Ma P; International Conference on AIDS.
Int Conf AIDS. 1989 Jun 4-9; 5: 192 (abstract no. M.B.O.32).
St. Vincent's Hospital & Medical Center of NY, NY, USA
Explosive, chronic, fatal, nonbloody diarrhea with/without dissemination pose a very serious management problem in AIDS, especially those caused by Cryptosporidium Isospora, belli, and Microsporidia. These protozoans are easily detected in stool specimens using acidfast or immunofluorescent staining procedures, except Microsporidia which has not been demonstrated in stool and thus requires intestinal biopsy. Transmission is mostly fecal-oral, sexual, water/food borne, animal contact and possibly inhalation. Risk factors include travel to tropical countries, homosexuality immunocomprised, etc. Disseminated infection involves cholecystitis, hepatitis, pulmonary infection, for Cryptosporidium and myositis hepatitis for Microsporidia. Although Cryptosporidiosis in nonimmunocomprised host is self-limited, in AIDS, it is resistant to multiple therapies. Spiramycin and transfer factor have limited success. Currently, the most promising treatment is hyperimmune bovine colostrum from cows vaccinated with cryptosporidial antigen given to AIDS associated symptomatic patients resulting in long term remission. Isosporiasis with a much lower incidence than cryptosporidiosis is less devastating. Response to atabrin and sulfamethoxazole has been noted with/without recurrences in some earlier infections. Little is known of Microsporidia, the newly recognized pathogen in homosexual men with AIDS. Cases known so far are all fatal. In conclusion, drastic research is definitely needed to reduce high morbidity and mortality of these opportunistic infections in AIDS.
Publication Types:
Keywords:
- Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
- Animals
- Cattle
- Cryptosporidiosis
- Cryptosporidium
- Diarrhea
- Feces
- Humans
- Isospora
- Isosporiasis
- Male
- Microsporida
- Microsporidia
- Microsporidiosis
- Opportunistic Infections
- Sulfamethoxazole
- Transfer Factor
Other ID:
UI: 102176692
From Meeting Abstracts