Abstract

Objective: To investigate the role CD4+ levels play in controlling diarrhea conditions caused by intestinal coccidian infections among HIV/AIDS infected individuals visiting Tarkwa Municipal Hospital. Methods: Fifty HIV/AIDS infected subjects with diarrhea conditions were enrolled into the study. Stool and blood samples were collected from each in two or three consecutive times to examine intestinal coccidian and microsporidian infections using microscopy and also estimate CD4+ cells using BD FACSCount TM. Results: Fourteen of the participants had intestinal coccidian or microsporidian representing 28% while 72% of the participants had diarrhea of unknown origin. Cryptosporidium recorded the highest prevalence of 42.86% whilst Cyclospora and Microsporidia equally recorded a prevalence of 28.57%. A significant protection against cryptosporidiosis was observed for CD4+ count above 200 cells/µL (χ2 = 6.522, P = 0.038), but not cyclosporiasis (P = 0.233) or microsporidiosis (P = 0.060). Conclusions: This study has shown that CD4+ cells above 200 cell/µL of blood protect HIVinfected patients from cryptosporidiosis. Standardization of the association between CD4+ cells and diarrhea condition caused by Cryptosporidium species is therefore suggested to serve as an indicator for prompt diagnosis and treatment of HIV-infected individuals with cryptosporidiosis.

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