Cystoisospora Belli Infection in HTLV-1 Patients and Progression to Acute T-Cell Leukemia

Authors: Nakazaki JCF*, Medina RG, Gutierrez SA, Montes M

DOI: 10.23880/vij-16000344

Volume 8, Issue 1

Abstract

Cystoisospora belli is a parasite in tropical and subtropical regions. It is transmitted via a direct fecal-oral cycle and is more common in areas with poor sanitation and warm weather. Severe cases have been reported in patients with HIV, organ transplants, and tumors worldwide. People with HTLV-1 are also at risk of persistent parasitic coinfections, such as S. stercoralis and C. belli. We describe a couple of cases of cystoisosporiasis in patients with HTLV-1 infection. The first case is a 45-year-old female who presented chronic watery diarrhea, for which she was diagnosed with C. belli infection. Thus, she was treated with TMP/SMX. An ATL diagnosis was made on the same admission. The second case is a 33-year-old female patient with a previous diagnosis of HTLV-1 who went to the emergency room multiple times due to recurrent watery diarrhea after multiple treatment and prophylaxis schemes. The cases suggest a potential link between C. belli infection in HTLV-1 patients and early development of ATL. Routine modified acid-fast staining should be conducted for C. belli in HTLV-1 patients. Further research is necessary to determine the potential association between this coccidia and HTLV-1.

Keywords: Diarrhoea; Human T-Lymphotropic Virus 1; Cystoisospora Belli; Flow Cytometry

View PDF