AIDS and tropical diseases: Melioidosis, pythiosis and penicilliosis

Abstract

Patients with defective T-cell functions are more susceptible to intracellular and related tropical infections. Pseudomonas pseudomallei (melioidosis agent) and Penicillium marneffei are two common intracellular infections in the tropics. This study deals with AIDS patients infected with recrudescent melioidosis and with penicilliosis. Since Ps.pseudomallei produces a characteristic antigen, we modified the GalE Salmonella typhi Ty21a oral vaccine strain, as to be protective against melioidosis, in a conjugal DNA transfer experiment. Patients treated with four doses of this bivalent vaccine strain developed antibody against Ps.pseudomallei up to 70%. Four thalassemic patients with or without hemoglobinopathy infected with Pythium insidiosum, an aquatic Phycomycetes, and one patient with corneal pythiosis are described. Cellular immunity testing in AIDS patients with recrudescent melioidosis, with penicilliosis and patients with pythiosis revealed abnormal values.