title: Intensity of infection in AIDS-associated cryptosporidiosis.
abstract: A fluorescent monoclonal anti-Cryptosporidium antibody was used to count the oocysts in stools of 12 AIDS patients with chronic cryptosporidiosis. Oocyst excretion was present throughout the day in all 12 patients. Stool-to-stool variation in oocyst concentration was within one order of magnitude. Small variations were also found in daily mean oocyst concentration and total daily oocyst excretion in 3 patients who had multiple 24-h stool collections. However, there was a large patient-to-patient variation in mean oocyst concentration (from < 5.0 x 10(3) to 9.2 x 10(5) oocysts/mL) and 24-h total oocyst excretion (from < 6.0 x 10(6) to 1.2 x 10(9) oocysts/day). There was a significant correlation between oocyst excretion and numbers of Cryptosporidium organisms seen on small bowel biopsy. Oocyst excretion was reduced in 4 patients treated with paromomycin, but diarrhea improved only in the 2 patients with high initial oocyst excretion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Ben Taub General Hospital, Houston, TX 77030.
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Goodgame
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Genta
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: White
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Chappell
mesh_terms: D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections; D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D003457:Cryptosporidiosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000469:parasitology*; D003458:Cryptosporidium / Q000254:growth & development*; D004386:Duodenum / Q000473:pathology; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology*; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D010303:Paromomycin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015203:Reproducibility of Results
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D010303:Paromomycin