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Short report: do intestinal nematodes increase the risk for multibacillary leprosy?
L M Diniz1, E Zandonade, R Dietze
1Núcleo de Doenças Infecciosas and Pathology Department, Centro Biomédico, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Vitória, Brazil.
The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
|January 17, 2002
Summary
Intestinal helminth infections are more common in leprosy patients, particularly those with severe multibacillary leprosy. This suggests helminths may increase the risk or severity of Mycobacterium leprae infection.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Infectious Diseases
- Parasitology
Background:
- Intestinal helminths modulate host immunity towards Th2 responses, causing eosinophilia and elevated immunoglobulin E.
- Leprosy presents diverse clinical forms, with multibacillary leprosy linked to Th2 cytokines and paucibacillary leprosy to Th1 cytokines.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between intestinal helminth infections and different forms of leprosy.
Main Methods:
- Comparative analysis of intestinal helminth infection frequencies in leprosy patients (lepromatous and paucibacillary forms) and a control group.
- Assessment of correlation between mycobacterial index and intestinal helminth prevalence.
Main Results:
- A significantly higher frequency of intestinal helminth infections was observed in patients with lepromatous leprosy (a multibacillary form) compared to paucibacillary leprosy or controls (OR=2.99).
- A direct correlation was found between the mycobacterial index and the frequency of intestinal helminths.
Conclusions:
- Intestinal helminth infections are more prevalent in patients with lepromatous leprosy.
- The presence of intestinal helminths may contribute to the establishment or progression of Mycobacterium leprae infection to more severe forms of leprosy.