Coincidence of deficient delayed hypersensitivity and intestinal protozoa in homosexual men.
Stool samples of 134 subjectively and apparently healthy male homosexual volunteers were studied, and in 86 men (64.2%) 190 parasite infestations, up to 6 per host, were identified. The most frequent species were Endolimax nana (40), Entamoeba coli (38), Entamoeba histolytica (34), Entamoeba hartmanni (32), and Iodamoeba bütschlii (22); Cryptosporidium was not found. All 11 isolates of Entamoeba histolytica analysed belonged to a noninvasive zymodeme: 10 were of zymodeme I and I of zymodeme III. In 172 healthy control adults 6 parasite infestations were found. In the homosexual men, a negative tuberculin test was more frequent in the presence than in the absence of parasites. Entamoeba histolytica (p = 0.005) Entamoeba coli (p = 0.013) and Iodamoeba bütschlii (p = 0.004) were associated with the anergy.
Jokipii
L
L
Department of Serology and Bacteriology, University of Helsinki, Finland.
Sargeaunt
P G
PG
Jokipii
A M
AM
D000656:Amoeba / Q000302:isolation & purification; D000818:Animals; D004404:Dysentery, Amebic / Q000276:immunology* / Q000469:parasitology; D004709:Endolimax / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004747:Entamoeba / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004748:Entamoeba histolytica / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D006716:Homosexuality; D006801:Humans; D006968:Hypersensitivity, Delayed; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007422:Intestines / Q000469:parasitology; D008297:Male