B. Fisseha et al., CRYPTOSPORIDIUM AND OTHER PARASITES IN ETHIOPIAN AIDS PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC DIARRHEA, East African medical journal, 75(2), 1998, pp. 100-101
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.