Occurrence of bile-duct/duodenal abnormalities in nine AIDS patients co-infected with Cryptosporidium hominis and/or C. parvum.

VELÁSQUEZ JN; DI RISIO M; MARTA, E; ASTUDILLO, O. G; ETCHART, C.; CUCHER, M. A.; CHERTCOFF, A.; PERISSÉ, E; CARNEVALE, S

ANNALS OF TROPICAL MEDICINE AND PARASITOLOGY

MANEY PUBLISHING

Año: 2010 p. 257 - 263

0003-4983

Various abnormalities of the digestive tract, including chronic diarrhoea, alithiasic cholecystitis and cholangiopathy, have been recognised as complications in the HIV-infected (Hunter and Nichols, 2002). Most such abnormalities are caused by opportunistic infections with coccidia, microsporidia, cytomegalovirus, or mycobacteria (Hind et al., 1991; Cello, 1992). Coccidia of the genus Cryptosporidium, for example, can cause chronic diarrhoea, alithiasic cholecystitis and sclerosing cholangitis in patients who are coinfected with HIV (Pitlik et al., 1983; Hind et al., 1991). Although eight species of Cryptosporidium (C. hominis, C. parvum, C. meleagridis, C. felis, C. canis, C. suis, C. muris and C. andersoni) and six genotypes (monkey, cervid, chipmunk genotype I, horse, skunk and rabbit) have been associated with human disease (Carey et al., 2004; Caccio` , 2005; Robinson et al., 2008), these parasites are morphologically indistinguishable and can only be accurately differentiated using molecular methods. The Cryptosporidium species found mostly commonly in humans are C. parvum (which causes most human infections in Europe) and C. hominis (which is more prevalent in North and South America, Australia and Africa) (Caccio`, 2005). Cryptosporidium hominis is transmitted, directly or indirectly, from person to person, and has rarely been found infecting animals other than humans (Carey et al., 2004). Although C. parvum may also be transmitted from person to person, it can be transmitted to humans from any of the 150 other mammalian species that act as hosts, including cows, sheep, horses, dogs and cats (Carey et al., 2004). In AIDS patients, the clinical features of cryptosporidiosis depend not only on the infecting species but also, sometimes, on the infecting subtype (Cama et al., 2007). Only some subtypes of C. hominis cause diarrhoea in the HIV-infected whereas C. parvum is usually associated with both diarrhoea and vomiting (Cama et al., 2007). Until now, there have not been any reports describing the effects of Cryptosporidium species on the clinical features of cholangiopathy in those co-infected with HIV (Pitlik et al., 1983; Hind et al., 1991; Cama et al., 2007). Little is known about the Cryptosporidium species infecting humans in Argentina. Although there are several reports of chronic diarrhoea and cholangiopathy associated with Cryptosporidium sp. in Argentinian AIDS patients (Mendez et al., 1994; Vela´squez et al., 1997, 2004; Curras et al., 1998), the Cryptosporidium species and/or genotypes involved have never been identified. The main aim of the present study was to explore the clinical manifestations caused by different Cryptosporidium species in AIDS patients living in Argentina.et al., 1991; Cello, 1992). Coccidia of the genus Cryptosporidium, for example, can cause chronic diarrhoea, alithiasic cholecystitis and sclerosing cholangitis in patients who are coinfected with HIV (Pitlik et al., 1983; Hind et al., 1991). Although eight species of Cryptosporidium (C. hominis, C. parvum, C. meleagridis, C. felis, C. canis, C. suis, C. muris and C. andersoni) and six genotypes (monkey, cervid, chipmunk genotype I, horse, skunk and rabbit) have been associated with human disease (Carey et al., 2004; Caccio` , 2005; Robinson et al., 2008), these parasites are morphologically indistinguishable and can only be accurately differentiated using molecular methods. The Cryptosporidium species found mostly commonly in humans are C. parvum (which causes most human infections in Europe) and C. hominis (which is more prevalent in North and South America, Australia and Africa) (Caccio`, 2005). Cryptosporidium hominis is transmitted, directly or indirectly, from person to person, and has rarely been found infecting animals other than humans (Carey et al., 2004). Although C. parvum may also be transmitted from person to person, it can be transmitted to humans from any of the 150 other mammalian species that act as hosts, including cows, sheep, horses, dogs and cats (Carey et al., 2004). In AIDS patients, the clinical features of cryptosporidiosis depend not only on the infecting species but also, sometimes, on the infecting subtype (Cama et al., 2007). Only some subtypes of C. hominis cause diarrhoea in the HIV-infected whereas C. parvum is usually associated with both diarrhoea and vomiting (Cama et al., 2007). Until now, there have not been any reports describing the effects of Cryptosporidium species on the clinical features of cholangiopathy in those co-infected with HIV (Pitlik et al., 1983; Hind et al., 1991; Cama et al., 2007). Little is known about the Cryptosporidium species infecting humans in Argentina. Although there are several reports of chronic diarrhoea and cholangiopathy associated with Cryptosporidium sp. in Argentinian AIDS patients (Mendez et al., 1994; Vela´squez et al., 1997, 2004; Curras et al., 1998), the Cryptosporidium species and/or genotypes involved have never been identified. The main aim of the present study was to explore the clinical manifestations caused by different Cryptosporidium species in AIDS patients living in Argentina.