Intestinal Parasitic Infections in HIV Infected and Non-Infected Patients in a Low HIV Prevalence Region, West-Cameroon

Abstract

The magnitude of intestinal parasitic infection in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome patients requires careful consideration in the developing world where poor nutrition is associated with poor hygiene and several tropical diseases. However, there have been very few studies addressing this issue in Cameroon. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of intestinal parasitosis in HIV/AIDS patients in Dschang -Cameroon. Stool and blood specimens from HIV/AIDS patients and control group were screened respectively for intestinal parasites and for HIV antibodies. Intestinal parasites were identified using direct microscopy, formalin-ether concentration and Ziehl Neelsen methods. Out of 396 participants recruited among patients consulting at hospital, 42 (10.6%) were HIV positive, thirty of them treatment naïve. The overall prevalence of intestinal parasites was 14.64%. Out of 42 HIV/AIDS patients, 59.5% (25/42) were infected with intestinal parasites, while only 9.32% (33/354) of the HIV negative patients were infected with intestinal parasites. The parasites detected in our study population included Crystosporidium parvum (2.53%), Entamoeba histolytica (7.52%), Entamoeba coli (4.04%), Giardia lamblia (0.25%), Trichuris trichura (0.25%), Strongyloides stercoralis (0.25%) and Taenia spp. (0.25%). In the HIV infected group, Crystosporidium parvum (19.04%), Entamoeba histolytica (19.04%), Entamoeba coli (21.42%), Giardia lamblia (2.38%), Strongyloides stercoralis (0.25%) and Taenia spp. (0.25%) were found. Crystosporidium parvum was found to be significantly higher in HIV/AIDS patients than in controls (P<0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that the HIV status and the quality of water were the major risk factors for intestinal parasitosis. Routine examinations of stool samples for parasites would significantly benefit the HIV patients by contributing in reducing morbidity and improving the efficiency of antiretroviral treatment. Even after the introduction of free anti-retroviral drugs, opportunistic intestinal infections are still a threat. HIV patients should be screened routinely for intestinal parasites and treated for their overall well being.

Intestinal Parasitoses in HIV Infected Children in a Nigerian Tertiary Hospital

“…Exposure to infection is likely to be higher among adults by reason of greater interaction and adventure with the environment. No helminths were however discovered in the Indonesian study while, Trichuris trichiura, Teania spp and Strongyloides stercoralis were identified in 0.25% cases each of the Cameroonian population studied [11,12]. This paucity of soil transmitted helminths in the latter two studies are consistent with the findings in the present study.…”

“…Much higher prevalence estimates of 52% and 59.5% were recorded among Indonesian and Cameroonian HIV infected patients respectively [11,12]. The very high prevalence estimates among the Indonesian children can be explained by the fact that they were diarrheal, while the risk factor for higher infection rates in the Cameroon study could have been the age of the participants, who were all adults.…”

Prevalence of Intestinal Parasites in HIV-Positive Patients Attending Ahvaz Health Centers in 2012: A Cross-Sectional Study in South of Iran

“…In a study by Nkenfou et al (9) in East Cameroon (2013) on 396 patients (42 HIV-positive patients and 345 HIV-negative patients), the results showed that the overall prevalence of parasitic infections in all patients in this study was equal to 14.64%, while 59.5% of HIV-positive and 9.32% of HIV-negative individuals had gastrointestinal parasitic infections. The most common known parasite in people infected included 19.04% for Cryptosporidium and 22.42% for Entamoeba coli, which may be due to the condition of the disease and quality of drinking water as risk factors for intestinal parasitic infections (9).…”

“…The most common known parasite in people infected included 19.04% for Cryptosporidium and 22.42% for Entamoeba coli, which may be due to the condition of the disease and quality of drinking water as risk factors for intestinal parasitic infections (9).…”

“…Thus, the detection of these parasites and understanding the importance of the infection would help control the disease as well as better care of these people (8). Furthermore, in tropical regions, a relationship exists between HIV infection and other diseases such as malaria, tuberculosis, and intestinal parasitic infections, which if not diagnosed and treated early, would cause serious injuries and even death (5,9).…”