Title
Tuberculin skin-test reactions are unaffected by the severity of hyperendemic intestinal helminth infections and co-infections
Date Issued
01 August 2010
Access level
open access
Resource Type
journal article
Author(s)
ZEVALLOS VILLEGAS, KARINE
Vergara K.
Vergara A.
Vidal C.
GARCIA LESCANO, HECTOR HUGO
Abstract
The tuberculin skin test (TST) quantifies cell-mediated immunity to tuberculosis antigens. Helminths suppress cell-mediated immunity, so we studied the effect of helminth infection and deworming on the TST in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study in an indigenous Amazon community (N = 195). Stool microscopy diagnosed helminths in 98% and co-infection with multiple species in 24% of study subjects. The TST was positive (≥ 10 mm) for 49%, and responses increased with age (P < 0.001), Bacille Calmette Guerin (BCG) vaccination (P = 0.01), and tuberculosis contact (P = 0.05). TST results had no association with helminth-egg concentrations, species, or co-infections (all P > 0.1). One month after deworming with albendazole (three daily 400-mg doses), helminths were reduced, but 63% remained infected with helminths. Albendazole did not cause a change in TST size (P = 0.8) or positivity (P = 0.9) relative to placebo. Thus, TST reactions were unaffected by albendazole therapy that partially cured intestinal helminth infections, and TST interpretation was unaffected by high-burden helminth infections and co-infection with multiple helminth species. Copyright © 2010 by The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.
Start page
319
End page
325
Volume
83
Issue
2
Language
English
OCDE Knowledge area
Inmunología
Parasitología
Scopus EID
2-s2.0-77955614014
PubMed ID
Source
American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
ISSN of the container
00029637
Sources of information:
Directorio de Producción Científica
Scopus