Molecular characterization of viruses associated with gastrointestinal infection in HIV-positive patients

Abstract

Background: Diarrhea is a major cause of morbidity and mortality among HIV-infected patients worldwide. Objective: We sought to determine the frequency of viral gastrointestinal infections among Brazilian HIV-infected patients with diarrhea. Methods: A collection of 90 fecal specimens from HIV-infected individuals with diarrhea, previously tested for the presence of bacteria and parasite was analyzed by polymerase chain reaction and sequence analysis for the presence of enteric viruses such as astrovirus, norovirus, rotavirus groups A, B and C, adenovirus, herpes simplex virus, Epstein-Barr virus, cytomegalovirus, and human bocavirus. Results: Twenty patients (22.2%; n = 90) were infected with parasites (11 single infections and nine coinfected with virus). Enteropathogenic bacteria were not found. Virus infections were detected in 28.9% (26/90) of the specimens. Cytomegalovirus was the most common virus detected (24.4%; 22/90). Coinfections with viruses and/or parasite were observed in 10 (11.1%) samples. Conclusion: Gastrointestinal virus infections were more frequent than parasitic or bacterial infections in this patient population.

Bacterial and Parasitic Agents of Infectious Diarrhoea in the Era of HIV and AIDS - The Case of a Semi Rural Community in South Africa

“…Intestinal bacterial and parasitic infections are common in developing countries and responsible for most acute and chronic diarrhea cases amongst HIV/AIDS patients (Silva et al, 2010). Females were more affected (13.3%) than males (8.2%).…”

“…Due to its destructive effect on the immune system, HIV infection further exposes the individual to multiple opportunistic infections. From the beginning of the HIV pandemics in the 1980s, gastrointestinal diseases have been demonstrated to be a major problem in patients with HIV and AIDS, and diarrhea is reported in up to 60% of patients with AIDS in developed countries and up to 90% in developing countries (Siddiqui et al, 2007;Silva et al, 2010). Recent studies by Bradshaw et al, (2005) have indicated that HIV/AIDS is the leading cause of premature mortality for all provinces in South Africa and mortality due to pretransitional causes, such as diarrhea, is more pronounced in the poorer and more rural provinces.…”