A Study on the Prevalence of Cryptosporidium in HIV Positive Patients

Aids is acquired by infection with hiv (human immuno-deficiency virus). it leaves thehost susceptible to malignant and unusual infections especially opportunistic ones. most of aidspatients infected with opportunistic parasitic infections die because of chronic diarrhea and deaths dueto cryptosporidium diarrhea in aids patients are considerable in the recent two decades. the aim ofthis study is to find cryptosporidium parasite in aids patients referring to the center of diseasesconsultation in kermanshah province and to determine the frequency of infection in those patients.methods: in this study stool and blood samples were collected from 75 aids patients referringregularly to the center of diseases consultation in kermanshah and the gathered information werefilled in the questionnaires together with their personal information regarding their names, sex and etc.stool samples were tested using direct and formalin ether methods and then the smears that were dyedusing modified acid fast staining were examined. peripheral blood samples were used to determine thecd4 counts.results: the results showed that the frequency of infection with cryptosporidium in aids patientswas 26.7% (20 cases).conclusion: according to the study, as the number of cd4 decreased in the patients, the probability ofinfection with opportunistic parasites increased and increase in the number cd4 that is normallyaccompanied with strengthening the body immune system resulted in the decrease in the frequency ofinfection with cryptosporidium.