How common is intestinal parasitism in HIV-infected patients in Malaysia?
- Author:
Asma, I.
;
Johari, S.
;
Benedict, L.H. Sim
;
Yvonne, A.L. Lim*
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- From:Tropical Biomedicine
2011;28(2):400-410
- CountryMalaysia
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected individuals have greater
susceptibility to infections by a myriad of microorganisms which can cause significant morbidity
and mortality compared to immunocompetent individuals. Of these microbial infections,
intestinal parasitic infections (IPIs) however are receiving less attention than bacterial and
viral infections, hence, the lack of information of parasitic infections in HIV individuals.
Prevalence of IPIs among 346 HIV-infected individuals in Malaysia was determined in this
study. The overall prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections (IPIs) was 37.9% (131 of 346)
with protozoa infections (18.8%) being more common compared to helminth infections (7.5%).
Observed protozoa include Entamoeba histolytica/dispar (16.8%), Cryptosporidium parvum
(12.4%), Isospora belli (10.1%), Cyclospora cayetanensis (4.9%) and Giardia duodenalis
(intestinalis) (3.2%) whilst helminthes which were detected comprised of Ascaris lumbricoides
(13.9%), Trichuris trichiura (6.4%) and hookworms (0.6%). Among those 131 infected, 50.4%
had multiple infections and 48.9% had single parasitic infection. The CD4 counts were
significantly lower (i.e., 200 cells/mm3) in patients harbouring IPIs. Of those individuals
infected with intestinal parasites, 49% were intravenous drug users and 58% were not on any
antiretroviral therapy. Most were asymptomatic and had concurrent opportunistic infections
(OIs) mainly with Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. These results confirmed that IPIs
are ubiquitous among HIV-infected individuals, especially those presenting with low CD4 T
cells counts, and provide useful insights into the epidemiology of these infections among HIVinfected
patients in Malaysia. It is therefore recommended, that diagnosis of these intestinal
parasitic pathogens should be conducted on a routine basis for better management of
gastrointestinal illnesses among HIV individuals.
- Full text:W020150615376813870188.pdf
