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La isosporosis es una infección parasitaria provocada por protozoos del género Isospora, coccidio que afecta con diversas especies a diferentes vertebrados, entre los que se encuentra el ser humano. Es una infección poco frecuente en nuestro país y no constituye una zoonosis. Se presentan dos casos con infección por Isospora belli en pacientes infectados con el virus de inmunodeficiencia humana procedentes de la Región de Valparaíso. Se analizan las manifestaciones producidas por este agente, la epidemiología de la infección, los casos publicados en la literatura nacional e internacional, así como su tratamiento y las medidas de prevención. Isosporosis is an infection caused by parasitic protozoa of the genus Isospora, coccidia affecting various different vertebrate species, including humans. It is an uncommon infection in our country and it is not a zoonosis. We present two cases oí Isospora belli infection in HIV positive patients from the Valparaiso region. We discuss the clinical events caused by this agent, its epidemiology, cases published in the local and foreign literature, as well as its treatment and prevention measures.

La isosporosis es una infección parasitaria provocada por protozoos del género Isospora, coccidio que afecta con diversas especies a diferentes vertebrados, entre los que se encuentra el ser humano. Es una infección poco frecuente en nuestro país y no constituye una zoonosis. Se presentan dos casos con infección por Isospora belli en pacientes infectados con el virus de inmunodeficiencia humana procedentes de la Región de Valparaíso. Se analizan las manifestaciones producidas por este agente, la epidemiología de la infección, los casos publicados en la literatura nacional e internacional, así como su tratamiento y las medidas de prevención.

Patients with AIDS are particularly susceptible to infection with intestinal coccidia. In this study the prevalence of infections with Cryptosporidium sp and Cystoisospora belli were evaluated among HIV/AIDS patients in the Triângulo Mineiro region, Brazil. Between July 1993 and June 2003 faecal samples from 359 patients were collected and stained by a modified Ziehl-Neelsen method, resulting in 19.7% of positivity for coccidian (8.6% with Cryptosporidium sp, 10.3% with Cystoisospora belli and 0.8% with both coccidian). Patients with diarrhoea and T CD4+ lymphocyte levels < 200 cells/mm3 presented higher frequency of these protozoans, demonstrating the opportunistic profile of these infections and its relationship with the immunological status of the individual. It was not possible to determine the influence of HAART, since only 8.5% of the patients positive for coccidian received this therapy regularly. Parasitism by Cryptosporidium sp was more frequent between December and February and thus was characterised by a seasonal pattern of infection, which was not observed with Cystoisospora belli. Pacientes com AIDS são particularmente susceptíveis a infecção por coccídios intestinais e nesse estudo foi avaliada a freqüência de Cryptosporidium sp. e Cystoisospora belli entre pacientes HIV/AIDS na região do Triângulo Mineiro, Brasil. No período de julho de 1993 a junho de 2003, amostras de fezes de 359 pacientes foram submetidas à coloração pelo método de Ziehl-Neelsen modificado, sendo detectada a presença de coccídios em 19,7% destas (8,6% de Cryptosporidium sp, 10,3% de Cystoisospora belli e 0,8% de ambos coccídios). Pacientes com diarréia e níveis de linfócitos T CD4+ < 200 células/mm3 apresentaram maior frequência destes protozoários, demonstrando o perfil oportunista destas infecções e a relação com o status imunológico do indivíduo. Não foi possível determinar a influência da HARRT, pois apenas 8,5% dos pacientes positivos para coccídios fazriam uso regular desta terapia. Parasitismo por Cryptosporidium sp foi mais freqüente no período compreendido de dezembro a fevereiro caracterizando padrão sazonal desta infecção, fato não observado com Cystoisospora belli.

Isospora belli is an opportunistic protozoan causing wasting diarrhea especially in patients with an immunocompromised status. Diagnosis is usually established by demonstrating the oocyst of the organism on stool examination, which however can often be inconclusive. Serological tests for isosporiasis are currently not available. In such a scenario, biopsy often provides evidence for a confirmatory diagnosis. We describe two such cases, in which intestinal biopsy was the only diagnostic evidence of isosporiasis as the cause for chronic diarrhea.

One of the major health problems among HIV seropositive patients is superimposed infection due to the defect of immunity. Furthermore, intestinal parasite infection, for example, Isospora belli. The infection for this parasite is more frequent in tropical and sub-tropical climate areas. In the Brazil studies they were accomplished in Ribeirão Preto/SP´s city, Rio de Janeiro/RJ, Santos/SP e Campinas/SP, which presented high levels of isosporosis. In this study, 422 feces stool examination was performed and the patients were screened for a history of diarrhea, which was defined as loose stool occurring more than three times a day and interns in the Giselda Trigueiro hospital in the Natal city - Brazil, which revealed a distribution of 13.3% of the I. belli compared to the data of Africa countries (8 -20%), probably due to the humid climate and the satisfactory few resources found in these areas

One of the major health problems among HIV seropositive patients is superimposed infection due to the defect of immunity. Furthermore, intestinal parasite infection, for example, Isospora belli. The infection for this parasite is more frequent in tropical and sub-tropical climate areas. In the Brazil studies they were accomplished in Ribeirao Preto/SP´s city, Rio de Janeiro/RJ, Santos/SP e Campinas/SP, which presented high levels of isosporosis. In this study, 422 feces stool examination was performed and the patients were screened for a history of diarrhea, which was defined as loose stool occurring more than three times a day and interns in the Giselda Trigueiro hospital in the Natal city - Brazil, which revealed a distribution of 13.3% of the I. belli compared to the data of Africa countries (8 -20%), probably due to the humid climate and the satisfactory few resources found in these areas

Un estudio fue realizado en relación a establecer la presencia de parásitos intestinales en 35 pacientes infectados con el virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana (VIH), desde julio 1997 a octubre 1998, admitidos en el Hospital Universitario "Ruiz y Páez" de Ciudad Bolívar, Venezuela. Parásitos fueron detectados en heces usando diversos métodos para la investigación de protozoos y hemintos, concentración éter-formalina, tinción de Kinyoung y tricromico. Edad, sexo, estado clínico de la infección de VIH fueron registrados para cada participante del estudio. Todos los pacientes presentaron diarrea crónica. En 20 pacientes infectados con VIH (57%), uno o más parásitos intestinales fueron encontrados. Los protozoos más frecuentemente encontrados fueron: Blastocystis hominis (28,6%), Cryptosporidium sp. (22,8%) e Isospora belli (2,9%). Microsporidia no fueron detectados. Estos datos enfatizan la importancia de los portozoos oportunistas en pacientes infectados con VIH.

Secao de Parasitologia, Instituto Evandro Chagas, Av.Almirante Barroso 492, 66090-000 Belem, PA, Brasil*Unidade de Referencia-Aids, Secretaria Estadual deSaude Publica, Rua Barao de Mamore 271, Belem,PA, Brasil Key words: Isospora belli - Dientamoeba fragilis -Cryptosporidium - HIV seropositives - Para - Brazil

Background: To determine the prevalence of Isospora belli and its correlation with CD4+ cell counts in HIV-positive patients with diarrhea in this region. Materials and Methods: Stool samples from 250 HIV-positive patients, including 200 with diarrhea and 50 without diarrhea included in the study were examined for the presence of enteric parasites under microscopy. Prevalence of the enteric parasites with special reference to I. belli in HIV-positive patients with and without diarrhea were calculated and correlated with their CD4+ cell counts. Results: Enteric parasites were detected in 39% of the HIV patients with diarrhea compared to 30% without diarrhea. I. belli was detected in 22% of the patients with diarrhea and in 4% without diarrhea (P = 0.0019). I. belli was the most common parasite, followed by Entamoeba histolytica/dispar (8%) and Cryptosporidium parvum (5%) in HIV-positive patients with diarrhea. In HIV-positive patients without diarrhea, the most common parasite detected was E. histolytica/dispar (12%) followed by C. parvum (6%) and I. belli (4%). The mean CD4 cell count of HIV-positive patients with diarrhea suffering from isosporiasis was 138.35 ± 70.71. In patients with CD4 cell counts

Background: Diarrhea is one of the most common presenting complaints in human immunodeficiency virus-infected individuals. Aims: The study was designed to determine the magnitude of opportunistic and nonopportunistic intestinal parasitic infections among diarrheal patients and association between CD4 + T-cell counts and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected intestinal parasites. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 207 enrolled diarrheal patients attending HIV integrated counseling and testing center from January 2012 to December 2012. Stool samples were subjected to special modified Ziehl-Neelsen and chromotrope staining method for detection of opportunistic protozoans. Blood samples were also collected from all study subjects for HIV testing and CD4 + T-cell counts were estimated by only in HIV-infected patients. Results: Intestinal parasitic pathogens were detected in 46.1% HIV-infected patients and the major pathogens were opportunistic protozoans 32.2% (37/115), most common being Isospora belli 16.5% (19/115) followed by Cryptosporidium parvum 12.2% (14/115). In HIV noninfected diarrheal patients, major pathogens detected were Entamoeba histolytica/Entamoeba dispar 8.7% (8/92) and Ascaris lumbricoides 3.3% (3/92). Conclusions: The opportunistic intestinal protozoans especially I. belli and C. parvum were most commonly isolated in HIV-infected patients with diarrhea. Majority of the infections occurred in patients when a CD4 + T-cell counts were less than 200 cells/μl.

Human infection by Cryptosporidium spp and other coccidia are due to opportunist non-host specific microorganisms. In HIV seropositive patients, the gastrointestinal symptoms accompanying such infections may be serious and prolonged and may include nausea, low-grade fever, abdominal cramps, anorexia and watery diarrhoea. We studied 188 stool samples from 111 patients (84 men and 27 women) with diarrhoea. A modified Ziehl-Nielsen technique for the detection of Cryptosporidium spp and Isospora belli was employed. The mean age of the patients was 31 years. Cryptosporidium spp was seen in 18% (n=20) of the patients, 90% (n=18) of whom were HIV seropositive. Isospora belli was recorded only from HIV seropositive patients (5.4% of all the patients studied and 6.5% of those who were HIV seropositive). These data confirm the good results obtained with this technique for the identification of Cryptosporidium spp and other coccidia and also reaffirm the clinical importance of correctly diagnosing the cause of diarrhoea, particularly in HIV seropositive patients. Infecção humana por Cryptosporidium spp e outros coccideos deve-se a microrganismos oportunistas hospedeiros não-específicos e, em pacientes HIV positivos, os sintomas gastro-intestinais podem ser sérios e prolongados incluindo náuseas, febre baixa, dores abdominais, anorexia e diarréia aquosa. Estudamos 188 amostras de fezes provenientes de 111 pacientes (84 homens e 27 mulheres, com idade média de 31 anos) com diarréia, atendidos no Hospital das Clínicas da Universidade Estadual de Campinas. Para detecção de Cryptosporidium spp e lsospora belli empregou-se a técnica de Ziehl-Nielsen modificada. Oitenta e três porcento dos pacientes (n=92) eram HIV positivos. Cryptosporidium spp foi observado em 18% de todos os pacientes, sendo que destes, noventa porcento eram HIV positivos, lsospora belli foi evidenciada somente em pacientes HIV positivos, com uma freqüência de 5.4% de todos os pacientes e de 6.5% considerando-se apenas os pacientes HIV positivos. Este estudo confirma os bons resultados obtidos com a técnica empregada para identificação de Cryptosporidium spp e outros coccideos, além de ressaltar a importância da investigação etiológica apropriada em casos de diarréia prolongada, especialmente em pacientes imunossuprimidos.

The occurrence of intestinal parasites, its relation with the transmission mechanism of HIV, and the clinical state of the AIDS patients, were analyzed in 99 Group IV patients (CDC, 1986), treated at "Hospital Universitário Pedro Ernesto" (HUPE), between 1986 and 1988. The group consisted of 79 (79.8%) patients whose HIV transmission mechanism took place through sexual contact and of 16 (20.2%) who were infected through blood. Feces samples from each patient were examined by four distincts methods (Faust et al, Kato-Katz, Baermann-Moraes and Baxby et al.). The moste occuring parasites were: Cryptosporidium sp., Entamoeba coli and Endolimax nana (18.2%), Strongyloides stercoralis and Giardia lambia (15.2%). E. histolytica and/or E. hartmanni (13.1%), Ascaris lumbricoides (11.1%) and Isospora belli (10.1%). Furthermore, 74.7% of the patients carried at least one species. Intestinal parasites were found in 78.5% of the patients who acquired the HIV through sexual intercourse and in 56,3% of those infected by blood contamination. The difference, was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). In the group under study, the increase of the occurrence of parasitc infections does not seem to depend on the acquisiton of HIV through sexual contact. It appears that in developing countries, the dependancy is more related to the classic mechanisms of parasites transmission and its endemicity. A ocorrência de parasitas intestinais, sua relação com o mecanismo de transmissão do HIV e a apresentação clínica da AIDS foram analisadas em 99 pacientes do grupo IV (CDC, 1986), atendidos no Hospital Universitário Pedro Ernesto (HUPE) entre 1986 e 1988. O grupo era constituído de 79 (79,9%) pacientes cujo mecanismos de transmssão do HIV se deu por via sexual e de 16 (20,2%) que se infectaram por via sanguínea. Amostras de fezes de cada paciente foram examinadas por quatro métodos distintos (Faust et al., Kato-Katz, Baermann-Moraes e Baxby et al.). Os parasitos mais frqüentemente encontrados foram: Cryptosporidium sp., Entamoeba coli e Endolimax nana (18,2%) seguidos de Strongyloides stercoralis e Giardia lamblia (15,2%), E. histolytica e/ou E. hartmanni (13,1%), Ascaris lumbricoides (11,1%) e Isospora belii (10,1%), sendo que 74,4% dos pacientes com AIDS albergavam pelo menos uma espécie. Observamos que 78,5% dos pacientes que adquiriram o HIV por via sexual e 56,3% dos que foram infectados por via sanguínea albergavam parasitos intestinais, mas a diferença não foi estatisticamente significativa (p>0,05). O mecanisto de infecção por via sexual não parece contribuir de forma importante para o aumento da ocorrência de infecções parasitárias no grupo estudado e sim os mecanismos clássicos de transmissão de parasitos em nosso meio.