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Cyclospora infection in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome
L Deodhar1, J K Maniar, D G Saple
1Department of Microbiology, Bombay Hospital.
Background:
Diarrhea is a common clinical manifestation of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. The important protozoan pathogens causing diarrhea include cryptosporidium, microsporidium, Isospora belli and cyclospora besides giardia lamblia and entamoeba histolytica.
Objective:
The objective of the present study was to determine the incidence of cyclospora (a coccidian protozoan) infection in HIV infected patients.
Methodology:
Faecal smears were stained by modified acid fast staining method to demonstrate oocysts of cyclospora.
Results:
Out of 334 faecal specimens which were studied, cyclospora were identified in 22 cases (6.6 percent); and in 50 percent of the patients, there was a mixed infection with another protozoan parasite namely cryptosporidium.
Conclusion:
Identification of this parasite is important because cyclosporiasis can be treated with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. Outbreaks of cyclospora infection have been linked to waterborne transmission. Though adequately chlorinated water is free of coliforms, it can still contain cyclospora.