Prevalence and genetic characterization of Cryptosporidium spp. and Cystoisospora belli in HIV-infected patients

Abstract

SUMMARYCryptosporidium spp. and Cystoisospora belli are monoxenic protozoa that have been recognized as the causative agents of chronic diarrhea in immunocompromised individuals, especially HIV-infected subjects. The objective of this study was to evaluate the frequency of these intestinal protozoa in HIV-positive patients in the Triângulo Mineiro region of Brazil and to correlate the presence of these infections with clinical, epidemiological and laboratory data of the patients. Oocysts were detected in stool samples of 10 (16.9%) of the 59 patients studied, while Cryptosporidium spp. were present in 10.1% (6/59) and C. belli in 6.7% (4/59). The frequency of these parasites was higher among patients with diarrheic syndrome and CD4 + T lymphocyte counts < 200 cells/ mm 3 , demonstrating the opportunistic characteristic of these infections. A significant association was observed between the lack of adherence to antiretroviral therapy and the presence of Cryptosporidium spp. and/or C. belli. Parasitism with Cryptosporidium spp. was more frequent in February and April, the months following the period of high rainfall. The same was not observed for C. belli. Genetic characterization of two isolates led to the identification of Cryptosporidium parvum, one of the main species associated with the zoonotic transmission of cryptosporidiosis.

Intestinal parasites in cancer patients in the South of Brazil

“…frequency was similar to that found in HIV-positive patients referred to the UFTM hospital (MG), where a 10.1% rate was found (Assis et al, 2013). However, this coccidial infection showed an even higher prevalence in immunocompromised patients from other countries, such as 53% in kidney transplant patients in Pakistan (Raja et al, 2014) and 43.6% for HIV/AIDS patients in Ethiopia (Alemu et al, 2011).…”

Principais Protozoários Entéricos Oportunistas Associados À Aids: Cryptosporidium Parvum, Isospora Belli, Cyclospora Cayetanensis E Microsporidia

“…O ciclo de vida acima relatado é de difícil replicação em cultura de células, fator que dificulta a análise de várias fases in vitro 17 , bem como o progresso de estudos biológicos, patológicos, imunológicos, moleculares e o teste de novos medicamentos contra o parasita 15 .…”

Ocorrência de Cryptosporidum spp. em dois centros de treinamento de equinos de Curitiba, Paraná

“…Devido à sua estreita relação com a população de baixo poder aquisitivo, precárias condições de saneamento básico e da qualidade da água consumida, esse parasito foi incluído na lista de doenças negligenciadas da Organização Mundial da Saúde (SAVIOLI; SMITH; THOMPSON, 2006;ASSIS et al, 2013). O impacto sanitário e econômico dessa zoonose ainda é indeterminado, principalmente porque alguns representantes do gênero Cryptosporidium não são espécie-específicos e apresentam risco de transmissão para outros animais e para humanos (PONCE GORDO; HERRERA; CASTRO, 2002).…”

“…Atualmente, são reconhecidas 26 espécies de Cryptosporidium, das quais nove podem infectar humanos (ASSIS et al, 2013;SHARMA et al, 2013). As formas de transmissão já documentadas são de animais para o ser humano, de pessoa para pessoa e de animal para animal, por meio da ingestão de alimentos ou do uso de água destinada ao lazer contaminados direta ou indiretamente por resíduos fecais que contenham oocistos esporulados do parasita (MAIKAI; BABA-ONOJA; ELISHA, 2013;WIDMER et al, 2012).…”