title: Study of opportunistic intestinal parasitic infections in human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Intestinal parasites predominantly coccidian parasites are a common cause for diarrhea in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was conducted during January 2009-December 2010. A total of 1,088 stool samples from 544 seropositive HIV positive cases were examined microscopically for ova and cyst using wet mount preparations and stained smears. Out of 544 patients, 343 had prolonged diarrhea for more than 4 weeks, 57 had acute diarrhea of lesser than 7 days and 144 were asymptomatic cases who attended out-patient department; included in this study after taking consent from patients. Enteric pathogens were detected in 274 (50.36%) of the 544 patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The parasites identified were Cryptosporidium (135), Isospora belli (42), Cyclospora (12), Microsporidia (02), Entamoeba histolytica (49), Hookworm (34). Intestinal parasites in chronic diarrhea were significantly higher than the acute diarrhea (63.05% vs. 7.35%; P < 0.05). Parasitic pathogens were frequently associated with HIV-positive patients with diarrhea in Western India. Stools of all HIV-positive patients with diarrhea should thoroughly be investigated to identify etiologic agents for proper management.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was conducted during January 2009-December 2010. A total of 1,088 stool samples from 544 seropositive HIV positive cases were examined microscopically for ova and cyst using wet mount preparations and stained smears. Out of 544 patients, 343 had prolonged diarrhea for more than 4 weeks, 57 had acute diarrhea of lesser than 7 days and 144 were asymptomatic cases who attended out-patient department; included in this study after taking consent from patients. Enteric pathogens were detected in 274 (50.36%) of the 544 patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The parasites identified were Cryptosporidium (135), Isospora belli (42), Cyclospora (12), Microsporidia (02), Entamoeba histolytica (49), Hookworm (34). Intestinal parasites in chronic diarrhea were significantly higher than the acute diarrhea (63.05% vs. 7.35%; P > 0.05). Parasitic pathogens were frequently associated with HIV-positive patients with diarrhea in Western India. Stools of all HIV-positive patients with diarrhea should thoroughly be investigated to identify etiologic agents for proper management.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, LRS Institute of TB & Respiratory Diseases, Sri Aurobindo Marg, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Manish Kumar
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Mathur
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, LRS Institute of TB & Respiratory Diseases, Sri Aurobindo Marg, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Ajoy Kumar
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Verma
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, M P Shah Medical College, Jamnagar, Gujarat, India.
authors.forename: Gopee E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Makwana
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, M P Shah Medical College, Jamnagar, Gujarat, India.
authors.forename: Mala
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sinha
keywords: Chronic diarrhea; Coccidian parasites; Entamoeba histolytica