Intestinal parasitic infection in HIV infected patients with diarrhoea in Chennai.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence of intestinal parasites in HIV patients with and without diarrhoea in Chennai.


METHODS
A total of 150 stool samples, 41 - acute diarrhoea, 59 - chronic diarrhoea and 50 control samples without diarrhoea were collected and examined for enteric parasites by microscopy.


RESULTS
Enteric parasites were detected in 39% patients with diarrhoea compared to 14% in patients without diarrhoea. Isospora belli was found in 18.6% (11/59) of chronic diarrhoea and 7.3% (3/41) in acute diarrhoea (P > 0.2). Cryptosporidium was detected in 7 cases each in acute and chronic diarrhoea, which was statistically insignificant as compared to the control group (P> 0.05). Microsporidia and Cyclospora cayetanensis associated diarrhoea were detected in only one chronic case each 1/59 (1.69 %).


CONCLUSIONS
Isospora belli appeared to be a predominant parasite associated with diarrhoea among HIV patients. Detection rate of Microsporidia and Cyclospora was found to be very low.
Dept. of Microbiology, Dr. ALM PGIBMS, University of Madras, Taramani, Chennai - 600 113, India.
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Kumar
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Ananthan
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Lakshmi