Prevalence Of Cyclospora Cayetanensis In HIV Positive Individuals In A Tertiary Care Hospital
Ashihabegum Ma, Dhanabalan.P, Sucilathangam G, Velvizhi G, Jeyamurugan T, Palaniappan N, Anna T
1. Corresponding Author,
2. MBBS Student, Dept of Microbiology,
3. Assistant Professors of Dept Microbiology,
4. Assistant Professors, Dept of Microbiology,
5. Assistant Professors, Dept of Microbiology,
6. Professor, Dept of Microbiology, Tirunelveli Medical College, Tirunelveli, 627 011, Tamil Nadu, India.
7. Department of Veterinary Parasitology, Veterinary College and Research Institute, Namakkal
Correspondence
Address :
Dr. Ashihabegum MA,M.D, Assistant Professor,Department of Microbiology, Tirunelveli Medical College, Tirunelveli District, 627 011, Tamil Nadu, India. Phone: 94425 63742 E-mail:drashiqa@rediffmail.com
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of cyclospora cayetanensis in HIV positive individuals in a tertiary care hospital and to correlate the findings with the CD4 cell count. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Stool specimens (n = 50) from HIV Positive individuals were subjected to modified acid fast staining (Kinyoun’s method) and safranin staining methods.CD4 cell count for all seropositive HIV patients was determined by Flowcytometry method. RESULTS: Prevalence Of Cyclospora cayetanensis in HIV positive individuals is 24%.The occcurence is more common in men than in women.Patients with CD4 count of <200 cells/microlitres revealed cyclosporiasis. CONCLUSIONS: Hence, it is necessary to screen all the patients with or without diarrhea, so that we can diagnose and treat the patient which prolongs the life span of the patient.
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cite this article :
Ashihabegum Ma, Dhanabalan.P, Sucilathangam G, Velvizhi G, Jeyamurugan T, Palaniappan N, et al.. PREVALENCE OF CYCLOSPORA CAYETANENSIS IN HIV POSITIVE INDIVIDUALS IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL. Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research [serial online] 2012 May [cited: 2013 May 23 ]; 6:382-384. Available from http://www.jcdr.net/back_issues.asp?issn=0973-709x&year=2012&month=May&volume=6&issue=3&page=382-384&id=1961
Introduction Coccidial infections of the gastrointestinal tract cause an acute, self-limited diarrhoeal illness in immunocompetent hosts (1). Cryptosporidium and Isospora belli are the well recognized causes of chronic enteric infections in patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and other immunodeficiency states (2). Recently, another coccidial parasite was identified in the faeces of immunocompetent and immunocompromised patients with diarrhoea (3). This new pathogen was found to belong to the genus Cyclospora, based on results of electron microscopy, in vitro sporulation and excystation studies (4). The coccidian, Cyclospora species (previously called the Cyanobacterium-like organism) is a newly recognized enteric pathogen (5). Cyclospora cayetanensis is a coccidian pathogen which has been found in humans. Cyclosporiosis is characterized by mild to severe nausea, anorexia, abdominal cramping and watery diarrhoea. Cyclospora has now been reported from patients with protracted diarrhoeal illness in north, central and south America, The Caribbean, Africa, Bangladesh, south east Asia, Australia, England, and eastern Europe, and has been found to be characterized by its marked seasonality. Its routes of transmission are still unknown, although the faecal-oral route, either directly or via water, is probably the major one. A recent outbreak of cyclosporal infections in USA suggested that the transmission of Cyclospora was by the ingestion of contaminated berries. The oocysts of Cyclospora can be detected by phase contrast microscopy, modified acid-fast staining, autofluorescence, and by amplification by the polymerase chain reaction. The oocysts are unsporulated when they are excreted in the faeces, and sporulated oocysts are needed for infection. Each sporulated oocyst contains two sporocysts and each sporocyst contains two sporozoites. Humans seem to be the only hosts for this parasite. The histopathological examination of jejunal biopsies from infected individuals showed mild to moderate acute inflammation of the lamina propria and surface epithelial disarray. Parasitophorous vacuoles containing sexual and asexual forms of C. cayetanensis were found to be located in the cytoplasm of the epithelial cells. Cyclospora infections can be treated successfully with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (6).
Material and Methods
This prospective study was conducted on HIV positive individuals who were admitted to the Antiretroviral Therapy Ward and the Integrated Counselling and Treatment Centre at Tirunelveli Medical College Hospital, Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu, over a 6 month period (April’ 2010 to September’ 2010). The study was approved by the Institutional Scientific and Ethics Committee, and written informed consents were obtained from the patients. HIV testing The sera of the patients were separated on the same day and they were tested for HIV antibodies on the same/following day of their collection, by using WHO approved ELISA/Rapid kits which were supplied by MicroElisa, New Delhi, by following its testing guidelines. The blood samples were processed immediately within 2 hours of their collection, for determining the absolute counts of the CD4+ and CD8+ cells and their ratios by two colour immunophenotyping on a single platform fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS) count system (Becton Dickinson Pvt. Ltd., Mountain View, CA.), by using fluorochrome labeled monoclonal antibodies to the CD4+/CD8+ T-cells. FACS count protocol software versions 1.0 (2005) (Becton Dickinson) were used for the data acquisition and analysis. Sample collection Fifty seropositive HIV patients were included in the study and their stool samples were processed. The samples were collected in wide mouthed, plastic sample containers and they were transported to the laboratory for processing and staining. Stainingtaining methods The stool specimens were subjected to the two staining methods, namely the Modified acid fast staining (Kinyoun’s method) and the Safranin staining methods. The criteria which was used for the identification of the Cyclospora spp, was the presentation of rounded acid fast oocysts that were of intermediate size (8-10μm) between the Cryptosporidium (4-5 μm) and the Isospora (20-30 μm) sp.
Results
The mean age of the patients was 40 years (range, 25 to 55 years); there were 35 men and 15 women. Among the HIV-infected persons, 22.9% (8/35) males and 26.7 % (4/15) females showed a prevalence of and the Cyclospora oocysts respectively (Table/Fig 1). Chronic diarrhoea was the presenting complaint in 16 patients, while 34 patients were asymptomatic. Only 8 (16%) out of 34 patients without diarrhoea who were seropositive for HIV had Cyclospora oocysts in their faecal specimens and among the remaining 16 patients with diarrhoea, only 4 (8%) showed the presence of the Cyclospora species (Table/Fig 2). The infection with Cyclospora was identified in 24% (12 of 50) of the subjects. The oocysts appeared as spherical structures which were 8–10 μm in diameter by modified acid-fast staining (Table/Fig 1). Some stained dark red and had a variable number of dark inclusion bodies; others stained pink or remained unstained. Of the 12 Cyclospora positive individuals, 6 (12%) were co-infected with Cryptosporidium parvum (dual infection). Safranin staining gave an orange to red colour and showed a more clearly outlined membrane, but internal structure was not clear. The diagnostic methods gave sensitivities of 24 % for modified acid fast staining and 12 % for safranin staining. The sensitivity of the safranin staining method was evaluated with that of the modified acid fast staining (Table/Fig 3) . Patients with CD4 counts of <200 cells/ µl revealed cyclosporiosis while those with CD4 counts of 200-500 cells/ µl showed Cryptosporidium in their faecal samples (Table/Fig 4)m in diameter by modified acid-fast staining (Table/Fig 1). Some stained dark red and had a variable number of dark inclusion bodies; others stained pink or remained unstained. Of the 12 Cyclospora positive individuals, 6 (12%) were co-infected with Cryptosporidium parvum (dual infection). Safranin staining gave an orange to red colour and showed a more clearly outlined membrane, but internal structure was not clear. The diagnostic methods gave sensitivities of 24 % for modified acid fast staining and 12 % for safranin staining. The sensitivity of the safranin staining method was evaluated with that of the modified acid fast staining (Table/Fig 3) . Patients with CD4 counts of <200 cells/ µl revealed cyclosporiosis while those with CD4 counts of 200-500 cells/ µl showed Cryptosporidium in their faecal samples (Table/Fig 1): Prevalence of Cyclospora cayetanensis among Male and Female (Table/Fig 3): The association between isolated Cyclospora oocysts and Staining methods (Table/Fig 4): The association between isolated Cyclospora oocysts and CD4 counts of AIDS patients. (Table/Fig 5): Oocyst of Cyclospora cayetanensis in modified Safranin stain (x 1,000) [Table/Fig-2]: Prevalence of Cyclospora cayetanensis among HIV patients with diarrhoeal and non-diarrhoeal complaints Cyclospora +ve Male ( n=35) Female (n=15) 8 (22.9%) 4 (26.7%) CYCLOSPORA +VE With diarrhoea (N=16) Without diarrhoea (N=34) 4 (8%) 8 (16%) Staining methods Isolated Cyclospora Associated coccidian infections (Cryptosporidium parvum) Modified AFS 6 6 Modified Safranin 2 4 CD4 cell count Total HIV Positive Patients Cyclospora occurrence < 200 cells/ µl 22 7 200-500 cells/ µl 23 5 > 500 cells/ µl 5 - www.jcdr.net Ashihabegum Ma, et al., Prevalence Of Cyclospora Cayetanensis In Hiv Positive Individuals In A Tertiary Care Hospital present study, the incidence of the Cyclospora infections was found to be more common in males (16%) than in females (8%). Jean William et al. found that HIV seropositive patients who had chronic diarrhoea for more than 3 weeks had the Cyclospora spp in their faecal specimens. Other protozoa which were identified included Cryptosporidium in 135 patients (30%) among 1150 patients (11). In the present study, 4 out of 16 HIV seropositive patients who had chronic diarrhoea for more than 3 weeks had the Cyclospora spp in their faecal specimens and 8 patients (30%) out of 34 patients without diarrhoea also showed the presence of this organism in their faecal specimens. Hence, the incidence of Cyclospora was suggested to be higher in non-diarrhoeal patients. Jean William et al., reported that the sensitivities of other diagnostic methods for Cyclospora were evaluated by using faecal specimens that gave positive results with the modified acid-fast stain. The diagnostic methods gave sensitivities of 75% for modified AFS and of 30% for the safranin stain (11). In this study, the diagnostic methods gave sensitivities of 24 % for modified AFS, and of 12% for the safranin stain. Hence, the diagnosis of Cyclospora was found to be better with modified AFS. Jean Williams et al., reported that the CD4 counts of <200 cells/microlitres revealed cyclosporiosis. The CD4 counts of 200-500 cells/microlitres showed Cryptosporidium in their faecal samples (11). Similarly, the present study also revealedthat patients with a CD4 count of <200 cells/microlitres revealed cyclosporiosis and that CD4counts of 200-500cells/microlitres showed along with Cryptosporidium in their faecal samples. The prevalence of Cyclospora cayetanensis in the HIV positive individuals was 24%.The occurrence was more common in men than in females. Cyclospora can be detected by using Modified Acid Fast Staining in patients without diarrhoea, who have a CD4 cell count of < 200 cells/ micro litres. Hence, it is necessary to screen all the patients with or without diarrhoea, so that we can diagnose and treat the patients, which prolongs the life span of the patients.
Acknowledgement
The authors would like to thank the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), New Delhi, the Dean, Tirunelveli Medical College, Tamil Nadu and The Medical Officer, ART Centre and ICTC, Tirunelveli Medical College, Tamil Nadu, for the facilities which were provided for conducting the study.
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