[Emergence of a new pathogen: Cyclospora cayetanensis in patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus]

The emergence of a new pathogen Cyclospora cayetanensis as a cause of clinical disease in immunosuppressed hosts is related with prolonged, severe and highly recurrent diarrheas. This paper reports two Cuban cases of cyclosporiasis associated with infection from human immunodeficiency virus in which non sporulated oocysts of Cyclospora cayetanensis were detected in feces by modified Zielhl Neelsen's technique. The most significant clinical symptoms were chronic diarrheas and loss of body weight, with CD4 levels below 200 cells per mm3. The occurrence of severe digestive symptoms in patients with Cyclospora cayetanensi and important immune compromise backed up the concept that this pathogen may act as a new opportunistic pathogen in patients with HIV.