title: Diarrhoea-associated parasites in HIV-1 seropositive and sero-negative patients in a teaching hospital, Northwest Ethiopia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  to determine the prevalence and type of intestinal parasites in HIV infected and uninfected patients with diarrhea.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was conducted at Gondar University hospital, Northwest Ethiopia, between March 2003 and October 2004.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total 312 consecutive diarrheic patients were included in the study. Stool specimens were collected and examined for intestinal parasites following direct, formol-ether concentration and modified acid fast staining methods.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among the patients, 63.8% were found to be HIV seropositive. The prevalence of intestinal parasites in HIV seropositive and seronegative diarrheic patients was 30.6% and 33.6%, respectively. The most prevalent parasites were Strongyoides stercoralis (9.0%) and Entamoeba histolytica (8.3%) followed by Ascaris lumbricoides (5.4%) and Cryptosporidium species (5. 1%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of intestinal parasites in diarrheic patients was very high. Institution of appropriate intervention measures are needed to reduce morbidity in such patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Biology, Faculty of Applied Natural Sciences, University of Gondar, P.O. Box 196, com.
authors.forename: Berhanu
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Andualem
authors.forename: Afework
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kassu
authors.forename: Feleke
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Moges
authors.forename: Molla
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gedefaw
authors.forename: Ermias
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Diro
authors.forename: Getahun
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mengistu
authors.forename: Gashaw
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Andargie
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000469:parasitology*; D005002:Ethiopia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D018023:HIV Seronegativity; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015497:HIV-1; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence