Cryptosporidiosis in Hiv-Infected Venezuelan Adults Is Strongly Associated With Acute or Chronic Diarrhea

Abstract

A cross-sectional study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of cryptosporidiosis and its clinical and laboratory pattern in Venezuelan HIV-infected patients (N = 397). At enrollment, they underwent thorough clinical history and physical examination and provided stool specimens for the identification of Cryptosporidium sp. and other parasites. Cryptosporidium sp. was identified in 59 subjects (15%). This infection was strongly associated with acute and chronic diarrhea, weight loss, CD4(+) counts below 100 cells/mm(3), older age in patients with leukopenia, and more than 5 stools per day when CD4(+) counts were below 100 cells/mm(3). In addition, patients with Cryptosporidium infection were less likely to be coinfected with Isospora belli (OR = 0.05, P = 0.001). In fact, results of the current study confirm the worldwide importance of cryptosporidiosis as a clinically significant opportunistic infection associated with an advanced stage of immunosuppression.

Unusual Enterocytozoon bieneusi Genotypes and Cryptosporidium hominis Subtypes in HIV-Infected Patients on Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy

“…Except for one patient with Type IV, most patients in the study were infected with members (Nig4, Nig6, and Nig7) of a new genotype group (Group 6) unique to HIV patients in Nigeria. 28,29 The difference in microsporidiosis occurrence between these studies and our study could be because of differences in the duration of HAART; in our study, patients had been on HAART for only 3-6 months.…”

The Natural History of Antibody Responses toCryptosporidiumParasites in Men at High Risk of HIV Infection

“…We observed similar responses for some of the persons enrolled in the present study (e.g., figure 2C). Studies have shown that persons with CD4 cell counts !100 cells/mm 3 have an increased risk of both acute and chronic cryptosporidiosis [6]; however, at least 1 study observed an increased risk of disease for persons with higher CD4 cell counts, between 500 and 1000 cells/mm 3 [7]. Although the ability to mount antibody responses to Cryptosporidium parasites may be correlated with resistance to infection, it is important to bear in mind that antibody, per se, may not be responsible for mediating protective effects.…”

Genetic characterization of Cryptosporidium parvum from calves by mutation scanning and targeted sequencing – zoonotic implications

“…The infection is usually short-lived ($2 weeks) and eliminated from the host following the development of an effective immune response against the parasite(s) [6]. However, chronic infections can develop in some hosts, such as neonatal or young animals, infants, the elderly and immuno-compromised or -suppressed patients [7,8], and can sometimes be fatal in the absence of treatment [9]. As anti-cryptosporidial drugs and vaccines are not highly effective or readily accessible in many countries [3], the control of cryptosporidiosis relies largely on preventative measures, diagnosis and an understanding of the epidemiology of Cryptosporidium species and genotypes [10].…”