Seroprevalence of Microsporidiosis in Immunocompromised Patients in Kano-Nigeria

Abstract

Microsporidial infections have been recognized as an increasingly important infection in immuncompromised patients, particularly those infected with HIV/AIDS. Stool samples were examined for microsporidial spores by modified Giemsa staining technique and IgG antibodies to Microsporidia in Sera samples were detected by ELISA. Feacal examination showed that 14/192 (7.29%) of HIV/AIDS patients had microsporidia, comprising - Enterocytozoon bieneusi 8/14 (57.14%), Encephalitozoon intestinalis 5/14(35.71%) and mixed infection of both 1/14(7.14%), while 0/50 of HIV-negative patients had microsporidia. The difference between them was not significant (X2, p>0.05). Enterocytozoon bieneusi was detected in 3/23(13.04%) and 3/35(8.57%) of TB/HIV/AIDS and TB/HIV-negative patients. Serological evaluation showed that 22/168(13.10%) of HIV/AIDS and 2/60 (3.33%) of HIV-negative patients were seropositive. There was a significant difference (X2, p<0.05) in their infection rates. 0/30 of TB patients were seropostive. There was a significant association (p<0.05) between patients with Microsporidia and CD4 lymphocytes counts of ≤ 50 cells/μl and also with diarrhoea. Detection of Microsporidia in Immunocompromised patients has not been described previously in this area.