The epidemiology of intestinal microsporidiosis in patients with HIV/AIDS in Lima, Peru

J Infect Dis. 2005 May 15;191(10):1658-64. doi: 10.1086/429674. Epub 2005 Apr 11.

Abstract

We studied microsporidiosis in human immunodeficiency virus-positive patients in 2 Lima hospitals. Of 2652 patients, 66% were male, 6% received antiretroviral therapy (ART), and the median CD4 lymphocyte count was 131 cells/microL. Sixty-seven patients (3%) had microsporidiosis; stool specimens from 56 were identified as having Enterocytozoon bieneusi of 10 different genotypes. The 2 most common genotypes, Peru-1 and Peru-2, were not associated with significant increases in chronic diarrhea; other genotypes were associated with a 4-fold increased risk. Risk factors for E. bieneusi infection segregated by genotype: contact with duck or chicken droppings and lack of running water, flush toilet, or garbage collection with genotype Peru-1 and watermelon consumption with other genotypes. Shortened survival was associated with low CD4 lymphocyte count (P<.0001), no ART (P<.0001), and cryptosporidiosis (P=.004) but not with microsporidiosis (P=.48). Our data suggest the possibility of zoonotic E. bieneusi transmission and an association with poor sanitary conditions.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / epidemiology*
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Cohort Studies
  • Female
  • HIV Infections / complications*
  • HIV Infections / mortality
  • Humans
  • Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / epidemiology*
  • Male
  • Microsporidiosis / epidemiology*
  • Middle Aged
  • Peru / epidemiology
  • Regression Analysis
  • Risk Factors