Cryptosporidiosis in HIV-Positive Patients, Bandar Abbas, Iran: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Cryptosporidiosis is a parasitic disease caused by a small protozoan of the genus coccidian. It is important in themedical and veterinary area, since it is a zoonotic parasite. Transmission of fecal-oral infections occurs through direct and indirectcontact with food and contaminated drinks. Many HIV-positive individuals live in the areas where intestinal parasites are hyperendemic.Objectives: Given the significance of the study associated with opportunistic infectious diseases in this group of patients, we decidedto study the prevalence of the parasite in those individuals.Methods: In this descriptive cross-sectional study, we collected a single fecal specimen of ۱۳۳ HIV-positive patients seeking treatmentfrom the center for Behavioral Disease Counseling of Bandar Abbas, Iran. Stool samples examined by direct, formalin-etherconcentration method and modified Ziehl-Neelsen stain for Cryptosporidium spp.Results: The mean age of the patients was ۴۲.۱۵ (ranged ۱۲ - ۸۲ years). No oocyst of cryptosporidium spp. or other intestinal coccidianwas found in any of the samples. Only four species including Giardia lamblia, Hymenolepis nana, and both Entamoeba coli andBlastocystis hominis were found in three patients, which indicated less diversity and low frequency of parasitic infection in this study.Conclusions: Monitoring and evaluating the therapeutic process of the patients lead to less infectious diseases, especially those ofopportunistic parasites.

Keywords:

Cryptosporidiosis , HIV , Iran