[Prevalence of Encephalitozoon intestinalis and Enterocytozoon bieneusi in HIV positive patients to Maracaibo, Venezuela]

Invest Clin. 2013 Mar;54(1):58-67.
[Article in Spanish]

Abstract

Microsporidioses are considered emerging and opportunistic infections in immunocompromised individuals worldwide. The purpose of this study was to identify the species of intestinal microsporidia in patients with HIV-AIDS from the Servicio Autónomo Hospital Universitario de Maracaibo, Venezuela (SAHUM). Fecal samples were collected from 50 patients with confirmed diagnosis of HIV, during the years 2007 and 2008; the CD4 values were obtained from 42 patients. The samples were analyzed by separate PCRs to identify Encephalitozoon intestinalis and Enterocytozoon bieneusi. Microsporidia species showed a 36% prevalence: ten patients had Encephalitozoon intestinalis, four Enterocytozoon bieneusi and four both species. An inverse and statistically significant relationship between the CD4 count and the presence of microsporidia in the fecal sample was also found. It is remarkable the high prevalence of microsporidia species observed in the HIV patients studied, with a predominance of E. intestinalis.

MeSH terms

  • AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / epidemiology
  • AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / immunology
  • AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / microbiology
  • Adult
  • Asymptomatic Diseases
  • CD4 Lymphocyte Count
  • Coinfection
  • Comorbidity
  • DNA, Fungal / analysis
  • Diarrhea / epidemiology*
  • Diarrhea / microbiology
  • Encephalitozoon / isolation & purification*
  • Encephalitozoonosis / epidemiology*
  • Encephalitozoonosis / microbiology
  • Enterocytozoon / isolation & purification*
  • Feces / microbiology*
  • Female
  • HIV Infections / epidemiology*
  • HIV Infections / immunology
  • HIV Wasting Syndrome / epidemiology
  • Humans
  • Immunocompromised Host
  • Male
  • Microsporidiosis / epidemiology*
  • Microsporidiosis / microbiology
  • Middle Aged
  • Prevalence
  • Venezuela / epidemiology
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • DNA, Fungal