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Trichinosis in an immunosuppressed human host
American Journal of Clinical Pathology
|December 1, 1977
Summary
Severe trichinosis occurred in an immunosuppressed patient with acute myelomonocytic leukemia. Cellular immunity failure likely contributed, making serodiagnosis impossible and highlighting muscle biopsy as the sole antemortem diagnostic method.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Hematology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Cellular immunity is crucial for defense against nematode infections.
- Acute myelomonocytic leukemia (AMML) can lead to immunosuppression.
- Trichinosis is a parasitic infection caused by roundworms of the genus Trichinella.
Observation:
- A patient with AMML presented with severe trichinosis.
- The patient's immunosuppressed state was likely a significant factor in the severity of the infection.
- Humoral immunity failure precluded serodiagnosis of trichinosis.
Findings:
- The severe trichinosis in this immunosuppressed patient was likely linked to compromised cellular immunity.
- Antemortem diagnosis of trichinosis was not possible via serological methods due to humoral immune failure.
- Muscle biopsy emerged as the only viable method for diagnosing trichinosis before death.
Implications:
- This case underscores the critical role of cellular immunity in controlling nematode infections like trichinosis.
- Immunosuppressed individuals with AMML are at high risk for severe parasitic infections.
- Diagnostic strategies for trichinosis in immunocompromised patients may need to rely on invasive methods like muscle biopsy.