title: Opportunistic and other intestinal parasites among HIV/AIDS patients attending Gambi higher clinic in Bahir Dar city, North West Ethiopia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the magnitude of opportunistic and non-opportunistic intestinal parasitic infections among HIV/AIDS patients in Bahir Dar.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study was conducted among HIV/AIDS patients attending Gambi higher clinic from April1-May 30, 2009. Convenient sampling technique was employed to identify the study subjects and hence a total of 248 subjects were included. A pre-tested structured questionnaire was used to collect socio-demographic data of patients. Stool samples were examined by direct saline, iodine wet mount, formol-ether sedimentation concentration and modified Ziehl-Neelsen staining technique.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Out of 248 enrolled in the study, 171(69.0%) (90 males and 81 females) were infected with one or more intestinal parasites. The highest rate of intestinal parasites were observed among HIV/AIDS patients (80.3%, 151/188), and the infection rate of HIV negative individuals was 33.3% (20/60). Cryptosporidum parvum (43.6%), Isospora belli (15.5%) and Blastocystis hominis (10.5%) were opportunistic parasites that were found only in HIV/AIDS patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Opportunistic parasite infections are common health problem among HIV/AIDS patients in the study area. Therefore, early detection and treatment of these parasites are important to improve the quality of life of HIV/AIDS patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Abebe
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alemu
authors.forename: Yitayal
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shiferaw
authors.forename: Gebeyaw
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Getnet
authors.forename: Aregaw
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yalew
authors.forename: Zelalem
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Addis
mesh_terms: D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000821:virology; D000328:Adult; D016845:Blastocystis hominis / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000502:physiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D016785:Cryptosporidium parvum / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000502:physiology; D005002:Ethiopia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D006678:HIV / Q000502:physiology*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000821:virology; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000276:immunology; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D006801:Humans; D007411:Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000821:virology; D007549:Isospora / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires