Prevalence of intestinal protozoan infections among individuals living with HIV/AIDS at Felegehiwot Referral Hospital, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia.
BACKGROUND
HIV infection continues to pose a serious challenge to global health by predisposing patients to opportunistic infections. A cross-sectional study was conducted from December 2012 to February 2013 to assess the enteric protozoan infection status among individuals living with HIV/AIDS in Felegehiwot Referral Hospital, Bahir Dar, northwest Ethiopia.


METHODS
Stool specimens from 399 HIV-positive individuals were examined for the presence of trophozoites, cysts, and oocysts using direct wet mount, formol-ether sedimentation and modified Ziehl-Neelsen techniques. In addition, CD4+ T-cell counts were measured to evaluate the immune status of the study subjects.


RESULTS
An overall prevalence of 30.6% enteric protozoan infections was recorded. Pre-ART (antiretroviral treatment) individuals were more infected than patients on ART, although this was not statistically significant (p>0.05). The highest prevalence of enteric protozoan infection was due to Entamoeba histolytica/E. dispar (19.3%), followed by Cryptosporidium spp (5.8%), Giardia lamblia (4.3%), and Isospora belli (1.3%). A CD4+ T-cell count of <200 cells/μl and status of being diarrhoeic were significantly associated with the overall prevalence of enteric protozoan infection.


CONCLUSIONS
A relatively high prevalence of enteric protozoan infection was observed among individuals living with HIV/AIDS. Routine stool and CD4+ T-cell examinations should be conducted to monitor the status of HIV/AIDS patients.
Department of Biology, Science College, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia.
Habtom
H
Kiros
Department of Biology, Science College, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia. Electronic address: endtg2002@yahoo.com.
Endalkachew
E
Nibret
Department of Biology, Science College, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia.
Abaineh
A
Munshea
Department of Biology, Science College, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia.
Bizuayehu
B
Kerisew
Department of Biology, Science College, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia.
Melaku
M
Adal
D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005002:Ethiopia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007411:Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011528:Protozoan Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D055815:Young Adult
Ethiopia; HIV/AIDS; Protozoan infections