Intestinal worm burden and serum cholesterol or lipid concentration in a Shipibo population (Peru)

Paired samples of stool and serum of 32 members of the Shipibo tribe resident in the rain forest of the Peruvian lowlands were tested for worm egg count and serum lipid parameters, respectively. 90% of the stool samples tested were found to contain eggs or larvae of several worm species, most commonly 3 or 4 different species. Serum lipid levels were found to be relatively low, most probably due to a low proportion of dietary fat ranging from 16-31%. Statistical analysis showed a significant inverse correlation between worm egg excretion and HDL levels which was true for hookworm, strongyloides and trichuris, but not for ascaris. The mechanisms underlying the observed association between intestinal worm load and HDL reduction are not completely understood and may include reduced HDL synthesis in the gut wall due to inflammatory and/or toxic irritation.