SUMMARYWe screened 176 healthy, adult (aged 18–55 years) US refugees from tuberculosis (TB)-endemic countries to evaluate whether cytokine responses to latent TB infection (LTBI) are modified in the setting of concurrentH. pyloriand helminth infection. As measured by the Quantiferon-TB GOLD interferon-γ release assay, a total 38 (22%) subjects had LTBI, of which 28 (74%) also wereH. pyloriseropositive and/or helminth infected. Relative to ten subjects with LTBI only, 16 subjects with concurrentH. pyloriinfection had significantly elevated levels of IFN-γ, and nine subjects with bothH. pyloriand helminth infection had significantly elevated levels of IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-13, and IL-5.H. pyloriis associated with enhanced IFN-γ responses to TB, even in the setting of concurrent helminth infection. Efficacy of TB vaccines may vary with the co-existence of these three infections in the developing world.
Malnutrition and Helminth Infection Affect Performance of an Interferon -Release Assay