Study of intestinal parasitic infections associated with HIV infection in Douala, Cameroon

The global prevalence of intestinal parasites was 27.8%. Seventeen (48.6%) out of 37 patients with diarrhea and 38 (23.2%) out of 164 without diarrhea were parasitized. The most frequent parasites were Candida spp. (13.2%), Cryptosporidium spp. (7.4%) and Entamoeba histolytica/dispar (3%). A significant correlation (p=0.002) was observed between the presence of parasites and diarrhea. The highest parasite counts (p=0.035) and diarrhea (p<0.0001) were found in patients with CD4+ < 200 cells/µl. Srongyloïdes stercoralis, Trichuris trichuira and Isospora belli were only found in diarrheal sample. The overall prevalence of GIP is decreasing in Douala, probably due to the growing avaibility of HAART. This study highlights the importance of looking for intestinal parasite in HIV patient with low immunity presenting with diarrhea in Douala, which is not the case in our hospitals.