Original Research

Prevalence, intensity and complications of Microsporidium spores amongst HIV-positive hospital patients in Ilorin, Nigeria

Amase Nyamngee, Luke D. Edungbola, Olajide O. Agbede, Alakija K. Salami, Charles Nwabuisi, Aliu A. Akanbi II, Olatunde O.K. Ibrahim, Muchae Tilahun, Douglas B. Moser
African Journal of Laboratory Medicine | Vol 2, No 1 | a66 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/ajlm.v2i1.66 | © 2013 Amase Nyamngee, Luke D. Edungbola, Olajide O. Agbede, Alakija K. Salami, Charles Nwabuisi, Aliu A. Akanbi II, Olatunde O.K. Ibrahim, Muchae Tilahun, Douglas B. Moser | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 07 May 2012 | Published: 26 November 2013

About the author(s)

Amase Nyamngee, Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, University of Ilorin, Nigeria
Luke D. Edungbola, Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, University of Ilorin, Nigeria
Olajide O. Agbede, Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, University of Ilorin, Nigeria
Alakija K. Salami, Department of Medicine, University of Ilorin, Nigeria
Charles Nwabuisi, Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, University of Ilorin, Nigeria
Aliu A. Akanbi II, Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, University of Ilorin, Nigeria
Olatunde O.K. Ibrahim, Department of Pathology, University of Ilorin, Nigeria
Muchae Tilahun, Ethiopian Health and Nutrition Research Institute, Ethiopia
Douglas B. Moser, Division of Global HIV/ AIDS, U.S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, United States

Abstract

Background: Microsporidiasis, which is of great concern for immunocompromised patients, is poorly studied in developing countries.

Objectives: A study was carried out amongst HIV-positive hospital patients and HIV-negative hospital controls in Ilorin, Nigeria, between January 2009 and July 2010 to determine the prevalence and intensity of Microsporidium spores and the complications associated with their presence.

Method: Stool samples from 750 HIV-positive patients and 375 HIV-negative patients were studied using the Chromotrope-2R staining technique. Determination of CD4+ count was performed on the Partec Cyflow SL-3 CD4/8 instrument. Intensity of spores was determined by counting the total number of the spores in a 10 μl stained smear of stool. Images were captured with Phenix Microimage Analysis Software and data obtained were analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences.

Results: The prevalence of Microsporidium isolates amongst the HIV-positive hospital patients was significantly higher (42.4%) than amongst the HIV-negative controls (19.2%)(p < 0.05). The intensity of microsporidial spores amongst HIV-positive hospital patients was also significantly higher than amongst the controls (p < 0.05). However, the difference in the intensity of spores amongst HIV-positive patients who were on antiretroviral therapy(n = 411) and those who were not (n = 339) was not significant (p = 0.236). Microsporidiasis in HIV infection infection was common amongst patients with with low CD4+ counts, diarrhoea, body rashes and cough.

Conclusion: Both the prevalence and intensity of Microsporidiasis are high amongst HIV-positive hospital patients; campaigns to promote awareness, prevention and control are required. Laboratory testing for microsporidia in HIV patients should be performed routinely so as to identify the organism for prompt medical attention.


Keywords

Microsporidia, Prevalence, Intensity, HIV-positive

Metrics

Total abstract views: 7241
Total article views: 12042

 

Crossref Citations

1. Detección de Microsporidios y factores asociados en pacientes VIH positivos con síndrome diarreico en el Hospital “Dr. José Daniel Rodríguez”, Guayaquil-Ecuador, 2021-2022
Betty Judith Pazmiño-Gómez, Karen Alexandra Rodas-Pazmiño, Luis Eduardo Cagua-Montaño, Roberto Darwin Coello Peralta, Jennifer Paola Rodas-Pazmiño
Kasmera  vol: 51  year: 2023  
doi: 10.56903/kasmera.5140589