title: Dermatophytosis and immunovirological status of HIV-infected and AIDS patients from Sao Paulo city, Brazil.
abstract: Over the past decades, more people became infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and developed acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Because of that the incidence of fungal infections rose dramatically. It happened because this virus can modify the course of fungal diseases, leading to altered clinical pictures. The aim of this study was to evaluate epidemiological and biological aspects of dermatophytosis in HIV-positive and AIDS patients living in the city of São Paulo, Brazil. A total of 84 (44 HIV-positive and 40 AIDS) patients were enrolled in this study. The patients were tested for dermatophyte infections, as well as for the CD4(+) /CD8(+) and HIV viral load counts. Tinea unguium was most frequently observed in AIDS patients, whereas Tinea pedis was mostly observed in HIV-positive patients. The most frequent dermatophyte species was Trichophyton rubrum. CD4(+) counts and CD4(+) /CD8(+) ratios were not associated with a higher risk for dermatophytosis. On the other hand, viral load higher than 100 000 copies/ml was associated with a higher frequency of dermatophytosis. The results suggest to that although dermatophytosis is common in HIV-positive and AIDS patients, the degree of immunosuppression does not seems to correlate with increased risk of this fungal infection. In addition, high viral load as a predictive risk factor for dermatophyte infection should be subject of further evaluations.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Mycology, Department of Microbiology, Biomedical Science Institute II (ICB II), University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil; Laboratory of Medical Investigation in Dermatology and Immunodeficiency (LIM 56), Faculty of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Bosco Christiano Maciel
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: da Silva
authors.forename: Claudete Rodrigues
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Paula
authors.forename: Marcos Ereno
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Auler
authors.forename: Luciana da Silva
authors.initials: Lda S
authors.lastname: Ruiz
authors.forename: Jairo Ivo
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Dos Santos
authors.forename: Márcia Cristina Naomi
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Yoshioka
authors.forename: Alexandre
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fabris
authors.forename: Luiz Guilherme Martins
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Castro
authors.forename: Alberto José da Silva
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Duarte
authors.forename: Walderez
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Gambale
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003883:Arthrodermataceae / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D016516:CD4-CD8 Ratio; D003881:Dermatomycoses / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D006678:HIV / Q000302:isolation & purification; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019562:Viral Load; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: AIDS; Brazil; HIV; Tinea; Trichophyton rubrum; dermatophytosis