Prevalence of Opportunistic Intestinal Protozoan Infection Among HIV/AIDS Patients in Jalingo Metropolis

Onyeuku Okechukwu Chinwe,Elkanah Deborah Sambo,Elkanah Obadiah Sambo,Egeonu Stephen Ugoeze,Obiorah Sylvester Chibuzor

doi:10.11648/j.bs.20200603.16

Abstract

Opportunistic protozoans parasitic infection occur frequently in individuals with weakened immune system including people with HIV/AIDS. The study sought to determine the prevalence of opportunistic intestinal protozoan infection in HIV/AIDS patients in Jalingo metropolis. The procedure of wet mount technique and faecal concentration techniques processed the faeces collected. The CD4+ count of patients were determined using the Partee Cyflow Counter, which determines the percentage of CD4+ cells of individuals. A total of eight hundred and fifty (850) faecal samples were collected from sero-positive and sero-negative HIV/AIDS persons in Jalingo metropolis. Out of the 850 subjects 650 (76.47%) were sero-positive while 200 (23.53%) were sero-negative (Control). The sero-positive subjects showed higher prevalence of 118 (18.15%) of opportunistic parasitic protozoan infection according to the following hospital locations: Government House, 12 (25.71%); Ummah Clinic, 8 (21.82%); Taraba State Specialist Hospital, 50 (18.18%) and Federal Medical Centre, 38 (15.20%). The prevalence was higher among female positives, 68 (l9.60%) than the male, 50 (16.50%) with no significant difference (p>0.05). The infection based on age groups revealed that the age group 10-15 years had the highest prevalence of 27 (48.21%) while the age group 41-45 years had the least prevalence of 2 (2.63%). Subjects involved in farming had higher prevalence 30 (46.15%) while the least was found among those of trading/business, 33 (13.86%) with no significant difference in infection (p>0.05). C. parvum had the highest prevalence, 46 (24.46%) among the sero-positive individuals while E. coli the highest among sero-negative, 9 (60.00%). It is recommended that clinicians caring for HIV/AIDS patients should request for routine stool examination for the specific diagnosis of opportunistic intestinal parasites infections.

Highlights

Opportunistic protozoans occur frequently in individuals with weakened immune system including people with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)/AIDS
Opportunistic intestinal protozoans are among the major contributor to the global intestinal parasite load
The sero-positive subject showed higher prevalence of 118 (18.15%) of opportunistic parasitic infection according to the following hospital locations; Govt

Summary

Introduction

Opportunistic protozoans occur frequently in individuals with weakened immune system including people with HIV/AIDS. The predisposing factors to getting opportunistic intestinal protozoan parasites include living in/or visiting areas known to have these parasites, international travels, poor sanitation (for both food and water), exposure to child and institutional care center, having a weekend immune system and HIV/AIDS predispose individual to infection [1]. Opportunistic intestinal protozoans are among the major contributor to the global intestinal parasite load. In different parts of the world a wide variety of intestinal parasites are prevalent. Toxoplasma gondii, Cyclospora, Giardia lamblia and Cryptosporidium are among the major contributors to the global intestinal parasitic disease body. The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a sexually transmitted disease. HIV can be spread via blood and blood products most commonly with shared contaminated needles used by person engaging in intravenous drugs’ use [2]

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Discussion

Conclusion