Cryptosporidiosis: Opportunistic Infection in HIV/AIDS Patients in Nepal

Abstract

Abstract

One hundred and forty-eight stool specimens were collected from 75 confirmed cases of HIV/AIDS. To assess the prevalence of cryptosporidiosis in patients with human immunodeficiencyvirus (HIV) and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) the specimens were analyzed usingKinyoun-modified acid fast staining. Cryptosporidiosis was found in 10.7% of the total 75 casesstudied. Out of 75 cases, 30.7% (23) suffered from diarrhea, of which Cryptosporidium parvum accountedfor 34.8% (8) cases. Four out of 62 (6.5%) HIV-seropositive patients and four out of 13 (30.8%) AIDSpatients were found infected with C. parvum. All infected cases were clinically diarrhoegenic. InAIDS patients, all four infections were accompanied by chronic watery diarrhea and wasting. Amongthe total 75 cases studied, 13 were full-blown AIDS and 62 HIV-seropositive cases. In conclusion, C.parvum is probably the most prevalent parasitic pathogen found in patients with diarrhea in HIV/AIDS individuals. Routine testing of the stool specimens for cryptosporidial oocysts may be helpfulin an early start to antiparasitic chemotherapy, which will ultimately play a major role in reducingmorbidity due to HIV/AIDS in Nepal.

Keywords: cryptosporidiosis, HIV, AIDS, Nepal