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Abstract
PurposeInvasive amebiasis is an emerging parasitic disorder in Taiwan, especially in patients diagnosed with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Thirty-three Taiwanese subjects with amebic liver abscess (ALA) were examined and a possible correlation between ALA and HIV infection was investigated.ResultsAmong ALA patients, the proportion of HIV-positive individuals increased during the study period. ALA was the first major clinical presentation in 54% of HIV patients with ALA. Overall, 58% (14/24) of HIV-infected patients had a CD4+ count > 200 cells/μL and 82.1% (23/28) had no concurrent opportunistic infection or other evidence of HIV infection. There was no marked difference in clinical characteristics between HIV-positive and HIV-negative ALA patients except the level of leukocytosis.ConclusionWhile the clinical characteristics described herein cannot be used to determine whether ALA patients have HIV infection, routine HIV testing is recommended in patients with ALA, even in the absence of HIV symptoms.
Highlights
Amebiasis, a parasitic infection caused by Entamoeba histolytica, is transmitted by ingestion of food or water containing the cyst form of the parasite, and results in amebic colitis and the formation of amebic liver abscess (ALA)
Increase in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in ALA patients During the study period, 37 patients met the diagnostic criteria for ALA
After 2002, the rate of ALA patients coinfected with HIV increased to 100% (9/9) (Figure 1)
Summary
A parasitic infection caused by Entamoeba histolytica, is transmitted by ingestion of food or water containing the cyst form of the parasite, and results in amebic colitis and the formation of amebic liver abscess (ALA). Amebiasis is one of the most infectious diseases in the world with developing countries, including Central and South America, tropical Asia, and Africa, as areas of highest incidence. Patients with advanced human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) represent one of the highest risk groups of invasive amebiasis [1,2]. Luminal agents such as paromomycin, diloxanide furoate, and iodoquinol are typically used for the treatment of amebiasis caused by E. histolytica infection [1].
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