Comparison of the two Diagnostic Methods Used for the Detection of Cryptosporidium Infection among HIV Patients in Osogbo, Nigeria

Cryptosporidiosis is the chief AIDS-defining infection in no more than 2% of HIV reported cases.

Aim of the Study: This was carried out to assess the efficacy of two diagnostic methods for the detection of Cryptosporidiosis among HIV individuals in Osogbo.

Methodology: A total of 188 HIV seropositive patients attending Institute of Human Virology, Nigeria (IHVN) Clinics, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital (LAUTECH), Osogbo, Nigeria and 60 HIV negative individuals were selected for the study from January to December, 2016 by random sampling technique. Stool samples were collected and examined for oocyst and antigen of Cryptosporidium protozoan using Ziehl-Neelsen (ZN) and Ensyme Link Immunoassay (ELISA) methods respectively. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 16.0 and P value < 0.05 was considered significant.

Result: Prevalence of 28.7% (54/188) and 35.1% (66/188) was obtained by ZN and ELISA respectively in HIV-positive subjects while that of HIV negative was 1.7% (1/60). There was a significant association between Cryptosporidium infections and diarrhoea for different age groups (P<0.05), but no significant association between Cryptosporidium infection and different sex (P> 0.05).

Conclusion: Cryptosporidium infection was highly prevalent among HIV seropositive individuals in Osogbo, an indication of active infection that is likely to emerge as major human pathogen in a poor social economic setting. This study re-emphasized the need for inclusion of Cryptosporidium screening and treatment in HIV seropositive subjects since it is a major cause of morbidity and mortality.