can E. Gotuzzo develop and invade other organs than the intestines, causing e-mail: [email protected] sepsis and death. This increase in the number of larvae with A. Terashima : M. Canales : E. Gotuzzo invasion to other organs is called hyperinfection syndrome PO. Box 4314, Lima 100, Peru (HS) with dissemination [3]. 36 Curr Infect Dis Rep (2011) 13:35–46 Strongyloidiasis is highly prevalent in some developing (IL)-4, IL-5, IL-10, and IL-13, and IgA, IgE, and IgG1 are countries. However, it has been seen more frequently in produced [5]. Immune responses elicited by nematode developed countries, especially where immigrants are present. infections in normal subjects are Th2 type, characterized A recent study reported 347 deaths related to strongyloidiasis by production of high levels of IL-3, IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13, (0.79 per 10 million deaths, 14–29 deaths per year) from 1991 and eosinophils and specific IgA [6, 7]. to 2006 in the United States [4••]. Lack of strategic control During Strongyloides infection, two Th2-dependent programs, the increased number of infected humans’ deaths mechanisms have been proposed for killing the penetrating reported in developed countries, and the lack of readily infective larvae: mast cell degranulation and direct killing available treatment are some of the major issues related to this of the parasite by eosinophils. Mast cells are activated by neglected disease. This review describes the immunology IL-4 and their degranulation depends on the presence of interaction between Strongyloides and some immunodeficient IgE against parasite antigens. The IgE, IgG1, and IL-4 conditions; collects the available US cases of disseminated cytokines are elicited by Strongyloides infection [8]. At an strongyloidiasis reported between 2006 and 2010; and intestinal level, a strong Th2 response is present by intense updates the most available and sensitive diagnostic tests and mast cell activation through IL-3 pathway, and eosinophil treatment of strongyloidiasis described in the literature. production against the parasite [9–11]. Expansion and activation of eosinophils for parasite killing depends on IL-5; when IL-5 suppressors are used (decreasing Th-2 Overview of the Pathogenesis and Immune Response response), levels of larva killing decreased significantly of Strongyloides Infection [12]. Likewise, corticosteroids suppress Th2 response directly by binding the glucocorticoid receptors of the + A fine balance between the T helper 1 (Th1) and 2 (Th2) CD4 Th2 cell membrane, causing apoptosis and T-cell response plays a key role in the host’s response against dysfunction. Corticosteroids may also increase ecdysteroid- Strongyloides infection (Fig. 1). CD4/T cells are composed like substances, which act as molting signals for eggs and of Th1 and Th2 subpopulations based on the type of rhabditiform larvae, leading to increased number of filari- cytokine secretion. In general, the cytokine production of form larvae and dissemination [13]. If the immune response the Th1-type T-cell subpopulation can down-regulate the is manipulated to Th1, for example, providing IL-12 (Th-1 Th2-type cytokines profile, and vice versa. In the Th1 immune response modulating cytokine), eosinophils levels response, there is production of interferon (IFN)-γ, activa- are decreased and protective immunity can be lost [14]. tion of macrophages, CD8+ cytotoxic T cells, and genera- Furthermore, the innate immune response (early response tion of IgG2a; whereas in the Th2 response, interleukin mainly by macrophages, dendritic cells, neutrophils) and the Filariform Strongyloides Th1 cell larva HTLV-1 has a stronger Strongyloides Th1 response promotes HTLV-1 Low IgE cell replication High IgG4 by IL-2 Intestine CD4 Mast cell Antigen-presenting cell T cell activation (neutrophils mainly) IL-4 effector IL-13 HIV has a predominant Th2 response IL-5 Eosinophil Innate immune response eliminates Inhibit Corticosteroids the larvae IL-4 IgE (C3, lgM, and neutrophils) IL-13 Th2 cell B cell Innate immunity Adaptive immunity Fig. 1 Immune response of Strongyloides infection. HTLV human T-cell lymphotrophic virus; IL interleukin; Th helper T cell. Curr Infect Dis Rep (2011) 13:35–46 37 adaptive protective immune response (B and T lymphocytes) prognosis [32]. Finally, immune response in humans against are activated during the initial Strongyloides infection [15]. Strongyloides infection is difficult to study because of time, Killing of the infective S. stercoralis larvae by immunized age, and intensity of infection; previous or current co- mice is dependent on the interaction among C3 (common parasite infections; previous Strongyloides infections; and factor of the complement system), IgM, and neutrophils. A immunodeficiencies related to viruses, malignancies, and probable immune induction of specific antibodies and iatrogenic or congenital conditions. granulocytes may be implicated on parasite clearance. A mouse model infected with live filariform larvae (L3) elicited high levels both on tissues and peripheral blood of Clinical Syndromes in Strongyloides Infection IgG1, IgM, IgA, and eosinophils [16]. Likewise, IgM, C3, and eosinophils were found either attached to the outer The clinical presentation of strongyloidiasis can range from surface of L3 larva or nearby [17]. IgM and IgG antibodies an indolent to a life-threatening condition. These are are both protective against larval S. stercoralis, but they grouped in five major clinical syndromes: 1) acute infection recognize different antigens and use different killing mech- (with Loeffler’s syndrome or transient eosinophilic pulmo- anisms which, in turn, together synergize efficiently to kill nary infiltrates); 2) chronic intestinal infection; 3) oligo- the worm [18]. Filariform larvae, the infective larvae present asymptomatic autoinfection; 4) symptomatic autoinfection; during HS, can modify their body and evade the host and 5) hyperinfection syndrome (HS) with dissemination immune response [19]. B-cell immune response is also [2, 33, 34]. important during the infection. When T-cell and B-cell– It is extremely uncommon to see the acute infection in mediated responses are suppressed in mice, S. stercoralis clinical practice; reports are mainly in volunteers [35]. attack was attributable mainly to deficiencies in B-cell– Chronic intestinal infection (latent) occurs mainly in mediated immunity [20]. endemic countries and occasionally is seen in travelers, Immunity in Strongyloides infection is possible. A immigrants, and refugees [36,