title: Cryptosporidiosis among HIV-infected persons in the Niger Delta of Nigeria.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Since the discovery of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), many studies demonstrated that intestinal parasites were frequently associated with pictures of severe diarrhoea in patients with HIV.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the prevalence of Cryptosporidiosis among HIV-infected persons in the Niger Delta of Nigeria.
  
  
  METHODS
  Faecal samples from One hundred and five HIV/AIDS infected subjects made up of 48 males and 57 females aged 18-54 years, mean age and CD4 count of 36.14 +/- 8.46 years and 320 +/- 140 cells/microl respectively were evaluated for Cryptosporidiosis using the Modified Ziehl-Neelsen staining method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the one hundred and five faecal samples examined, 3 (2.9%) were positive for cryptosporidium oocyst. Prevalence was significantly higher among females 2/57 (3.5%) compared to males 1/48 (2.1%), among subjects with diarrhoea 3(11.5%) and among subjects with CD4 lymphocyte count < 200 cells/microl (p < 0.01). CD4 count of subjects positive for cryptosporidium oocyst was significantly lower (150 +/- 50 cells/microl). The mean CD4 count of subjects with diarrhoea was significantly lower (mean 180 cells/microl) compared to those without diarrhoea (360 cells/microl).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study indicates that the prevalence of intestinal colonization due to Cryptosporidium is significantly higher among HIV-infected persons presenting with diarrhoea and low CD4 lymphocyte count of < 200cells/microl and re-emphasizes the need to incorporate routine faecal parasitological examination (FPE) in the follow up management of patients with HIV/AIDS. This is likely to optimise treatments in these patients by eradicating opportunistic pathogens and improve the quality of life of these patients.
authors.affiliation: Antiretroviral therapy programme, Department of Haematology University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital P.M.B. 6173 Port Harcourt Nigeria. n_osaro@yahoo.com
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Erhabor
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Obunge
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Awah
mesh_terms: D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D003457:Cryptosporidiosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D003458:Cryptosporidium / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution