Factors contributing to spontaneous Enterocytozoon bieneusi infection in simian immunodeficiency virus-infected macaques.
BACKGROUND
A cohort of SIV-infected macaques had been used to investigate the effect of dietary supplement, immune status, SIV/AIDS disease progression and serum micronutrients levels on spontaneous acquisition of Enterocytozoon bieneusi infection in SIV-infected macaques.


METHODS
Twenty-four SIV-infected macaques were randomized into 2 groups. One group received a vitamin/mineral supplementation and a second group received a placebo. Both groups were examined for E. bieneusi infection.


RESULTS
SIV-infected macaques were more prone to acquire E. bieneusi with the progression of SIV/AIDS, and the increased shedding of infectious spores was directly associated with decreased CD4 lymphocyte and increased circulating SIV, in both supplemented and unsupplemented groups of animals. Dietary supplementation, body composition factors and serum micronutrients levels however had no association with the acquisition of E. bieneusi infection in these animals.


CONCLUSIONS
Acquisition of E. bieneusi infection is related to SIV disease progression, CD4 counts and viral load but independent of changes in body composition and serum micronutrient levels.
Singh
Inderpal
I
Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Biomedical Science, Tufts University Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, North Grafton, MA, USA.
Li
Wenjun
W
Woods
Margo
M
Carville
Angela
A
Tzipori
Saul
S
D000818:Animals; D001823:Body Composition; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D018450:Disease Progression; D021862:Enterocytozoon / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D008253:Macaca mulatta / Q000382:microbiology*; D016881:Microsporidiosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D012307:Risk Factors; D016097:Simian Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000150:complications*; D019562:Viral Load