title: Microsporidiosis in HIV positive patients: current methods for diagnosis using biopsy, cytologic, ultrastructural, immunological, and tissue culture techniques.
abstract: Microsporidiosis is an increasingly important opportunistic infection in HIV-positive patients. Five species of microsporidia (Enterocytozoon bieneusi, Encephalitozoon hellem and E. cuniculi, Septata intestinalis, and Pleistophora sp.) have been reported to occur in AIDS, with each agent producing a different clinicopathologic spectrum of disease. This communication reviews routine and specialized methods for diagnosis of these important pathogenic protozoa, including biopsy, cytology, ultrastructural and immunologic examination, and tissue culture, and describes the current knowledge of organ distribution for microsporidia in persons with AIDS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA.
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Schwartz
authors.forename: R T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Bryan
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Weber
authors.forename: G S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Visvesvara
mesh_terms: D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology; D000818:Animals; D001706:Biopsy; D046508:Culture Techniques; D003584:Cytological Techniques; D006801:Humans; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D016816:Microsporida / Q000276:immunology; D016881:Microsporidiosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D012698:Serologic Tests