Helminthic infections have been shown to inhibit allergy skin-prick tests and to modify the course of asthma. We evaluated Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus-specific immune responses in patients with asthma by measuring levels of T helper 2 (Th2) cytokines in peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) cultures. PBMCs from Schistosoma mansoni-infected patients with asthma living in an area of polyhelminthic endemicity produced lower levels of interleukin (IL)-5 and IL-4 in response to D. pteronyssinus antigen (Ag) 1 than did PBMCs from helminth-free patients with asthma. In contrast, D. pteronyssinus Ag 1-specific production of IL-10 was higher in helminth-infected patients than in helminth-free patients. The addition of recombinant human IL-10 to D. pteronyssinus Ag 1-stimulated cultures of PBMCs from helminth-free patients led to down-modulation of production of IL-5. After helminth-infected patients with asthma received antihelminthic treatment, there was down-modulation of D. pteronyssinus Ag 1-specific production of IL-10 in vitro. S. mansoni-infected patients with asthma produce lower levels of Th2 cytokines than do helminth-free patients with asthma, and this modulation is likely done by IL-10.
Helminths influence both the clinical outcome and the immune response of patients with CL. These results may have clinical implications for the care of patients with CL caused by Leishmania braziliensis, because screening for and treatment of helminths may improve responses to treatment and possibly reduce the risk of progression to mucosal disease.
A alface (Lactuca sativa) é a hortaliça folhosa mais comercializada no Brasil, sendo considerada uma cultura hortícola de grande consumo. Devido ao seu baixo valor calórico qualifica-se para diversas dietas, o que favorece grandemente o seu consumo de uma maneira geral, constituindo-se em componente imprescindível das saladas dos brasileiros [6]. . The hydroponics lettuce samples showed the lowest total and edible part weight; they were inserted into Extra rate quality standard, according to the current legislation, whereas the organic and traditional lettuce samples were inserted into First and Second rate quality standard, respectively. The lettuce samples, independently of the growing process, showed low hygienic conditions, indicated by the presence of parasites of animal or human origin, and high concentration of fecal coliforms; the organic lettuce samples showed the highest frequencies of enteroparasities and fecal coliforms concentration, followed by the traditional and hydroponics lettuce samples. Considering the obtained results, the importance of this kind of food in the transmission of enteroparasities is stressed, as well as the need of actions which improve the sanitary conditions of these products.
Abstract. The aim of this study was to determine whether human T-cell lymphocytotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) infection may affect the levels of parasite-specific immunoglobulin (Ig) G and IgE and the positivity of the skin test for strongyloidiasis. Participants included 67 patients with strongyloidiasis (40 without HTLV-1 infection and 27 coinfected with HTLV-1). We determined IgG and IgE levels by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and the immediate hypersensitivity skin test was performed with the metabolic Strongyloides stercoralis antigen. Specific IgE levels and the size of skin reactions in patients without HTLV-1 were higher (P Ͻ 0.01) than those observed in patients coinfected with HTLV-1. Additionally, 89% of patients without HTLV-1 had specific IgE and 92.5% had positive skin tests; however, these values were significantly reduced (P Ͻ 0.01) in patients coinfected with HTLV-1 (44% and 59%, respectively). These data show that HTLV-1 infection decreases the sensitivity of detection of S. stercoralis-specific IgE, the size of the immediate hypersensitivity reaction, and the sensitivity of these tests in the diagnosis of strongyloidiasis.
Helminth infections influence the clinical response to certain diseases and are associated with delayed healing time of patients with cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) caused by Leishmania braziliensis. We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial to examine the role of early versus deferred treatment of intestinal helminth infection on the clinical course of patients with CL treated with pentavalent antimony. (Clinicaltrials.gov number NCT00469495). A total of 90 patients were enrolled, 51.1% (N = 23) of control patients had persistent lesions at Day 90, compared with 62.2% (N = 28) in the treatment group (difference 11.1%, 95% confidence interval = −9.1–30.0%). There was no statistically significant difference in overall time to cure between groups, although there was a tendency for shorter cure times in the control group. This study shows that early introduction of antihelminthic therapy does not improve clinical outcome in patients co-infected with helminths and L. braziliensis.
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