Protozoal enteric infections in homosexual men.

The prevalence of enteric protozoal infections was examined in a group of 200 homosexual men. Entamoeba histolytica (E. histolyt .) was found in 22.8%, apathogen amoeba in 54.5% and Giardia lamblia (G. lamblia) in 9.1% of the participants. Antibodies against E. histolyt . were significantly higher in subjects carrying E. histolyt . than in the group with apathogen amoeba and in uninfected participants. Clinical symptoms were not associated with protozoal infection. The analysis of a number of variables showed that oral-anal sex and promiscuity were the two most important risk factors for protozoal infection. The clinical significance of protozoal enteric infections and their possible relation to the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) is discussed.