PREVALENCE OF INTESTINAL PARASITIC PATHOGENS AMONG HIV-POSITIVE INDIVIDUALS IN IRAN

Abstract

Purpose: To determine the prevalence of intestinal parasites among HIV-positive individuals visited in different medical centers in Iran. Methods: Single stool samples were collected and analyzed for various intestinal parasites from 206 HIV-positive individuals with different immune status. The data were tested for statistical significance with χ2 and Mann-Whitney U tests. Results: The overall prevalence of intestinal parasites was 18.4% (95%CI: 13.7, 24.3). In particular, the following parasites were identified: Giar-dia lamblia (7.3%), Blastocystis hominis (4.4%), Entamoeba coli(3.9%), and Cryptosporidium parvum (1.5%). The other parasites observed were Strongyloides stercoralis and Hymenolepis nana in two cases and Dicro-coelium dendriticum in one. Of the 38 patients who tested positive for intestinal parasites, 15 (39.2%) had diarrhea. Intestinal parasites were significantly more common among patients with diarrhea than those without (P <0.001). Besides, CD4 counts were significantly lower among individuals with diarrhea than those without (P <0.001). Conclusions: This study highlights the importance of testing for intestinal parasites among Iranian HIV-positive patients especially those with low immunity presented with diarrhea.