Korean J Parasitol.  2015 Dec;53(6):705-712. 10.3347/kjp.2015.53.6.705.

Intestinal Parasitosis in Relation to Anti-Retroviral Therapy, CD4+ T-cell Count and Diarrhea in HIV Patients

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Microbiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India. mirdhabr2078@gmail.com
  • 2Department of Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
  • 3Department of Microbiology, Vardhaman Mahavir Medical College and Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi, India.

Abstract

Intestinal parasitic infections are one of the major causes of diarrhea in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) seropositive individuals. Antiretroviral therapy has markedly reduced the incidence of many opportunistic infections, but parasite-related diarrhea still remains frequent and often underestimated especially in developing countries. The present hospital-based study was conducted to determine the spectrum of intestinal parasitosis in adult HIV/AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) patients with or without diarrhea with the levels of CD4+ T-cell counts. A total of 400 individuals were enrolled and were screened for intestinal parasitosis. Of these study population, 200 were HIV seropositives, and the remaining 200 were HIV uninfected individuals with or without diarrhea. Intestinal parasites were identified by using microscopy as well as PCR assay. A total of 130 (32.5%) out of 400 patients were positive for any kinds of intestinal parasites. The cumulative number of parasite positive patients was 152 due to multiple infections. A significant association of Cryptosporidium (P<0.001) was detected among individuals with CD4+ T-cell counts less than 200 cells/microl.

Keyword

Cryptosporidium; intestinal parasite; HIV/AIDS; antiretroviral therapy; parasite; diarrhea; India

MeSH Terms

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections/etiology/*immunology/parasitology
Adult
Animals
Anti-HIV Agents/*therapeutic use
CD4 Lymphocyte Count
Diarrhea/etiology/*immunology/parasitology
Female
HIV Infections/complications/*drug therapy
Humans
Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic/etiology/*immunology/parasitology
Male
Middle Aged
Parasites/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification
Young Adult
Anti-HIV Agents
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