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High prevalence of Microsporidium infection in HIV-infected patients

Parnpen Viriyavejakul1, Rungrat Nintasen, Chuchard Punsawad

  • 1Department of Tropical Pathology, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand. tmpvr@mahidol.ac.th

The Southeast Asian Journal of Tropical Medicine and Public Health
|March 28, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Microsporidium and Cryptosporidium parvum were the most common enteric pathogens found in HIV-infected patients. Stool evaluation is crucial for all HIV patients to detect these opportunistic infections.

Area of Science:

  • Medical Microbiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection compromises the immune system, increasing susceptibility to opportunistic infections.
  • Enteric pathogens pose a significant health risk to individuals with HIV/AIDS, potentially leading to severe gastrointestinal complications.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify common opportunistic enteric pathogens in HIV-infected patients.
  • To correlate the presence of these pathogens with the patients' clinical status.
  • To assess the prevalence of specific pathogens, particularly microsporidium, in a Thai HIV-infected population.

Main Methods:

  • Microscopic examination of stool samples from 64 HIV-infected patients.
  • Identification and quantification of various enteric pathogens, including protozoa, fungi, and helminths.
  • Comparison of pathogen prevalence with clinical data such as sex, HIV seropositivity duration, and diarrheal symptoms.

Main Results:

  • Microsporidium was the most prevalent pathogen (81.2%), followed by Cryptosporidium parvum (20.3%), Candida albicans (12.5%), and Blastocystis hominis (10.9%).
  • Other identified pathogens included Giardia intestinalis, Cyclospora, Opisthorchis viverrini, Strongyloides stercoralis, and hookworm.
  • No significant association was found between the presence of enteric pathogens and sex, duration of HIV infection, or diarrheal symptoms.

Conclusions:

  • Microsporidium is highly prevalent in Thai HIV-infected patients, underscoring its importance in this population.
  • Routine stool evaluation is recommended for all HIV-infected patients to facilitate early detection and management of opportunistic enteric infections.
  • The findings highlight the need for targeted diagnostic and treatment strategies for enteric pathogens in immunocompromised individuals.

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