title: Intestinal parasites in patients with diarrhea and human immunodeficiency virus infection in Zimbabwe.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the prevalence of intestinal parasites and risk factors for infection associated with diarrhea in HIV-infected patients in Harare, Zimbabwe.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective observational study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Single stool samples were collected from 88 HIV-infected individuals presenting with diarrhea of greater than 1 week duration. Stools were examined for intestinal parasites using modified acid fast stain, fluorescence- labeled monoclonal antibody for Cryptosporidium parvum, as well as a modified trichrome stain and a PCR-based protocol for Enterocytozoon bieneusi.
  
  
  RESULTS
  C. parvum was detected in 9% (seven out of 82) of samples evaluated, but no Cyclospora was detected. E. bieneusi was detected in 18% (10 out of 55) of stool by trichrome staining and in 51% (28 out of 55) of stool examined by PCR. Risk factors for E. bieneusi infection were: living in rural areas, consumption of nonpiped water, contact with cow dung and household contact with an individual with diarrhea.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  E. bieneusi infection was common in HIV-infected patients with diarrhea in Zimbabwe and may be acquired through person-to-person and fecal-oral transmission.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Disease, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Ohio, USA.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gumbo
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sarbah
authors.forename: I T
authors.initials: IT
authors.lastname: Gangaidzo
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ortega
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Sterling
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Carville
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tzipori
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Wiest
mesh_terms: D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology*; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D003458:Cryptosporidium / Q000302:isolation & purification; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000469:parasitology*; D021741:Eimeriida / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007411:Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D007422:Intestines / Q000469:parasitology; D008297:Male; D016814:Microsporidia / Q000302:isolation & purification; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D015030:Zimbabwe