PREVALENCE AND RISK FACTORS OF INTESTINAL PROTOZOAN PARASITIC INFECTIONS AMONG DIARRHEIC HIV/AIDS PATIENTS ON ART IN SELECTED HOSPITALS IN ABUJA, NIGERIA

Y Diarrhea is a common clinical condition associated with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Our study aimed to determine the prevalence and risk factors of intestinal parasitic infections among diarrheic HIV patients by using volunteers from selected hospitals in Abuja, Nigeria. Information on socio-demographic factors from 100 dianheic HIV-seropositive and 50 HIV-seronegative patients was obtained by using structured questionnaires. Freshly voided diarrheic stool samples were used for detection of intestinal parasites by direct microscopic examination. The association between different variables in the questionnaires and intestinal parasitic infection was deteimined using the Chisquare test of significance at p<0.05. The overall prevalence of intestinal parasitic infection was 18%, while it was 20% and 14% in HIV seropositive and seronegative subjects respectively. The most prevalent protozoa and helminth species were Entamoeba histolytica/dispar and A. lumbricoides, respectively in both study groups. Opportunistic protozoan parasites including Cystoisaspora belli, Ctypto.sporidium spp and Cyclospora spp; and mixed infections of E. histolyticaldi.spar and G. lamblia and Crypto.sporidium spp. and S. stercoralis were only detected in the seropositive group. While chronic diarrhea frequency was significantly higher in the seropositive group, none of the demographic characteristics was associated with enteric parasite infections among HIV seropositive volunteers. Our results highlight the importance of detailed examination of enteric parasites infection among dianheic HIV subjects which would have a crucial impact on the therapeutic approach to improve the life quality of HIV/AIDS patients.

Automated summary

This study aimed to determine the prevalence and risk factors of intestinal parasitic infections among diarrheic HIV patients in Abuja, Nigeria. The overall prevalence of intestinal parasitic infection was 18%, with the most common parasites being Entamoeba histolytica/dispar and Ascaris lumbricoides. Opportunistic protozoan parasites were only detected in the HIV seropositive group. No demographic characteristics were associated with enteric parasite infections among HIV seropositive volunteers.