Abstract:
Objective: To investigate the role CD4+ levels play in controlling diarrhea conditions caused by
intestinal coccidian infections among HIV/AIDS infected individuals visiting Tarkwa Municipal
Hospital.
Methods: Fifty HIV/AIDS infected subjects with diarrhea conditions were enrolled into the
study. Stool and blood samples were collected from each in two or three consecutive times to
examine intestinal coccidian and microsporidian infections using microscopy and also estimate
CD4+ cells using BD FACSCount TM.
Results: Fourteen of the participants had intestinal coccidian or microsporidian representing
28% while 72% of the participants had diarrhea of unknown origin. Cryptosporidium recorded
the highest prevalence of 42.86% whilst Cyclospora and Microsporidia equally recorded a
prevalence of 28.57%. A significant protection against cryptosporidiosis was observed for
CD4+ count above 200 cells/μL (χ2 = 6.522, P = 0.038), but not cyclosporiasis (P = 0.233) or
microsporidiosis (P = 0.060).
Conclusions: This study has shown that CD4+ cells above 200 cell/μL of blood protect HIVinfected
patients from cryptosporidiosis. Standardization of the association between CD4+
cells and diarrhea condition caused by Cryptosporidium species is therefore suggested to
serve as an indicator for prompt diagnosis and treatment of HIV-infected individuals with
cryptosporidiosis.
