Intractable diarrhoea due to co-infection with Cystoisospora belli and Trichuris trichiura unraveling a severely compromised host immune status.

Abstract

Cystoisospora belli is an obligate intracellular coccidian parasite known to cause chronic persistent diarrhoea in immunocompromised individuals such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, long term corticosteroid therapy, cancer chemotherapy and solid organ transplant recipients. Trichuris trichiura is a soil transmitted helminth, which predominantly causes asymptomatic or mild infections but heavy worm load can sometimes lead to chronic diarrhoea, tenesmus or rectal prolapse. We report a case of co-infection with Cystoisospora belli and Trichuris trichiura in an adult patient causing intractable diarrhea, which led to the unraveling of a severely compromised immune status in the patient enabling an appropriate therapeutic approach and further management.