Prevalence of Cryptosporidium Infection among HIV-1 Infected Adult Patients Attending Jos University Teaching Hospital, Jos, Nigeria

Abstract

Cryptosporidium is a leading cause of chronic diarrhoea in HIV-1 infected patients, but there is a paucity of data on the prevalence of Cryptosporidium and factors associated with the infection. We determined the prevalence and factors associated with Cryptosporidium infection among HIV-1 infected adult patients at Jos University Teaching Hospital, Jos, Nigeria. A cross-sectional study in which a total of 296 fecal specimens from HIV-1 infected patients with diarrhea were collected, and a structured questionnaire was used to collect demographic and clinical data. The fecal samples were examined for Cryptosporidium by formol-ether concentration and modified Ziehl-Neelsen staining technique, and the oocysts identified by microscopy. Two hundred and ninety-six fecal samples were analyzed from 156 (52.7%) females and 140 (47.3%) males. The prevalence of Cryptosporidium infection among HIV-1 infected patients was 4.7%. Among females, 9 (5.8%) had Cryptosporidium infection, while 5 (3.6%) in males; P=0.696. The age group 21-30 years had the highest prevalence of 8 (10.0%). A statistically significant association of Cryptosporidium infection was observed with the rural type of residence, P=0.046. In conclusion, the prevalence of Cryptosporidium infection among HIV-1 infected adult patients with diarrhea was low. This may be due to the early commencement of antiretroviral drugs and the use of anti-parasitic prophylaxis among the patients. Further larger studies on the molecular identification of the species of Cryptosporidium are needed to determine the available zoonotic strains.