Cellular immunodeficiency related to chronic dermatophytosis in a patient with Schistosoma mansoni infection: can schistosomiasis induce immunodeficiency?

Abstract: Here, we describe a case of hepatosplenic schistosomiasis that progressed to widespread persistent dermatophytosis. Significant T and B lymphocytopenia was confirmed. T-cell deficit is associated with increased susceptibility to fungal infections of skin and mucous membranes. The accumulat...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Published in:Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical
Main Authors: Maurício Domingues Ferreira, Anna Cristina Collaniere, Dalton Luís Bertolini, Noac Chuffi Barros, Dewton de Moraes Vasconcelos
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical (SBMT)
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1590/0037-8682-0107-2016
https://doaj.org/article/ccb8ccb73eda4fc093465cf665dc5a5b
Description
Summary:Abstract: Here, we describe a case of hepatosplenic schistosomiasis that progressed to widespread persistent dermatophytosis. Significant T and B lymphocytopenia was confirmed. T-cell deficit is associated with increased susceptibility to fungal infections of skin and mucous membranes. The accumulation of a large amount of blood cells in the spleen could have played a crucial role in the development of lymphocytopenia in the present case. Alternatively, the schistosomiasis-induced increase in prostaglandin E2 levels could have inhibited the production of interferon-γ, a cytokine fundamental to fungal resistance. This case shows the potential of hepatosplenic schistosomiasis to impair the immune response.