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

• 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: Schistosomiasis; Immunodeficiency; Chronic dermatophytosis; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Arctic
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1590/0037-8682-0107-2016; https://doaj.org/article/ccb8ccb73eda4fc093465cf665dc5a5b

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.