CRYPTOSPORIDIUM AND OTHER PARASITES IN ETHIOPIAN AIDS PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC DIARRHEA

Previous studies in other African countries have shown high prevalence s of Isospora belli and Cryptosporidium parvum infections in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients with chronic diarrhoea. Howe ver, there is lack of information regarding these infectious agents in Ethiopian AIDS patients, Thus, this investigation has been aimed at d etermining the prevalence of Cryptosporidium and other related gastroi ntestinal parasites in AIDS patients with diarrhoea in seven Addis Aba ba hospitals, Stool specimens from 246 clinically diagnosed AIDS patie nts were parasitologically screened for parasitic infections constitut ing HTV-negative with diarrhoea and HIV-positive without diarrhoea con trol groups, A variety of intestinal protozoa and helminths were found in 50% of AIDS patients and 42% of the controls. Cryptosporidiosis wa s detected in 38(25.9%), Isosporiasis in two (1.4%), and Blastocystosi s in one (0.7%) of the AIDS patients with diarrhoea, The occurrence of cryptosporidiosis among the AIDS patients and possible explanation of the increasingly high study subjects with diarrhoea but without ident ifiable parasites is discussed.