Juliana B*, Yako AB, Ombugadu RJ and Tongjura JDC
Microsporidia are obligate intracellular parasitic fungi causing chronic diarrhea, particularly among immunocompromised patients. Microsporidial infections have been recognized as an increasingly important infection, particularly among those hospitalised with HIV/AIDS infected patients at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Keffi, Nasarawa state. One health facility was used to engage HIV/AIDS infected patient accessing Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) to identify the presence of microsporidium and to determine the associated risk factors. 252 stool samples were examined for microsporidial spores by modified giemsa staining technique. The overall prevalence rate of 15.08% was recorded. Based on age group, microsporidia infection was common among patients aged between 61-70 years 15.0% while sex related, the male had 30.43% rate of infection. Though, marital status, occupation, and widow/widower had 15.79% and artisans (33.33%) respectively. The vulnerability was determined by their fate and status. However, chi-square result showed no significant relationship observed (P>0.05) between the age, and sex distribution of microsporidium. The proportion among occupation and marital related distribution of microsporidium among HIV/AIDS infected patients were diarrhoic. In relation to viral load, all positive HIV/AIDS infected patients with microsporidia spore had viral load above normal. Twenty-five (25) HIV/AIDS infected patients had 10,000 ml/viral load in replicates. Microsporidium is therefore, identified and recognized as an invasive opportunistic infection among HIV/AIDS infected patients which should be considered in a routine checks among HIV/AIDS infected patients.
Share this article