TWiP 126: A virus walks into a parasite

This Week in Parasitism

Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Dickson Despommier, and Daniel Griffin

The TWiP Trinity solve the case of the Peace Corps volunteer with diarrhea, and reveal how immunizing against a virus ameliorates exacerbated leishmaniasis.

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Links for this episode:

• Viral vaccine prevents exacerbated leishmaniasis (PLoS NTD)
• For whom the trich tolls (TWiP 47)
• A virus in a parasite in a human (virology blog)
• Virologists in the mist (TWiV 128)
• Letters read on TWiP 126

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Case Study for TWiP 126

Another Peace Corps volunteer in Fiji. 24 yo male, several days of fever, headache, dry cough, rash. Feels poorly, starts diarrhea. No blood or mucus, no vomiting but abdominal discomfort. Heart rate over 100. At private nearby hospital for evaluation: no prior med probs or surgeries. Social history: MSM, not always protected, drinks every weekend. Home blown away by cyclone. Alcohol: drinks beer, a lot. White rice, split peas, bread diet. Fan of cava, also drank unfiltered water. He is admitted, continues to feel poorly. Continued fevers, localized abdominal pain RUQ. On exam he has tender palpable liver, elevated WBC 17.8, eosinopenia, 0 cells. AST/ALT slightly above normal. Dengue, chick, lepto, blood all negative. Ultrasound of liver: shows 8x8 cm mixed echogenic lesion in right lobe. HIV negative.

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