INTESTINAL PARASITIC INFECTIONS AMONG HIV/AIDS INFECTED AND NON- INFECTED PATIENTS IN EASTERN TIGRAY, NORTHERN ETHIOPIA

Dinku Senbeta*, Lemlem Gebremariam and Guesh Gebremariam

ABSTRACT

Intestinal parasitic infections are among the most common human infections worldwide with a significant role in morbidity and mortality; especially among HIV infected patients. A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the magnitude of intestinal parasitic infections among HIV infected and non infected patients in Eastern Tigray, Northern Ethiopia. Socio-demographic characteristics and stool samples were collected from all study participants and examined for parasites using Direct microscopic, Formol-ether concentration and Modified acid fast stain techniques. Out of 338 patients, 238 (70.4%) were HIV positive and 100 (29.6%) were HIV negative patients. 231(68.34%) was an overall prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections encountered in this study. Among 238 HIV positive and 100 HIV negative patients, 161(67.6%) and 70(70%) were infected with one or more intestinal parasites respectively with no significant difference between the two study subjects (P > 0.05). Among the detected non opportunistic and opportunistic intestinal parasites, Entamoeba histolytica 92(27.22%) was the most frequently encountered parasite followed by Cryptosporidium parvum 53(15.68%), Gardia lamblia 43(12.72%), Ascaris lumbricoides 31(9.17%), and Isospora belli 24(7.1%), respectively. Cryptosporidium parvum was the most common among opportunistic parasites (15.68 vs. 5%) detected followed by Isospora belli (8.8 vs. 3%) and Cyclospora species (0.42 vs. 0%) among HIV positive and negative patients, respectively. Moreover, the detection rate of most parasites among HIV positive patients was significantly higher among patients with CD4 + count less than 200cells/ μl than other groups. Therefore, periodical detection and treatment of these parasites are vital to assure the life quality of the patients in the study area.

Keywords: Prevalence, Intestinal parasite, HIV positive, CD4+ count, Tigray, Ethiopia.