Revista do Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo (Aug 1988)

Interrelation between parasitic infections and hypovitaminosis A: Schistosoma mansoni infection and the retinol blood levels in an endemic area of State of Minas Gerais (Brazil)

  • Maria Suzana de Lemos Souza,
  • Omar dos Santos Carvalho,
  • Dirceu Wagner Carvalho de Souza,
  • Cristiano Lara Massara,
  • Rocival L. Araújo,
  • Nadja Maria Saldanha Paulino,
  • Maria José Amarante Ribeiro,
  • Francisco Carlos Oliveira,
  • Josardo da Natividade Nogueira,
  • Thales Edson Chaves,
  • Evaldo Bayão Jr.,
  • Robson Luis Assis

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1590/S0036-46651988000400006
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 30, no. 4
pp. 281 – 287

Abstract

Read online

The interrelation between schistosomiasis and the retinol blood levels was studied in a double blind method, by comparing the serum vitamin A of the infected and non-infected group of an endemic area of Schistosoma mansoni infection. The infected group was characterized by 106 parasitized persons in the intestinal and hepatointestinal forms, who eliminated less than 500 eggs/gram of feces (Modified Kato's method); the non-infected group was characterized by 112 inhabitants of this endemic area without eggs in the stools and presenting negative intradermal reactions, and absence of previous specific treatment. The blood levels of retinol was determinated using trifluoracetic acid method, regarding the normal levels > 20,0mg/100ml. The results of this study point out the absence of correlation between S. mansoni infection and blood levels of vitamin A.

Keywords