Intestinal microsporidiosis due to Enterocytozoon bieneusi in elderly human immunodeficiency virus--negative patients from Vigo, Spain

Clin Infect Dis. 2002 Apr 1;34(7):918-21. doi: 10.1086/339205. Epub 2002 Feb 25.

Abstract

We report what is, to our knowledge, the first study in which microsporidial infection was detected in elderly human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)--negative patients. Of the 60 elderly patients studied, 47 had diarrhea. Intestinal microsporidiosis due to Enterocytozoon bieneusi was diagnosed in 8 patients (17.02%) by use of Weber's chromotrope-based stain and polymerase chain reaction with species-specific primers. The mean age of these 8 patients was 75 years; 7 had chronic diarrhea and 1 had nonchronic diarrhea. Six of the patients with chronic diarrhea had no other pathogens isolated. In our opinion, elderly patients, because of their special immunological characteristics, should be considered a group at risk for the acquisition of intestinal microsporidiosis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Enterocytozoon*
  • Female
  • HIV Seronegativity / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Intestinal Diseases / epidemiology
  • Intestinal Diseases / immunology
  • Intestinal Diseases / parasitology*
  • Male
  • Microsporidiosis / epidemiology
  • Microsporidiosis / immunology
  • Microsporidiosis / parasitology*
  • Spain / epidemiology