Prevalence of intestinal parasitic protozoan infections among female HIV/Aids patients attending Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano, Kano State, Nigeria

Abstract

Intestinal protozoan parasites are the major cause of morbidity and mortality killing millions of patients with HIV/AIDS each year; causing diarrhea especially in infants and immunocompromised people worldwide. HIV infection has been modifying both the epidemiology and outcome of parasitic infections. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of intestinal parasitic protozoan infections among women patients with HIV/AIDS attending Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH), Kano from October - December, 2016. Stool samples from 82 HIV/AIDS women patients were analyzed for protozoan parasite using direct wet mount, formol-ether concentration techniques and modified Ziehl-Neelson staining techniques whereas the blood samples collected were analyzed for CD4+ T-cell estimation using flow cytometry. Sociodemographic variables were collected by using questionnaire. Chi-square test was used to test the associations between CD4+ T-cell count and protozoan infections. A total of three (3) protozoan parasites were encountered among the HIV- positive individuals. These include Giardia intestinalis (33.4%), Entamoeba histolytica (27.8%) and E. coli (22.2%). The result indicated that the parasitic infection with Giardiaintestinalis was significantly higher among HIV-positive women (P>0.05). The age group with the highest prevalence was that of 40-49 years (29.2%). There was no significant difference in the prevalence of intestinal parasitic protozoan infection with regard to age, CD4+ count, job type of the patients (P>0.05) but there was a significant association between the residence area, pregnancy status and intestinal parasitic protozoan infection (P<0.05). Prevalence was also significantly higher in the rural areas (39.1%) than in the urban areas (11.4%). Routine screening for intestinal parasites in HIV-positive patients among others are advocated in the study area.

Keywords: AKTH; CD4+ count; HIV/AIDS; Immunocompromised; Intestinal Protozoa; Prevalence