OPPORTUNISTIC DIGESTIVE PARASITOSIS IN PATIENTS INFECTED WITH HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS IN MOROCCO

Introduction: Opportunistic intestinal parasites (OIP) are a major cause of diarrhea in patients with HIV infection. We carried out this study to assess the prevalence and characteristics of OIP in Marrakech.

Method: A retrospective cross-sectional study in a hospital environment was carried out in the infectious diseases department of Mohammed VI University Hospital, from January 2007 to October 2019. The diagnosis of OIP was made by parasitological examination of the stool, gastro panel intestinal FilmArray® multiplex PCR and / or histology.

Result: Forty-eight patients with IOP were included. The prevalence of IOP was 5.17%, 40 patients had cryptosporidiosis, 6 patients had microsporidiosis and 2 patients had isosporosis. Thirty patients had co-infection with other opportunistic infections. Thirty-five patients were on ARVs. Eleven patients (22.9%) died during the study and 77.1% did well.

Conclusion: The results of our study should prompt physicians treating HIV-infected patients in Morocco to request a stool exam and specific tests for Cryptosporidium, microsporidia and Isospora, especially in patients with low CD4 count.