Protists as opportunistic pathogens: public health impact in the 1990s and beyond

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J E Kaplan1, J L Jones, C A Dykewicz

  • 1Division of AIDS, STD and TB Laboratory Research, National Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA. jxk2@cdc.gov

The Journal of Eukaryotic Microbiology
|January 29, 2000
PubMed

Insights

Opportunistic protist infections are a growing concern in immunocompromised individuals, particularly those with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and organ transplant recipients. Early detection and management are crucial for these vulnerable populations.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Microbiology

Background:

  • Protist pathogens (protozoa and fungi) are increasingly recognized as opportunistic infections.
  • Immunocompromised populations, including those with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and organ transplant recipients, are at higher risk.
  • The prevalence of these conditions has risen significantly in recent decades.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To highlight the growing threat of protist opportunistic infections in specific patient groups.
  • To identify common protist-related opportunistic infections in HIV-infected individuals and organ transplant recipients.
  • To underscore the potential emergence of new protist opportunistic infections.

Main Methods:

  • Review of current literature and clinical observations.
  • Analysis of epidemiological trends in opportunistic infections.
  • Identification of key protist pathogens and associated clinical syndromes.

Main Results:

  • Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia is the most frequent serious opportunistic infection in HIV-infected individuals in the US.
  • Toxoplasmosis, cryptococcosis, cryptosporidiosis, and isosporiasis are prevalent in HIV-infected persons globally.
  • Candidiasis and aspergillosis are common opportunistic infections in organ transplant recipients.

Conclusions:

  • Protist opportunistic infections pose a significant challenge in immunocompromised patients.
  • Continued expansion of immunosuppressed populations worldwide may lead to the emergence of novel protist opportunistic infections.
  • Vigilance and further research are necessary to combat these infections.

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