The Prevalence of Intestinal Parasitic Infestation and the Related Profile of the CD4+ Counts in HIV/AIDS People with Diarrhoea in Jaipur City

Abstract

Introduction: Gastrointestinal Tract (GIT) infections are among the most frequent infections in HIV/AIDS patients. The intestinal opportunistic parasitic infections in HIV-infected subjects present most commonly as diarrhoea. A study was conducted to determine the prevalence of enteric parasitic infections in HIV infected patients with diarrhoea, with different levels of immunity. Methods:This study was carried out at the HIV Lab of the Microbiology Department of a tertiary care teaching hospital in Jaipur, Rajasthan, between June-October 2009 among consecutively enrolled 75 HIV infected patients who presented with diarrhoea. Stool samples were collected and examined for enteric parasites by using microscopy and special staining methods. The CD 4 + cell counts were estimated by using the FACS count system. Results:Intestinal parasitic pathogens were detected in 38.66% patients, Cryptosporidium species was the most common enteric opportunistic parasite which accounted for 37.93 % of the total parasites, followed by Isospora belli 31.03 %. In the HIV infected patients with CD 4 + counts of < 200 cells/µl, parasites were identified in 56.25 % patients and in HIV patients with CD 4 + counts between 200-499 cells /µl, parasites could be identified in 27.5 % of the patients . No parasite was detected in the patients with CD 4 + counts of >500 cells/ µl. Conclusion:Parasitic infections were detected in 38.66% HIV infected patients with diarrhoea and a low CD 4 + count was significantly associated with opportunistic infections. Identification of the aetiological agent of diarrhoea in an HIV patient is very important, as it can help in the institution of the appropriate therapy and the reduction of the morbidity and the mortality in these patients.

Prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections among people living with HIV/AIDS visiting a central hospital of Kathmandu Nepal

“…Oral-anal and oral genital contact predisposes homosexuals to infection with enteric pathogens. 35 IPI was higher among PLHA having CD 4 -T cell counts <200/µl than having ≥200/µl, which shows agreements with reports from other countries regarding IPI in different CD 4 ranges 25,28,36,37 as well as from Nepal. 4,38 In studies conducted in Nepal, more than three-fifth to four-fifth of the HIV patients with CD 4 T-cell count <200 were found having parasitic infections.…”

Prevalence of Intestinal Parasites in HIV-Positive Patients Attending Ahvaz Health Centers in 2012: A Cross-Sectional Study in South of Iran

“…In other studies, the only parasite significantly found more in HIV-positive individuals compared to HIV-negative subjects was Cryptosporidium, which is consistent with the present study (17,18). In Vyas et al study, the prevalence of Cryptosporidium (37.93%) in northern India and the prevalence of Isospora belli (31.3%) in southern India was more than other species (19). Also, in Akinbo et al study in Nigeria in 2010, Cryptosporidium (22.2%) and Isospora belli (7.8%) species were seen as opportunistic infections (6), which are consistent with the present study and some other studies (20)(21)(22)(23)(24).…”

Spectrum of Parasitic Infections in Patients with Diarrhea Attending a Tertiary Care Hospital in Western Rajasthan, India

“…Intestinal parasitic coinfection with tuberculosis without HIV infection has been studied in the past [32]. Studies also have shown that coccidian parasites infect the immunocompromised patients suffering from HIV [33,34]. The presence of coccidian parasites in two patients not suffering from HIV, stresses on the need for further investigation into their relevance in non-HIV patients.…”