Some hematimetric findings in human Giardia lambia infection

Abstract

Up to now few reports about haematological alterations induced by Giardia lamblia infection have been described. Because there are questions on this matter still not answered, we carried out a study to evaluate some erythrometric and leucometric parameters in a sample that consisted of 55 patients exclusively infected with G. lamblia and of 55 sex and age matched parasite-free individuals. The haematological parameters evaluated were: mean corpuscular volume (MCV), hemoglobin concentration, and relative and absolute number of eosinophils and lymphocytes. No significant differences in the mean values of MCV, hemoglobin levels and absolute relative lymphocyte numbers between the two groups could be detected. When the giardiasis and control groups were separated by pediatric (0-18 years old) and adult (older than 18 years) classes, a very significant difference in both relative and absolute number of eosinophils in the adult class was observed. With respect of the pediatric class, no differences, either in relative and absolute number of eosinophils, could be observed. Our findings suggest that, during G. lamblia infection, some kind of parasite allergen(s) could be secreted and be responsible for the increasing of eosinophil counts in peripheral blood of adults.

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia presenting with urticarial plaques and hypereosinophilia in a child

“…Interestingly, one relatively large study of 55 subjects with giardiasis matched with 55 healthy control subjects found that eosinophilia was seen mainly in adults ([18 years old) with giardiasis, but not in the pediatric subjects in the study. 1 The level of eosinophilia reported in these cases was far below the levels seen in our patient. The fact that our patient's urticarial rash and eosinophilia did not resolve after treatment for her giardiasis led us to pursue a further workup that led to the ultimate diagnosis.…”

Isosporiasis in Venezuelan Adults Infected With Human Immunodeficiency Virus: Clinical Characterization

“…This observation, previously reported by others, suggests an aller- gic mechanism probably due to mucosal damage that could increase the absorption of possible allergens such parasitic antigens and alimentary antigens. 15,16 This finding is also correlated with the frequent presence of mucus in the stool samples of the patients. The presence of mucoid stools associated with isosporiasis has been previously described 1 and suggests an inflammatory process.…”

Severe eosinophilia in a case of giardiasis

“…Severe eosinophilia is associated with a number of conditions including helminthic infections, precursor B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia, precursor T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma and various hypereosinophilic syndromes usually characterized by end-organ involvement 4. A few cases of giardiasis associated with eosinophilia have been reported5–7 but the extremely high eosinophil count seen in our patient is virtually unknown. The unusual presentation of giardiasis in this case could have posed a diagnostic dilemma.…”

“…The rarity of this finding implies that infection with Giardia lamblia alone is not enough to trigger an eosinophilic response and there must be other factors involved. Dos Santos and Vituri, who reported an association of eosinophilia with giardiasis in a Brazilian study, have suggested the possible role of Giardia lamblia allergens in provoking eosinophilia,7 while Ferrante et al have attributed this finding to an interaction between different eosinophilopoietic stimuli 6. However, these are conjectures and the exact mechanism remains unexplained.…”