Molecular epidemiology of Microsporidia among HIV-positive and HIV-negative patients in the Limpopo province, South Africa

Introduction: Human microsporidiosis represents an important and rapidly emerging opportunistic disease. The present study investigated the prevalence of microsporidia among HIV positive and HIV negative patients with or without diarrhoea in Vhembe and Mopani Districts in the Limpopo Province. M...

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Main Authors: Amidou Samie, Rhulani Patricia Maluleke, Nicoline Tanih, Ali ElBakri
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries 2021-05-01
Series:Journal of Infection in Developing Countries
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Online Access:https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/12988
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author Amidou Samie
Rhulani Patricia Maluleke
Nicoline Tanih
Ali ElBakri
author_facet Amidou Samie
Rhulani Patricia Maluleke
Nicoline Tanih
Ali ElBakri
author_sort Amidou Samie
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: Human microsporidiosis represents an important and rapidly emerging opportunistic disease. The present study investigated the prevalence of microsporidia among HIV positive and HIV negative patients with or without diarrhoea in Vhembe and Mopani Districts in the Limpopo Province. Methodology: A total of 170 stool samples were collected from these patients and microsporidia species was detected using a Real-Time PCR targeting a conserved region of the small ribosomal subunit rRNA (SSU-rRNA) gene of Enterocytozoon bieneusi, Encephalitozoon intestinalis, Encephalitozoon hellem, and Encephalitozoon cuniculi. Results: Fifty six (32.9%) were positive for microsporidia. The prevalence was higher in HIV negative patients (36.6%) while 24.1% of patients who were HIV positive had microsporidia. Microsporidia was more common among patients aged between 1 and 10 years (52.6%). However among the HIV positive patients, microsporidia prevalence was higher among those that were not taking antiretrovirals (ARVs) compared to those who were on ARVs, (36.6%) and (24.1%), respectively. Microsporidia was also noted to be significantly associated with diarrheal and stomach pains; p = 0.02 and p = 0.048, respectively. Furthermore, microsporidia infections was more prevalent among patients who had animals at home (p = 0.037). Conclusions: Study has shown a high prevalence of microsporidia among patients attending primary health centers in the Mopani District for the first time. Prevalence of microsporidia was higher among HIV negative and HIV positive patients who were not on ARV treatment. Keeping animals in the household appeared to be a risk of getting infected with microsporidia. Further studies are needed to determine the genetic characteristics of these organisms in the study population.
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spelling doaj-art-4c6caf7497764ff8aec45c696aefcc612025-08-20T02:27:22ZengThe Journal of Infection in Developing CountriesJournal of Infection in Developing Countries1972-26802021-05-01150510.3855/jidc.12988Molecular epidemiology of Microsporidia among HIV-positive and HIV-negative patients in the Limpopo province, South AfricaAmidou Samie0Rhulani Patricia Maluleke1Nicoline Tanih2Ali ElBakri3Molecular Parasitology and opportunistic infections program, Department of Microbiology, University of Venda, Thohoyandou, Limpopo, South AfricaMolecular Parasitology and opportunistic infections program, Department of Microbiology, University of Venda, Thohoyandou, Limpopo, South AfricaMedical Research Council Unit, Fajara, The GambiaDepartment of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates Introduction: Human microsporidiosis represents an important and rapidly emerging opportunistic disease. The present study investigated the prevalence of microsporidia among HIV positive and HIV negative patients with or without diarrhoea in Vhembe and Mopani Districts in the Limpopo Province. Methodology: A total of 170 stool samples were collected from these patients and microsporidia species was detected using a Real-Time PCR targeting a conserved region of the small ribosomal subunit rRNA (SSU-rRNA) gene of Enterocytozoon bieneusi, Encephalitozoon intestinalis, Encephalitozoon hellem, and Encephalitozoon cuniculi. Results: Fifty six (32.9%) were positive for microsporidia. The prevalence was higher in HIV negative patients (36.6%) while 24.1% of patients who were HIV positive had microsporidia. Microsporidia was more common among patients aged between 1 and 10 years (52.6%). However among the HIV positive patients, microsporidia prevalence was higher among those that were not taking antiretrovirals (ARVs) compared to those who were on ARVs, (36.6%) and (24.1%), respectively. Microsporidia was also noted to be significantly associated with diarrheal and stomach pains; p = 0.02 and p = 0.048, respectively. Furthermore, microsporidia infections was more prevalent among patients who had animals at home (p = 0.037). Conclusions: Study has shown a high prevalence of microsporidia among patients attending primary health centers in the Mopani District for the first time. Prevalence of microsporidia was higher among HIV negative and HIV positive patients who were not on ARV treatment. Keeping animals in the household appeared to be a risk of getting infected with microsporidia. Further studies are needed to determine the genetic characteristics of these organisms in the study population. https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/12988HIVMicrosporidiaDiarrhealVenda
spellingShingle Amidou Samie
Rhulani Patricia Maluleke
Nicoline Tanih
Ali ElBakri
Molecular epidemiology of Microsporidia among HIV-positive and HIV-negative patients in the Limpopo province, South Africa
Journal of Infection in Developing Countries
HIV
Microsporidia
Diarrheal
Venda
title Molecular epidemiology of Microsporidia among HIV-positive and HIV-negative patients in the Limpopo province, South Africa
title_full Molecular epidemiology of Microsporidia among HIV-positive and HIV-negative patients in the Limpopo province, South Africa
title_fullStr Molecular epidemiology of Microsporidia among HIV-positive and HIV-negative patients in the Limpopo province, South Africa
title_full_unstemmed Molecular epidemiology of Microsporidia among HIV-positive and HIV-negative patients in the Limpopo province, South Africa
title_short Molecular epidemiology of Microsporidia among HIV-positive and HIV-negative patients in the Limpopo province, South Africa
title_sort molecular epidemiology of microsporidia among hiv positive and hiv negative patients in the limpopo province south africa
topic HIV
Microsporidia
Diarrheal
Venda
url https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/12988
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