Chemotherapy and immunity in opportunistic parasitic infections in AIDS

Parasitology ◽  
1992 ◽  
Vol 105 (S1) ◽  
pp. S93-S101 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Zumla ◽  
S. L. Croft
Keyword(s):  
Pneumocystis Carinii ◽  
Strongyloides Stercoralis ◽  
Scientific Data ◽  
Convincing Evidence ◽  
Parasitic Infections ◽  
Parasitic Diseases ◽  
Dependent Component ◽  
Parasite Infections ◽  
Immunodeficiency Syndrome ◽  
The Tropics

SUMMARYParasitic diseases are endemic in parts of the tropics, but there is no convincing evidence that their prevalence or incidence is increasing due to the HIV epidemic. Available scientific data on parasitic infections in patients with the Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) suggests a predominance of Pneumocystis carinii, Toxoplasma gondii and Cryptosporidium spp. For reasons which are unclear, parasitic infections such as Plasmodium falciparum, Strongyloides stercoralis and Entamoeba histolytica, where cell-mediated immune responses are also thought to be significant, do not appear to be opportunists of importance. It is being increasingly recognized that chemotherapy for parasitic diseases has a host-dependent component, although scientific data on this subject remain scanty. The management of opportunistic parasitic infections in patients infected with HIV is dogged by failures and relapses, aptly illustrating the notion of the relationship between chemotherapy and the immune response. This review discusses the immunity and chemotherapy of opportunistic parasite infections in patients infected with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).

scholarly journals The health impact of polyparasitism in humans: are we under-estimating the burden of parasitic diseases?

Parasitology ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 135 (7) ◽  
pp. 783-794 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. PULLAN ◽  
S. BROOKER
Keyword(s):  
Disease Burden ◽  
Parasite Species ◽  
Health Impact ◽  
Multiple Infections ◽  
Parasitic Infections ◽  
Parasitic Diseases ◽  
Human Parasite ◽  
Health Significance ◽  
The Tropics ◽  
International Strategies

SUMMARYParasitic infections are widespread throughout the tropics and sub-tropics, and infection with multiple parasite species is the norm rather than the exception. Despite the ubiquity of polyparasitism, its public health significance has been inadequately studied. Here we review available studies investigating the nutritional and pathological consequences of multiple infections with Plasmodium and helminth infection and, in doing so, encourage a reassessment of the disease burden caused by polyparasitism. The available evidence is conspicuously sparse but is suggestive that multiple human parasite species may have an additive and/or multiplicative impact on nutrition and organ pathology. Existing studies suffer from a number of methodological limitations and adequately designed studies are clearly necessary. Current methods of estimating the potential global morbidity due to parasitic diseases underestimate the health impact of polyparasitism, and possible reasons for this are presented. As international strategies to control multiple parasite species are rolled-out, there is a number of options to investigate the complexity of polyparasitism, and it is hoped that that the parasitological resarch community will grasp the opportunity to understand better the health of polyparasitism in humans.

Imported Opisthorchis viverrini and parasite infections from Thai labourers in Taiwan

1993 ◽  
Vol 67 (2) ◽  
pp. 102-106 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. W. Peng ◽  
H. L. Chao ◽  
P. C. Fan
Keyword(s):  
Intestinal Parasites ◽  
Clonorchis Sinensis ◽  
Strongyloides Stercoralis ◽  
Opisthorchis Viverrini ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Parasitic Infections ◽  
Concentration Method ◽  
Parasite Infections ◽  
Stool Samples ◽  
Capillaria Philippinensis

AbstractIn order to determine the prevalence of intestinal parasites among labourers from Thailand in Taiwan, the stool samples from 1364 Thai labourers were examined by the formalin-ether concentration method and 18·0% were found to be infected with one or more parasites. The infection rates of hookworm, Opisthorchis viverrini, Strongyloides stercoralis, Enterobius vermicularis, Ascaris lumbricoides, Hymenolepis nana, Capillaria philippinensis, Schistosoma japonicum, Echinostoma sp., Entamoeba coli, Giardia lamblia, and Entamoeba histolytica, were 7·6%, 7·0%, 3·2%, 0·5%, 0·3%, 0·1%, 0·1%, 0·l%,0·l%, 0·4%, 0·2%, and 0·1% respectively. The prevalence was highest among the 21–25 age group (24·8%). Among the 245 infected persons, 91% were infected with one parasite, 8% with two parasites and 1% with three parasites. The finding that parasitic infections are prevalent among Thai labourers demonstrates the need for control measures in foreign labourers in Taiwan and further studies to determine the susceptibility of O. viverrini to the snail hosts of Clonorchis sinensis.

Immunogold labeling of Pneumocystis carinii for Electron microscopy

1991 ◽  
Vol 49 ◽  
pp. 270-271
Author(s):  
Michael P. Goheen ◽  
Marilyn S. Bartlett ◽  
James W. Smith
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Pneumocystis Carinii ◽  
Severe Pneumonia ◽  
Culture Fluid ◽  
Immunogold Labeling ◽  
Antigenic Sites ◽  
Transmission Electron ◽  
Response To Chemotherapy ◽  
Acquired Immunodeficiency ◽  
Immunodeficiency Syndrome

Studies of the biology of Pneumocystis carinii (PC) are of increasing importance because this extracellular pathogen is a frequent source of severe pneumonia in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and is a leading cause of mortality in these patients. Immunoelectron microscopic localization of antigenic sites on the surface of PC would improve the understanding of these sites and their role in pathenogenisis of the disease and response to chemotherapy. The purpose of this study was to develop a methodology for visualizing immunoreactive sites on PC with transmission electron microscopy (TEM) using immunogold labeled probes.Trophozoites of PC were added to spinner flask cultures and allowed to grow for 7 days, then aliquots of tissue culture fluid were centrifuged at 12,000 RPM for 30 sec. Pellets of organisims were fixed in either 1% glutaraldehyde, 0.1% glutaraldehyde-4% paraformaldehyde, or 4% paraformaldehyde for 4h. All fixatives were buffered with 0.1M Na cacodylate and the pH adjusted to 7.1. After fixation the pellets were rinsed in 0.1M Na cacodylate (3X), dehydrated with ethanol, and immersed in a 1:1 mixture of 95% ethanol and LR White resin.

Recent Advances in the Development of Broad-Spectrum Antiprotozoal Agents

2020 ◽  
Vol 27 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antonio Moreno-Herrera ◽  
Sandra Cortez-Maya ◽  
Virgilio Bocanegra-Garcia ◽  
Bimal Krishna Banik ◽  
Gildardo Rivera
Keyword(s):  
Giardia Lamblia ◽  
Heterocyclic Compounds ◽  
Trichomonas Vaginalis ◽  
Mechanisms Of Action ◽  
Parasitic Infections ◽  
Parasitic Diseases ◽  
Pharmacological Treatments ◽  
Preclinical Development ◽  
Leishmania Spp ◽  
Effective Drugs

: Infections caused by Trypanosoma brucei, Trypanosoma cruzi, Leishmania spp., Entamoeba histolytica, Giardia lamblia, Plasmodium spp., and Trichomonas vaginalis, are part of a large list of human parasitic diseases. Together, they cause more than 500 million infections per year. These protozoa parasites affect both low- and high-income countries and their pharmacological treatment is limited. Therefore, new and more effective drugs in preclinical development could improve overall therapy for parasitic infections even when their mechanisms of action are unknown. In this review, a number of heterocyclic compounds (diamidine, guanidine, quinoline, benzimidazole, thiazole, diazanaphthalene, and their derivatives) reported as antiprotozoal agents are discussed as options for developing new pharmacological treatments for parasitic diseases.

scholarly journals Application of Dendrimers for Treating Parasitic Diseases

Pharmaceutics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 343
Author(s):  
Veronica Folliero ◽  
Carla Zannella ◽  
Annalisa Chianese ◽  
Debora Stelitano ◽  
Annalisa Ambrosino ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Drug Delivery ◽  
Water Solubility ◽  
Parasitic Infection ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Medical Knowledge ◽  
High Ratio ◽  
Molecular Volume ◽  
Parasitic Infections ◽  
Parasitic Diseases ◽  
Wide Range

Despite advances in medical knowledge, parasitic diseases remain a significant global health burden and their pharmacological treatment is often hampered by drug toxicity. Therefore, drug delivery systems may provide useful advantages when used in combination with conventional therapeutic compounds. Dendrimers are three-dimensional polymeric structures, characterized by a central core, branches and terminal functional groups. These nanostructures are known for their defined structure, great water solubility, biocompatibility and high encapsulation ability against a wide range of molecules. Furthermore, the high ratio between terminal groups and molecular volume render them a hopeful vector for drug delivery. These nanostructures offer several advantages compared to conventional drugs for the treatment of parasitic infection. Dendrimers deliver drugs to target sites with reduced dosage, solving side effects that occur with accepted marketed drugs. In recent years, extensive progress has been made towards the use of dendrimers for therapeutic, prophylactic and diagnostic purposes for the management of parasitic infections. The present review highlights the potential of several dendrimers in the management of parasitic diseases.

Effects of Atovaquone on the Ultrastructural Morphology of Pneumocystis Carinii

1997 ◽  
Vol 3 (S2) ◽  
pp. 81-82
Author(s):  
M.P. Goheen ◽  
M.S. Bartlett ◽  
M.M. Shaw ◽  
S.R. Meshnick ◽  
J.W. Smith
Keyword(s):  
Adverse Reactions ◽  
Pneumocystis Carinii ◽  
Spinner Flask ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Human Embryonic Lung ◽  
Transmission Electron ◽  
Significant Incidence ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Acquired Immunodeficiency ◽  
Immunodeficiency Syndrome

Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) occurs at some time in most patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole or pentamidine isothionate are the traditional modes of therapy for treatment and prophylaxis of PCP. Unfortunately these drugs are associated with a significant incidence of adverse side effects particularly in patients with AIDS. Toxicity and a growing concern that P. carinii strains are becoming resistant to these compounds is providing the impetus for the search for additional drugs to combat P. carinii. Atovaquone, developed as an antimalarial agent, has activity against a wide range of other organisms, including Toxoplasma sp. and P. carinii, with a lower incidence of adverse reactions during clinical trials. Atovaquone inhibits mitochondrial respiration in P. falciparum and P. carinii. In this study transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was used to observe the effects of atovaquone on P. carinii organisms in short term spinner flask culture.Spinner flask cultures of human embryonic lung cells were inoculated with P. carinii from infected rat lung.

Terminal ileum resection as a trigger for Strongyloides stercoralis hyperinfection and ensuing serial sepsis in a 37-year-old patient with complicated Crohnʼs disease: a case report

2018 ◽  
Vol 56 (04) ◽  
pp. 380-383 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mirjana Topić ◽  
Silvija Čuković-Čavka ◽  
Marko Brinar ◽  
Mirjana Kalauz ◽  
Ivica Škrlec ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Terminal Ileum ◽  
Skin Penetration ◽  
Strongyloides Stercoralis ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Clinical Settings ◽  
Solid Organ ◽  
Transplant Patients ◽  
Skin Contact ◽  
Life Threatening ◽  
The Tropics

AbstractThe nematode Strongyloides stercoralis, outside the tropics and subtropics present in small endemic foci, can cause an infection after direct skin contact with contaminated soil containing infective filariform larvae and, rarely, after intimate interhuman contact or after transplantation of an infected solid organ. Following skin penetration, migration, and maturation through several stages, a small number of invasive filariform larvae can develop anew in the gut lumen, perpetuating new cycles of penetration, tissue migration, and reproduction, without leaving the host.In a state of immunosuppression, autoinfection can progress to life-threatening hyperinfection and/or infection disseminated through virtually any organ. In developed countries, the most frequently recognized risk for severe hyperinfection is corticosteroid therapy, but this has been also described in malnourished, alcoholic, cancer, and transplant patients. Due to the frequent need for immunosuppressive therapy, patients suffering from inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are susceptible to develop overwhelming strongyloidiasis. Strongyloidiasis can be easily overlooked in clinical settings, and in many European regions there is poor insight into the epidemiological burden of this disease.We present a case of S. stercoralis hyperinfection that triggered 3 successive episodes of sepsis caused by pathogens of the gut flora in a young patient suffering from stenotic form of Crohn’s disease. S. stercoralis hyperinfection occurred in the corticosteroid-free period, shortly after resection of the terminal ileum, which was probably the trigger for the overwhelming course. The patient was successfully treated with 10-day albendazole therapy.

Role of Flexible Bronchoscopy and Bronchoalveolar Lavage in the Diagnosis of Pediatric Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome-Related Pulmonary Disease

PEDIATRICS ◽  
1991 ◽  
Vol 87 (6) ◽  
pp. 897-899
Author(s):  
Jose A. Birriel ◽  
Jose A. Adams ◽  
Kunjana Mavunda ◽  
Sue Goldfinger ◽  
Donald Vernon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bronchoalveolar Lavage ◽  
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ◽  
Pneumocystis Carinii ◽  
Fiberoptic Bronchoscopy ◽  
Relative Safety ◽  
Flexible Fiberoptic Bronchoscopy ◽  
Acquired Immunodeficiency ◽  
Immunodeficiency Syndrome ◽  
Parenchymal Lung Disease

Flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy with bronchoalveolar lavage was performed in 16 pediatric patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and deterioration in pulmonary function suggestive of opportunistic infection. In 62% of the patients Pneumocystis carinii was identified. Culture results showed a pure growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa for one patient in addition to the Pneumocystis carinii. Bronchoscopy with lavage was well tolerated, with few complications even among patients with significant tachypnea and hypoxia. Because of its relative safety and effectiveness, this procedure should be considered the first invasive measurement used for evaluation of parenchymal lung disease in this population of patients.

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