Prevalence of enteric parasites in homosexual patients attending an outpatient clinic

Abstract

A total of 372 pooled stool specimens from 274 homosexual men with diarrhea were submitted for parasitologic examination over a 2.5-year period. Each two-vial pooled specimen set contained portions of stool from 3 consecutive days in Formalin and polyvinyl alcohol. Of the 274 patients, 133 (48.5%) harbored one or more intestinal protozoa, with 161 (43.3%) of the 372 specimens submitted being positive for one or more organisms. The parasites identified included Entamoeba histolytica (71 patients), Giardia lamblia (22 patients), Endolimax nana (106 patients), Entamoeba coli (39 patients), Entamoeba hartmanni (25 patients), Dienta,moeba fragilis (3 patients), lodamoeba butschlii (2 patients), and Chilomastix mesnili (2 patients). Cryptosporidium sp. (2 patients) and Isospora belli (1 patient) were also detected. Results of this study support the experience of other workers regarding high rates of infection with intestinal parasites in the homosexual population and also indicate that symptomatic individuals belonging to this acquired immunodeficiency syndrome risk group be screened for both common and uncommon intestinal pathogens.

A review ofDientamoeba fragiliscarriage in humans: Several reasons why this organism should be considered in the diagnosis of gastrointestinal illness

“…Inversely, some studies failed to detect Dientamoeba in the stools of HIV infected patients with or without GI complaints. [83][84][85] Peters et al 86 found that over 1% of homosexual men with diarrhea (regardless of HIV status) carried Dientamoeba. Lainson and da Silva 87 reported Dientamoeba in 1/34 HIV infected individuals.…”

Prevalence of Enteric Protozoa in Human Immunodeficiency Virus (Hiv)–positive and Hiv-Negative Men Who Have Sex With Men From Sydney, Australia

“…High rates of enteric protozoan parasitism have been reported among men who have sex with men (MSM) in metropolitan areas throughout the world. [1][2][3] Sexual activity has been shown to be the primary mode of transmission for several important parasitic diseases and has resulted in a significant prevalence of enteric parasitic infections among male homosexuals. 4 Furthermore, the association between intracellular intestinal parasites and infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is well documented.…”

“…Previous documented prevalence rates of enteric protozoa in MSM include 48.5% in the United States, 50.6% in mainland China, 57% in the United Kingdom, and 81% in a 128 Australian homosexual males. 1,[3][4][5] Intestinal parasitosis is an important health problem affecting people in both developing and developed regions of the world. Although this is usually self-limiting and almost invariably non-fatal, it results in significant morbidity.…”

Enteric parasitic infections in HIV/AIDS patients before and after the highly active antiretroviral therapy

“…Among immunocompromised patients, for example those with HIV, certain risk behaviors, such as homosexual relations and practicing oro-anal sex, can exacerbate the possibility of acquiring some intestinal parasitoses such as giardiasis, cryptosporidiosis and strongyloidiasis, where the symptomatic pictures are more serious than those of individuals with a non-compromised immune system [11,12]. Keystone and et al (1980) [13] demonstrated, even before the discovery of AIDS, the greater risk for infection by intestinal parasites through these risk behaviors when comparing the prevalence of enteroparasites between groups of heterosexual and homosexual males.…”