title: Intestinal parasitic and candida infection associated with HIV infection in Cameroon.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  HIV causes progressive impairment of the cellular immune system leading to increased susceptibility to infectious agents. Parasitic infestations are common in HIV-infected patients and usually lead to diarrhoea. Few studies have addressed the issue of intestinal parasites among HIV-infected persons in Cameroon.  This investigation was conducted in Douala, Cameroon, to assess the prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites in HIV-infected patients, taking into account their immune status and treatment course.
  
  
  METHODS
  Stool and blood samples were collected from 201 HIV-positive patients for the investigation of intestinal pathogens and CD4+ counts.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifty-six (27.9%) patients harbored pathogens. The most frequent pathogens were Candida spp. (14.9%), Cryptosporidium spp. (7.5%), Entamoeba histolytica, and Entamoeba dispar (3%). The presence of pathogens was significantly associated with diarrhoea, as they were found in 48.6% of diarrhoeic stools and 23.2% of non-diarrhoeic stools (OR = 3.14, p= 0.0018). Prevalence of pathogens and diarrhoea were significantly higher in patients with CD4+ counts ≤ 200 cells/µL (OR = 2.17, p = 0.0349 and OR = 8.46, p = 0.000019 respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study highlights the need for investigating intestinal pathogens in HIV-infected patients presenting with diarrhoea, especially when their CD4+ counts are low.
authors: University of Douala, Cameroon. lblehman@yahoo.fr
authors: Leopold Gustave
authors: LG
authors: Lehman
authors: Lafortune
authors: L
authors: Kangam
authors: Marthe-Lilianne
authors: ML
authors: Mbenoun
authors: Eveline
authors: E
authors: Zemo Nguepi
authors: Noël
authors: N
authors: Essomba
authors: Calvin
authors: C
authors: Tonga
authors: Charles Felix
authors: CF
authors: Bilong Bilong
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D002163:Cameroon / Q000453:epidemiology; D002175:Candida / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002177:Candidiasis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003458:Cryptosporidium / Q000302:isolation & purification; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000469:parasitology; D004747:Entamoeba / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D007411:Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D055815:Young Adult