title: Parasitic diarrhoea in patients with AIDS.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Diarrhoea is a common clinical manifestation of HIV infection regardless of whether or not patients have AIDS. Two newly recognized opportunistic coccidial protozoa are parasitic pathogens in AIDS patients. We attempted to determine the common parasites in Indian patients with AIDS.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between October 1994 and December 1996, a total of 110 stool specimens from 94 AIDS patients with acute or chronic diarrhoea were examined by microscopy of wet mounts and smears stained by a modified Ziehl-Neelsen's (cold) staining method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Isospora belli was the most frequently encountered parasite in 17% of patients, followed by Entamoeba histolytica in 14.9% and Cryptosporidium in 8.5%. Strongyloides stercoralis and Giardia lamblia were detected in 5.3% and 4.3% of patients, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The presence of different parasites in 56.4% of stool specimens of patients with AIDS indicates that their specific diagnosis is essential. This will help initiate therapy to reduce the morbidity and mortality among such patients due to these pathogens.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Grant Medical College, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. mj24k@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Manoj
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Joshi
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Chowdhary
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Dalal
authors.forename: J K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Maniar
mesh_terms: D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000469:parasitology*; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000469:parasitology*; D006801:Humans; D007194:India