Isospora belli enteritis in three homosexual men.

Area of Science:

• Medical Parasitology
• Infectious Diseases
• Immunology

Background:

• Isospora belli is an infrequent cause of human diarrhea.
• It can lead to severe, chronic illness in immunocompromised individuals, similar to Cryptosporidium.

Observation:

• Three homosexual men presented with prolonged diarrhea.
• All patients exhibited lymphopenia, with two showing significant T cell helper-suppressor ratio reversal.

Findings:

• Isospora enteritis was diagnosed in all three patients.
• Two patients reported oral-anal contact, a known risk factor for enteric infections in this population.

Implications:

• Isospora belli may be a sexually transmitted pathogen.
• Consider Isospora belli in the differential diagnosis of diarrhea in homosexual men, especially those with immune deficiencies.