Background: Enteric parasitic infection among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) patients has been a significant health problem in developing countries like Nepal. This study was undertaken to access the burden of enteric parasites among HIV patients and its association with their immune status.
Methods: A cross-sectional study, involving 112 HIV sero-positive patients was conducted in Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, Public Health Research Laboratory, Kathmandu, Nepal from July 2011 to June 2012. The fecal samples were processed by direct-smear technique, in both normal saline solution and 1% iodine solution as well as modified acid fast staining (Kinyoun's method) after formalin ether concentration and Sheather's sucrose flotation for the identification of enteric parasites.
Results: Infection with one or more parasite was seen in 33.9% (n = 38) of the cases enrolled in the study, with the parasite prevalence rate of 41.1% (n = 46). Literacy (OR = 1.9, 95% CI 0.9-4.3) and CD4 T-cell count <200 (OR = 2.5, 95% CI 1.1-5.7) were found to be associated with enteric parasite infection. Similarly, CD4 T-cell count <200 was found to be associated with opportunistic parasitic infection (OR = 3.2, 95% CI 1.2-7.8). Among opportunistic parasites, Giardia duodenalis was the most common (28.3%, n = 13) one. Multi-parasitism was observed in six patients (15.8%).
Conclusion: Enteric parasitic infections are common in HIV-infected people. The poor immune status as indicated by low CD4 T-cell count may account for higher risk of both opportunistic and non-opportunistic enteric parasitic infection.
Keywords: CD4 T-cell; Diarrhea; Enteric parasites; HIV; Multi-parasitism.