title: Microsporidiosis in Venezuela: prevalence of intestinal microsporidiosis and its contribution to diarrhea in a group of human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients from Zulia State.
abstract: Microsporidia are recognized as a cause of morbidity among patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Infection rates for intestinal microsporidiosis in HIV-infected patients from Venezuela are unknown. To determine the prevalence and pathogenic role of microsporidia in these patients in northwestern Venezuela, a case control study was conducted in 103 outpatients (mean +/- SD age = 37.3 +/- 5.6 years). Microsporidia were detected using unconcentrated formalin-fixed stools examined by Weber's chromotrope-based staining method. For identification of coccidia, modified Ziehl-Neelsen carbolfuchsin staining of formalin-ether concentrates were used, and for other pathogenic parasites, iron hematoxylin-stained smears and formalin-ether concentrates were examined. Microsporidial infections were detected in 14 (13.6%) of 103 patients and 39 (37.9%) had other parasitic pathogens. No significant difference was noted in the occurrence of the infection in patients with diarrhea (13 of 74, 17.6%) and controls (1 of 29, 3.4%) (P = 0.118). Nevertheless, this result may be due to the small sample size (n = 14) of infected individuals. The proportions of other pathogens in patients with or without diarrhea were not significantly different (P = 0.828). Microsporidiosis is common among the HIV-infected population in northwestern Venezuela. However, its pathogenic role in these patients is uncertain and warrants further investigation.
authors.affiliation: Postgrado de Inmunología, Departamento de Salud Pública y Social, y Cátedra de Virología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad del Zulia, Maracaibo, Venezuela. leonorbonilla42@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Leonor
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chacin-Bonilla
authors.forename: Amelia P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Panunzio
authors.forename: Francisca M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Monsalve-Castillo
authors.forename: Irene E
authors.initials: IE
authors.lastname: Parra-Cepeda
authors.forename: Rodrigo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Martinez
mesh_terms: D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology*; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology*; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D006678:HIV; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016814:Microsporidia; D016881:Microsporidiosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000821:virology*; D015995:Prevalence; D014687:Venezuela / Q000453:epidemiology