Prevalence of Enteric Opportunistic Pathogens among HIV/AIDS patients in Lagos, Nigeria and comparative assessment of three staining techniques

Within the last several years, enteric protozoan parasites have become increasingly recognised as important rapidly emerging human pathogens in immuno-compromised individuals. They have been recognised as important opportunistic pathogens in such individuals, and tend to aid disease progression or otherwise. This study was designed to determine the prevalence of enteric pathogens in HIV/AIDS patients in Lagos, Nigeria and the usefulness or otherwise of three staining techniques for routine staining. Fourteen HIV/AIDS patients and 24 control patients were recruited for this purpose while the comparative light microscopic studies was done with Giemsa, modified Kinyoun's carbol fuchsin and Weber's modified trichrome (Chromotrope 2R) stains. Ten (71.4%) and 14 (58.3%) of the case and control patients respectively were positive for one pathogen or the other. Common parasites found include Cryptosporidium, Microsporidium and Isospora. Cryptosporidium (50%), Microsporidium (35.7%) and Isospora (7.1%) were found in case patients only. Moreso, there was a significant association between these parasites and HIV/AIDS infection (P 0.05). They were however not found in controls. Kinyoun's modified carbol fuchsin was useful in routine diagnosis for the idenitification of Cryptosporidium and Isospora while Weber's modified trichrome stain was suitable for the identification of Cryptosporidium and Microsporidium.

Presenting author: B. Thomas, University of Lagos, Para College, Trop. Dis. Res. Lab. Dept. Med. Micro, Pmb 12003, Idiaraba Lagos, Nigeria, Tel.: +234 1 545 376 06, Fax: +234 1 585 1432, E-mail: nunbolaji@yahoo.com