Prevalence of cryptosporidiosis in HIV-infected patients with diarrhoeal illness.
Protozoans of the genus Cryptosporidium may cause serious diarrhoeal illness in immunocompromised hosts and especially in HIV-infected patients. In this study we have evaluated the frequency of Cryptosporidium in stools of 51 HIV-infected patients with diarrhoea. Laboratory diagnosis of cryptosporidiosis was performed of faecal samples concentrated by a formalin-ether sedimentation technique and stained by a modified cold Ziehl-Neelsen method. Results demonstrated that 17 (33.3%) of these patients were infected with Cryptosporidium. Moreover, Cryptosporidium infection was the first clinical marker of AIDS in 7 cases. Our data show that the prevalence of this parasitosis in HIV-infected people seems to be higher in our region (Apulia, South Italy), compared to other areas of the world.
Brandonisio
O
O
Istituto di Microbiologia Medica, Università di Bari, Italy.
Maggi
P
P
Panaro
M A
MA
Bramante
L A
LA
Di Coste
A
A
Angarano
G
G
D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes; D002648:Child; D003457:Cryptosporidiosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence