ABSTRACT
Cyclospora spp. is a protozoan parasite responsible for significant gastrointestinal disease in patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus. We report the clinical features of two patients with chronic diarrhea and intestinal cyclosporosis caused by Cyclospora cayetanensis. The average value for CD4 count in these patients was lower than or equal to 100 cells/mm3. The oocysts were detected in smears from stool samples stained with modified acid-fast or safranin technique. Light microscopy revealed parasites in the enterocytes and these parasites were associated with villous atrophy. Cyclospora cayetanensis infection might be an important cause of diarrhea in patients with AIDS in Argentina.
Subject(s)
Humans , Animals , Male , Adult , Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/parasitology , Cyclospora/isolation & purification , Cyclosporiasis/complications , Diarrhea/parasitology , Chronic Disease , Cyclosporiasis/diagnosis , Feces/parasitologyABSTRACT
El protozoario Cryptosporidium sp. ha sido reconocido crecientemente en asociación con enteritis grave en paceintes con el síndrome de immunodeficiencia. Los individuos estudiados comprendieron 84 adultos com SIDA y diarrea crónica. En este trabajo se describen 14 pacientes con infección intestinal causada por Cryptosporidium sp. La media del recuerdo de CD4 en estos pacientes fue (300 células/mm3 (en 7 de los 14). El examen de aspirados duodenales y heces incluyó preparaciones de muestras concentradas coloreadas con Kinjoun, Dimetilsulfóxido y Auramina. Se realizaron videoesofagogastroduodenoscopías (VEDA) para inspeccionar visualmente la mucosa y obtener biopsias. La VEDA reveló duodeno granular en 10 pacientes y jaspeado en uno de ellos. Las biopsias duodenales fueron coloreadas con hematoxilina-eosina, Giemsa y Azur II. Los acambios histológicos incluyeron atrofia (3/14), duodenitis (2/14) a ambos (3/14). La microscopía eletrónica de transmisión fue usada para la identificación de estadíos de desarrollo de Cryptosporidium sp.
Subject(s)
Adult , Animals , Female , Humans , AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections/parasitology , Cryptosporidiosis/diagnosis , Cryptosporidium/ultrastructure , Cryptosporidiosis/physiopathology , Cryptosporidium/isolation & purification , Microscopy, ElectronABSTRACT
Microsporidia are protozoan parasites responsible for significant gastrointestinal disease in patients infected with the human inmunodeficiency virus. We reporte the clinical features of three patients with chronic diarrhea and intestinal microsporidiosis caused by Enterocytozoon bieneusi. The average value for CD4 in these patients was ó 50 cells/mm3. The spores were detected in smears from stool samples and duodenal aspirates stained with trichrome blue in all patiens. Light microscopy of semithin plastic sections revealed parasites and spores in the enterocytes and were associated with villous atrophy (2 out of 3). Thin section-electron microscopy showed a variety of developmental stages of the microsporidio. Patients treated with Albendazole had an unsatisfactory clinical response to therapy. Enterocytozzon bieneusi infection may be an important cause of diarrhea in patiens with AIDS in our country.