Correlation between human T cell lymphotropic virus type-1 and Strongyloides stercoralis infections and serum immunoglobulin E responses in residents of Okinawa, Japan.
To clarify the relationship between Strongyloides stercoralis, infection with human T cell lymphotropic virus type-1 (HTLV-1), and serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels, epidemiologic investigations of these two infections were conducted in inhabitants of Okinawa, a subtropical zone in Japan. Blood and feces samples were taken from 1,347 healthy inhabitants (554 males and 793 females). Antibody to HTLV-1 was measured by particle agglutination, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and Western blotting. The presence of Strongyloides was determined by direct detection of rhabditiform larvae in fresh stool on agar-plate cultures. Serum IgE levels in 127 inhabitants were measured by a fluoroenzyme immunoassay. Antibody to HTLV-1 was detected in 23.0% of the blood samples and was more frequent in females (25.1%) than in males (20.0%) (P < 0.05). Strongyloides were detected in 21.9% of the feces samples and were more frequent in males (31.9%) than in females (14.9%) (P < 0.001). The prevalence of both infections increased with age, especially in persons 50 years of age and older: The prevalence of Strongyloides infection was significantly higher in HTLV-1 carriers (31.6%) than in those without HTLV-1 infection (P < 0.001). The level of IgE was low in HTLV-1 carriers, and significantly lower in HTLV-1 carriers than in noncarriers among inhabitants with Strongyloides infection. Both HTLV-1 and Strongyloides infections are endemic in the area studied.
Hayashi
J
J
Department of General Medicine, Kyushu University Hospital, Fukuoka, Japan.
Kishihara
Y
Y
Yoshimura
E
E
Furusyo
N
N
Yamaji
K
K
Kawakami
Y
Y
Murakami
H
H
Kashiwagi
S
S
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000372:Agglutination Tests; D000382:Agricultural Workers' Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D000818:Animals; D000909:Antibodies, Helminth / Q000097:blood; D015153:Blotting, Western; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D015481:HTLV-I Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D015490:HTLV-I Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood*; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D017678:Sex Distribution; D017171:Strongyloides stercoralis / Q000276:immunology*; D013322:Strongyloidiasis / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*
D000909:Antibodies, Helminth; D015481:HTLV-I Antibodies; D007073:Immunoglobulin E