Children with Blastocystis Less Likely to be Infected with Tuberculosis in Lima, Peru

Researchers studying 378 children (168 with TB and 168 controls) report that Blastocystis infection is associated with a significantly lowered risk for TB (p=0.002).  The relationship seems to follow a dose-response curve, with children showing higher numbers of Blastocystis in stool samples being at an even lower risk.  The researchers note what would be the most common conclusion, that Blastocysts might provide protection against TB.  But they also suggest other mechanisms might be responsible, for example, if TB infection reduced shedding of Blastocystis.  (It may be worth mentioning that Blastocystis + TB researchers have independently reported that high IL-10 production protects against TB while increasing risk of asymptomatic Blastocystis infection  -ed).     View study from the American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

Comments are closed.