Prevalence of intestinal parasitic infestation in HIV seropositive and seronegative patients in Ilorin, Nigeria

Objective: To determine the prevalence, severity and pattern of intestinal parasitic infestation in HIV-seropositive patients. Methods: A Cross-sectional study from January 2007 to December 2008.Patients were recruited from the HIV clinics of the hospital. Paired blood and single stool specimens were collected from each patient. The stool sample was investigated for intestinal parasites while the blood sample was tested for antibodies to HIV-1 and 2. HIV-seropositive subjects also had CD4(+) cells count done. Result: Ninety each of stool and blood samples were collected from HIV-seropositive and HIV-seronegative patients. Four species each of helminthes and protozoan parasites and three species of coccidian parasites were isolated from the stool of both HIV-seropositive and seronegative subjects. The prevalence of these parasites was two and a halve times higher among the HIV seropositive patients than the seronegative ones. The range of CD4(+) cells count was 20-680 cells/mu l with a median of 259 cells/mu l. Patients with CD4(+) count < 200/mu l had more coccidian parasites in their stool and also had higher prevalence of intestinal polyparasitism ranging from 2 to 4 different species per stool sample. Conclusion: The frequency of both AIDS defining and non-AIDS defining intestinal parasitic infestation was higher among the HIV infected patients. Patients' CD4(+) cells count was an important determinant of the rate and number of parasitic infestation.