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CRYPTOSPORIDIUM OOCYSTS IN GHANAIAN AIDS PATIENTS WITH DIARRHOEA
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Background: Although Cryptosporidium spp. infections in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome
patients (AIDS) with chronic diarrhoea have been reported in several African countries, there
is no information regarding cryptosporidial diarrhoea in Ghanaian AIDS patients.
Objective: To investigate the occurrence of C. parvum and other gastrointestinal parasitic
agents in Ghanaian AIDS patients with chronic diarrhoea.
Design: Prospective study of HIV/AIDS patients with diarrhoea over a nine month period.
Setting: Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital and Korle-Bu Polyclinic. Accra, Ghana.
Methods:Cryptosporidium oocysts was stained using modified Ziehl Neelsen staining technique
and examined microscopically. Other enteric organisms were identified using standard
microbiological techniques.
Results: Analysis of stool specimens from clinically diagnosed HIV/AIDS (n=2I; mean CD4
count was 288 cells per microliter, 95% confidence interval of 237 to 340 cells per microliter)
and HIV-seronegative (n=27) patients revealed C. parvum in six (28.6%) of HIV/AIDS and
10 (37.0%) of the HIV-seronegative patients, respectively. Three other HIV/AIDS cases had
other infections involving Strongyloides stercoralis 4.8% (l/21) and Salmonella spp. 9.5%
(2/21). There was no concomitant association between C.parvum and any other parasites
found. Also, no enterobacteria was found in the HIV-seronegative patients.
Conclusion: This study demonstrates the prevalence of Cryptosporidium sp. in both HIV/
AIDS and HIV-seronegative individuals in Ghana. However, there was no statistical
association between cryptosporidiosis and HIV/AIDS (p>0.05).
Background: Although Cryptosporidium spp. infections in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome
patients (AIDS) with chronic diarrhoea have been reported in several African countries, there
is no information regarding cryptosporidial diarrhoea in Ghanaian AIDS patients.
Objective: To investigate the occurrence of C. parvum and other gastrointestinal parasitic
agents in Ghanaian AIDS patients with chronic diarrhoea.
Design: Prospective study of HIV/AIDS patients with diarrhoea over a nine month period.
Setting: Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital and Korle-Bu Polyclinic. Accra, Ghana.
Methods:Cryptosporidium oocysts was stained using modified Ziehl Neelsen staining technique
and examined microscopically. Other enteric organisms were identified using standard
microbiological techniques.
Results: Analysis of stool specimens from clinically diagnosed HIV/AIDS (n=2I; mean CD4
count was 288 cells per microliter, 95% confidence interval of 237 to 340 cells per microliter)
and HIV-seronegative (n=27) patients revealed C. parvum in six (28.6%) of HIV/AIDS and
10 (37.0%) of the HIV-seronegative patients, respectively. Three other HIV/AIDS cases had
other infections involving Strongyloides stercoralis 4.8% (l/21) and Salmonella spp. 9.5%
(2/21). There was no concomitant association between C.parvum and any other parasites
found. Also, no enterobacteria was found in the HIV-seronegative patients.
Conclusion: This study demonstrates the prevalence of Cryptosporidium sp. in both HIV/
AIDS and HIV-seronegative individuals in Ghana. However, there was no statistical
association between cryptosporidiosis and HIV/AIDS (p>0.05).
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