Abstract
Introduction: Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) targets the body's defense system and leads to a decrease in CD4 T-cells in lymphoid tissues associated with intestinal mucosa, leading to an imbalance in the gastrointestinal tract. This study was performed to determine the intestinal parasites infestation among people living with HIV (PLHIV) in peri-urban area in Yaoundé, Cameroon.
 Methods: A retro-prospective, prospective, and descriptive study was carried out from January-March 2017 to the Care Unit of the Nkolondom II Catholic Medical Center in Yaoundé on 96 PLHIV after providing informed consent. On each stool sample collected, intestinal parasites testing was performed by using direct examination with physiological saline and Lugol's iodine, Ritchie's technique (formol/ether, 10%) and by Ziehl-Neelsen staining. Statistical analysis was performed by using SPSS version 17 software, with all P <0.05 considered statistically significant.
 Results: A total of 52.08% (50/96) were infested with various parasites: Cryptosporidium parvum (72.88%), Cyclospora cayetanensis (10.17%), Entamoeba histolytica (8.47%), Entamoeba coli (5.08%), Ascaris lumbricoїdes (1.70%) and Giardia lamblia (1.70%). Parasite’s prevalence was more observed in women (74.00%; 37/50) compared with men (26.00% [13/50]). Depending on immunity, immuno-compromised patients (CD4 count ≤500 cells/mm3) were more infested (82.00%; 41/50) versus (vs) 18.00% (9/50), OR: 1.60 (95%CI: 0.60-4.60).
 Conclusion: Intestinal parasites infestation is reported to be high among people under ART in Cameroon's Yaoundé locality, with Cryptosporidium parvum being the predominant circulating species in this locality.
Highlights
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) targets the body's defense system and leads to a decrease in CD4 T-cells in lymphoid tissues associated with intestinal mucosa, leading to an imbalance in the gastrointestinal tract
The overall intestinal parasites infestation was 52.08% (50/96). This result is similar with many studies carried out in Cameroon on the prevalence of intestinal parasites in people living with HIV/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) by: Vouking and collaborator [11] at the Agreed Treatment Center of Yaoundé Central Hospital and Nkenfou and collaborator [12] in the Western Region in the city of Dschang with 57.48% and 59.50% respectively
It is higher than the survey carried out by Safarti and collaborator [13] in Yaoundé and Lehman and collaborator [14] in Douala, who found 33% and 27.80% respectively. This result obtained in this study (52.08%) confirms the observations of many authors according to which intestinal parasites occupy an important place among the diseases of the gastrointestinal tract in people in general and people infected in particular by HIV in the developing countries [15], [16]
Summary
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) targets the body's defense system and leads to a decrease in CD4 T-cells in lymphoid tissues associated with intestinal mucosa, leading to an imbalance in the gastrointestinal tract. Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), where about 25.6 million people were living with HIV in 2015, remains the most affected region It accounts for nearly two-thirds of new infections worldwide [1]. Diarrheal diseases are one of the most common gastrointestinal manifestations clinically observable in AIDS patients, occurring at an advanced stage of HIV infection; usually due to opportunistic infections [8]. These opportunistic infections are the immediate consequences of severe immuno-suppression, are responsible for serious illnesses that can lead to death. Coccidia (Cryptosporidium parvum, Isospora belli, Cyclospora sp) and amoebae (Entamoeba histolytica, Entamoeba coli, etc.) are the etiologic agents commonly responsible for the genesis of these intestinal protozoans in HIV-positive persons worldwide [10]
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