The clinicopathological correlates of Cystoisosporiasis in immunocompetent, immunocompromised and HIV-infected/AIDS patients, but neglected in SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 patients?

Cystoisosporiasis (formerly isosporiasis) is caused by Cystoisospora belli (erstwhile named Isospora belli) is encountered globally, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions. Cystoisosporiasis is a human intestinal disease whose etiology is the parasite Cystoisospora belli with infection frequent in immunocompromised subjects, principally HIV-infected and AIDS patients. This coccidium parasite infects the epithelial cells and lining of the villi of the small and large intestines. C. belli is the least frequent of the three intestinal coccidia, viz: Cryptosporidium, microsporidium and C. belli which perturb humans. The clinical presentation of cystoisosporiasis gives a semblance of inflammatory bowel disease and irritable bowel syndrome, as well as other gastrointestinal symptoms, nausea, vomiting and diarhoea found in COVID-19, AIDS and HIV-infected patients. Research has not presented comorbid features of COVID-19 and cystoisosporiasis. The oocytes of C. belli are visualizable microscopically on wet mounts via bright-field, differential interference contrast (DIC) and epifluorescence. Trimethoprin sulfamethoxazole constitute the normal treatment of choice. C. belli,HIV-infected/AIDS and COVID-19 patients have clinicopathological correlates necessary to elucidate comorbidities and mechanisms of the diseases.

Cystoisosporiasis, erstwhile recognized as isosporiasis constitutes an unusual diarrhoeal morbidity due to the protozoon, Cystoisospora belli, previously identified as Isospora belli. Cystoisospora belli is the sole species of the genus Cystoisospora. In 1860 [1,2], Virchow initially established it as such. The genus Cystoisospora has ardent relationship with Cyclospora, Cryptosporidium and Toxoplasma. However, Cystoisosporiasis infection seldom occurs in comparison to the latter two. The index case was in 1915 [1,2]. Cystoisospora undergoes maturation in enterocytes, and are passed through faeces, and transmitted via faecal-oral route from inake of contaminated or polluted food or water, as well as direct contact with cystoisospora-infected objects, immunocompromised and immunocompetent persons [3]. There is no extant veritable treatment for Cystoisospora infections in immunocompromised entities, such as HIV/AIDS infected individuals [4]; thus, paving the trajectory for epidemiological elucidation and strategy for prevention and effective control of the transmission and dissemination of the disease and parasite as well as Cryptosporidium [5,6] and Microsporidium [7] in HIV-positive and AIDS patients. The probable comorbidity of cystoisosporiasis and the novel coronavirus has perspicuously been neglected in the current pandemic studies of COVID-19. The presenting clinicopathological correlates in C. Belli, HIV-infected/AIDS and COVID-19 patients are pertonent features to differentiate, explicate and control these infections in the community.

Life history

C. belli is a protozoan parasite of the Phylum Apicomplexa. The coccidium has subcellular organelles and a life cycle with both sexual and asexual stages in a single host; and ostensibly contributes to an appreciable percentage of persistent and fulminating diarrhoea in HIV/AIDS patients globally. C. belli infects Man through the ingestion of sporulated oocytes in contaminated or polluted water or food. The sporulated oocytes are capable of surviving in the internal or external milieu for prolonged period. Endogenous stages of C. belli constitute multinucleated asexual stages (schizonts), uninucleated asexual stages (merozoites), ovum-like stage/female sexual stages (macrogamonts), male sexual stages/sperm-like stages (microgamonts) and oocytes which are produced through fertilization of a macrogamont. The endogenous stages occur in vacuoles within erythrocytes lining the villi of small and large intestines [8]; and seldom in the epithelium of bile duct [9]. Certain merozoites are detectable in the lamina propria [10], with probable resultant intestinal infestations. Monozoic cysts have been detected in the lamina propria of AIDS patients; and intestinal infections with tissue cyst-like stages have perspicuously occurred in mesenteric, periaortic and mediastinal lymph nodes, liver and spleen of AIDS patients [11], and ostensibly in immunocompetent patients, where they are dormant representatives of the infestation with solitary merozoite stages. These are ostensibly implicated in resurgences observed in several patients [12].

Epidemiology

The Cystoisospora belli parasites which are commonly detected in HIV-infected and AIDS subjects in tropical and subtropical environments constitute circa 20% of diarrhoeal episodes or events in these patients [13]. However, among the three coccidia Cryptosporidium [5, 6], microsporidium [7] and Cystoisospora, the latter is the least deleterious. A paramount issue in HIV/AIDS is diarrhoea due to opportunistic intestinal protozoa, such as Cystoisospora belli. An estimated pooled prevalence for Cystoisospora of 2.5% (788/105,922; 95% CI: 2.1% - 2.9%), with a high prevalence of infection has been realised in sub-Saharan Africa as well as a global high prevalence in patients presenting with diarrhoea [14]. An estimated 90% of HIV-infected and AIDS patients in LMICs, and 30% - 60% in high income countries present with diarrhoea [15]. Conversely, ecological analysis [16] show that temperate or high-income regions mostly present with an elevated rate of the novel coronavirus infection. C. belli infection is accompanied by diminished quality of life and worse prognosis for HIV/AIDS patients [17]. Also, evident are adverse diarrhoea in similar immunocompromised individuals and acute self-limiting excoriating cachexia and mortality in AIDS [18].

Clinicopathological characteristics

Usually, protozoal infections are not implicated in the etiology of peripheral or tissue eosinophilia, but C. belli infection constitutes an exception in this clinicopathologic instance [19]. C. belli infection in immunocompetent hosts precipitates into a self-limited diarrhoea with duration of 2-3 weeks. In HIV-infected and AIDS patients with CD4 counts < 200 cells/mm3 not on TMP/SMX prophylaxis, it presents as severe, debilitating and protracted diarrhoea sometimes accompanied by anorexia, cachexia, fatigue,fever, nausea and vomiting [20]. Other clinical manifestations include profuse, watery, non-bloody diarrhoea, and odoriferous flatus, cramping abdominal pain, mimics inflammatory bowel disease and irritable bowel syndrome, less frequent vomiting that is seldom accompanied by nausea, low-grade fever, steatorrhoea in protracted cases, seldom presentations of headache and myalgia, while diarrhoea is the most debilitating sequelae, especially in young or immunoincapacitated patients [21, 22]. On the other hand, young persons are generally spared in SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 infections [16].

Gall bladder perturbation

Cystoisosporiasis is a gallbladder infection that has not been given due cognizance in immunocompetent hosts due to surreptitious histopathologic findings and low index of uncertainty during routine examination of cholecystectomy specimens. It is crucial to detect the Cystoisospora belli in order to elucidate the life cycle and to be informed of its clinicopathological characteristics in immunocompromised victims [23] as in HIV-infected and AIDS patients. Cholecystectomy indications have remarkably altered as Cystoisospora belli has continuously been reported in immunocompetent patients. The residence prevalence and clinical association of C. belli in the gallbladder presented a latent status with a commensal predisposition [24].

Diagnosis

The clinical presentation of cystoisosporiasis mimics cryptosporidiosis; thus, necessitating microscopic detection of stool sample or biopsy of the intestinal wall for differentiation and diagnostic confirmation or certainty [25]. The diagnosis is confirmed via oocyte identification in wet preparations or the application of modified acid fast stain. Where the stool examination is negative, it is pertinent to perform intestinal biopsy or duodenal aspirates for the identification of C. belli. The common diagnostic stage is the immature oocyte having a spherical protoplasm mass. Oocytes present as ellipsoids of 20-30um in length and 10-19um in width. A mature oocyte constitutes two sporocysts with four sporozoites [20].

Persistent diarrhoea of duration at least fourteen days is characteristically caused by bacteria or parasites, such as Cryptosporidium [5], and less commonly by Cystoisospora belli. Another testing procedure involves the multiplexpolymerase chain reaction (PCR), a simultaneous single test identifying unique DNA sequences for detecting a consortium of diarrhoeal etiologies [26]. It necessitates accurate diagnosis to ascertain the proper treatment regimen.

Treatment

The veritable treatment regimen for cystoisosporidiasis includes TMP/SMX as duly prescribed contextually, or pyrimethamine and leucovorin in combination or disparately with ciprofloxacin or other fluoroquinolones or nitazoxanide in immunocompetent hosts. In immunosuppressed patients, such as HIV-infected or AIDS subjects, it is advisable to consume TMP/SMX concomitantly with antiretroviral regimen [20].

Cystoisosporiasis and certain other protozoa constitute emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases [27]. Cystoisosporiasis is restrictively a human parasitosis located principally in the subtropics and tropics of low- and middle-income countries, LMICs than in high-income countries. The etiologic agent is Cystoisospora belli that infects Man through the ingestion of contaminated food or water containing the protozoon. In immunocompetent individuals, it is frequently self-limiting, asymptomatic or may present fever, diarrhoea and other symptoms. Conversely, in HIV-infected and AIDS patients, it presents severe symptomatic morbidity and clinicopathologic course. Also, COVID-19 patients present fever, gastrointestinal symptoms, such as diarrhoea, nausea and vomiting [28]. The work on Cystoisosporiasis must focus on target-based drug leads, discovery and development [29,30].

It is not probable that cystoisosporiasis patients are more susceptible to COVID-19/SARS-CoV-2 since there are absolutely no extant data to undergird such instance. However, the novel coronavirus alterations have diminished the capacity to deliver care.

The epidemiology and clinicopathologic attributes of C. belli undergird the significance of routine surveillance for the protozoon parasite in HIV-positive and AIDS patients as well as other immunosuppressed patients in vulnerable populations for the development of public policy, healthcare administration and delivery including optimum clinical settings and services locally and globally for sustainable development.

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