MICROSPORIDIOSIS IN HIV-POSITIVE CHILDREN IN MADRID (SPAIN)

A prospective study was carried out to determine the prevalence rates of microsporidiosis and other enteroparasites in HIV-positive children in the Madrid area. HIV-positive pediatric patients from three hospit als were enrolled in the study. A total of 293 samples (158 stool and 127 urine) were collected from 83 children whose mean age was 6.3 year s and had a mean CD4 count of 504.7/mm(3) (range 1-2,220/mm(3)), 48 of whom suffered diarrhea at the time of the study. Microsporidia identi fication was investigated in stool and urine samples using Weber's chr omotrope-based stain, IIF and PCR species-specific tests. Enteric para sites were identified in 32.5% of the children. Cryptosporidium sp. wa s the most common parasite encountered (14.4%), followed by Blastocyti s sp. (9.6%) and Giardia duodenalis (8.4%). Microsporidia was only fou nd in the stools of one child (1.2% of total and 2% of those with diar rhea) and Enterocytozoon bieneusi was demonstrated by PCR. The patient was 10 years old, presented non-chronic diarrhea and his CD4 count wa s 298/mm(3). These data differ from those previously reported by us in HIV-positive adults (13.9%) in the same area, although this group sho wed more severely depressed CD4 lymphocyte counts than children. New e pidemiological studies should be carried out to elucidate whether addi tional risk factors exist between these groups.