Resumen

DE LA PARTE, MA; BRITO, A; ROLDAN, Y  y  HURTADO, P. Cryptosporidium frequency in adult patients with Adquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) and diarrhea. Caracas, Venezuela, 1997/1999.. Rev. Soc. Ven. Microbiol. [online]. 2004, vol.24, n.1-2, pp.76-82. ISSN 1315-2556.

We reported the frequency of Cryptosporidium as an important enteroparasite causing diarrhoea in immunocompromised adults due to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV/AIDS) infection. It was a prospective study during 30 month (1997-1999) in Caracas, Venezuela. We included 101 adult patients with AIDS and persistent diarrhoea. We studied 124 fresh faecal specimens by Kinyoun smears method searching for acid-fast structures compatible with Cryptosporidium oocysts. 11,80% of the patients included in the study were females and 88,20% males; the greater amount of patients (77,30%) were concentred between 25 and 44 age groups. 58,40% of patients had positive faecal specimens and 60,50% resulted positive for the presence of Cryptosporidium oocysts. The difference in percentages between positive subjects and positive smears is due to the fact that some patients had more than one faeces specimen studied having presented several diarrhoeal episodes. Other enteroparasites associated to Cryptosporidium were found in the 16,90% of patients, and during the study period 32 patients died (31,70%). When comparing our findings with those reported by other groups, they correspond with the figures reported by studies of underdeveloped countries where sanitary deficiencies are similar with those in our country and where patients with HIV/AIDS infection do not receive adequate anti-retroviral treatment, as it was in Venezuela at the time where our study took place.

Palabras clave : Cryptosporidiasis; AIDS; diarrhoea.