Case Report: Molecular Diagnosis of Cystoisospora belli in a Severely Immunocompromised Patient with HIV and Kaposi Sarcoma

Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2021 Nov 29;106(2):678-680. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.21-0289.

Abstract

Diarrhea in an immunocompromised patient has a broad infectious differential. Diagnosis is difficult despite advances in diagnostic modalities. We report a case of a 45-year-old Nigerian woman who immigrated to the United States 2 years ago. She presented to the hospital with gastrointestinal bleeding, newly diagnosed HIV, and disseminated Kaposi sarcoma. During hospitalization, the patient had an onset of watery diarrhea and high eosinophilia. Subsequent stool analysis using multi-parallel real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction for 13 parasites was positive for Cystoisospora belli. The patient was treated with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, but had relapsed disease when her antibiotics were stopped prematurely. After restarting trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, her diarrhea and eosinophilia improved, and she had undetectable Cystoisospora belli DNA on repeat stool quantitative polymerase chain reaction. This case highlights the importance of a thorough workup for diarrhea, including parasites, especially for immunocompromised patients. Antibiotic prophylaxis is recommended in patients with Cystoisospora belli and HIV/AIDS.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Infective Agents / therapeutic use
  • Diarrhea / diagnosis*
  • Diarrhea / drug therapy
  • Diarrhea / immunology
  • Diarrhea / parasitology
  • Eosinophilia / diagnosis*
  • Eosinophilia / drug therapy
  • Eosinophilia / immunology
  • Eosinophilia / parasitology
  • Female
  • Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / diagnosis*
  • Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / drug therapy
  • Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / immunology
  • Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / parasitology
  • HIV Infections / diagnosis*
  • HIV Infections / drug therapy
  • HIV Infections / immunology
  • HIV Infections / parasitology
  • Humans
  • Immunocompromised Host*
  • Isospora / immunology
  • Isosporiasis / diagnosis*
  • Isosporiasis / drug therapy
  • Isosporiasis / immunology
  • Isosporiasis / parasitology
  • Middle Aged
  • Sarcoma, Kaposi / diagnosis*
  • Sarcoma, Kaposi / drug therapy
  • Sarcoma, Kaposi / immunology
  • Sarcoma, Kaposi / parasitology
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Anti-Infective Agents
  • Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination