Intestinal parasitic infections in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive and HIV-negative individuals in San Pedro Sula, Honduras.

Abstract

Abstract. Honduras has at least five-times more human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected individuals than any other country in Central America. The relationship between HIV status and the presence of intestinal parasites in this part of the world is unknown. This study presents the results from a prospective, comparative study for the presence of parasites in 52 HIV-positive and 48 HIV-negative persons in San Pedro Sula, Honduras. Infection with HIV was determined by microagglutination and confirmed by Western blot analysis. Parasites were detected in stools using formalin-ether concentration, and Kinyoun and trichrome staining. Age, sex, and clinical state of HIV infection were recorded for each study participant. Our results indicate that Cryptosporidium parvum and Strongyloides stercoralis, which are intracellular or live in the mucosa, were found exclusively in persons infected with HIV. In comparison, the prevalence of the extracellular parasites Giardia lamblia, Ascaris lumbricoides, and Trichuris trichiura was significantly higher (P Ͻ 0.05) in persons who were HIV-negative. Trichuris worms are in contact with the gut epithelium and less so with the mucosa, whereas Strongyloides lives within the gut mucosa. It is possible that changes in the gut epithelium due to HIV infection do not affect the mucosa and therefore would not affect Strongyloides. We conclude that infection with HIV may selectively deter the establishment of certain intestinal parasites. This may be due to the fact that HIV-induced enteropathy does not favor the establishment of extracellular parasites. Intracellular and mucosal dwelling organisms, however, may benefit from pathologic changes and reduced local immune responses induced by the virus, which, in turn, may lead to higher prevalence among HIV-infected individuals.

Intestinal parasites and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) status of children in Jos, Nigeria

“…In both groups, 33 of the 255 patients (12.9%) were infected with extracellular parasites. This was similar to studies by Lindo et al (1998) and Meamar et al (2007) who reported similar rates in both HIV infected and uninfected individuals studied. HIV-induced enteropathy does not favour the establishment of extracellular parasites (Lindo et al, 1998).…”

Evaluation of techniques for the diagnosis of Strongyloides stercoralis in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) positive and HIV negative individuals in the city of Itajaí, Brazil

“…It has been postulated that helminths, such as S. stercoralis, produce different types of intestinal infection in HIVinfected patients, such as chronic diarrhea [6]. This may be due to fact that HIV-induced enteropathy does not favor the establishment of intercellular parasites [7]. Studies made on HIV-positive patients have shown that the morbidity caused by S. stercoralis can be quite debilitating [8,9], and therefore correct diagnosis of this parasite is of great importance.…”

HAART and Immune status as predictors of opportunistic enteric coccidian infections in HIV/AIDS patients

“…Awole et al 11 also made a similar observation that there is no evidence for an increased prevalence of Giardia lamblia, Entamoeba histolytica in HIV positive patients and exposure to these 2 parasites is likely to occur independently of HIV infection. Lindo et al 12 found that the prevalence of G. lamblia, A.lumbricoides and T. trichura were significantly higher in HIV negative patients. In the present study too, none of the conventional parasites were isolated.…”