Intestinal parasitic infection in HIV infected patients with diarrhoea in Chennai.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To determine the prevalence of intestinal parasites in HIV patients with and without diarrhoea in Chennai. METHODS: A total of 150 stool samples, 41 - acute diarrhoea, 59 - chronic diarrhoea and 50 control samples without diarrhoea were collected and examined for enteric parasites by microscopy. RESULTS: Enteric parasites were detected in 39% patients with diarrhoea compared to 14% in patients without diarrhoea. Isospora belli was found in 18.6% (11/59) of chronic diarrhoea and 7.3% (3/41) in acute diarrhoea (P > 0.2). Cryptosporidium was detected in 7 cases each in acute and chronic diarrhoea, which was statistically insignificant as compared to the control group (P> 0.05). Microsporidia and Cyclospora cayetanensis associated diarrhoea were detected in only one chronic case each 1/59 (1.69 %). CONCLUSIONS: Isospora belli appeared to be a predominant parasite associated with diarrhoea among HIV patients. Detection rate of Microsporidia and Cyclospora was found to be very low.