Immunoepidemiologic studies of Strongyloides stercoralis and human T lymphotropic virus type I infections in Jamaica.
Epidemiologic investigations of Strongyloides stercoralis and human T lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) infections were conducted. Of 312 persons contacted, 209 (67%) provided blood and stool samples. Prevalences of S. stercoralis and HTLV-I antibodies were 26.8% and 8.1% (n = 198), respectively, and S. stercoralis larvae were detected in 4%. HTLV-I antibodies were significantly more common in persons positive for S. stercoralis larvae (10 [58.8%] of 17) compared with seropositive larva-negative (4 [8.9%] of 45) or seronegative persons (9 [6.2%] of 145) (P < .002). IgE levels increased with age in S. stercoralis-seropositive persons who were HTLV-I negative (P < .002). However, there was an age-related depression of serum IgE in HTLV-I-positive positive persons (P < .003) that was sufficient to annul the IgE level-raising effect of S. stercoralis seropositivity. The data provide evidence that HTLV-I infection is associated with increased frequency of larvae in the stool of S. stercoralis-infected persons and suggest that the mechanism may involve suppression of the IgE response.
Robinson
R D
RD
Department of Zoology, University of the West Indies, Kingston, Jamaica.
Lindo
J F
JF
Neva
F A
FA
Gam
A A
AA
Vogel
P
P
Terry
S I
SI
Cooper
E S
ES
D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D015490:HTLV-I Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007563:Jamaica / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D017171:Strongyloides stercoralis; D013322:Strongyloidiasis / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology