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. 2025 Apr 24;25(1):600.
doi: 10.1186/s12879-025-11017-y.

Prevalence of protozoa in HIV/AIDS patients with Gastrointestinal symptoms in Zinder National Hospital, Niger Republic

Mahaman Moustapha Lamine  1   2   3 , Doutchi Mahamadou  4   3 , Moussa Amadou Mahamadou  5 , Boureima Hassane  5 , Abdoulaye Ousmane  5 , Souleymane Adoum Fils  6   7 , Chaibou Salaou  5 , Yacouba Abdourahamane  8   3 , Adehossi Eric  8   3
Affiliations

Prevalence of protozoa in HIV/AIDS patients with Gastrointestinal symptoms in Zinder National Hospital, Niger Republic

Mahaman Moustapha Lamine et al. BMC Infect Dis. .

Abstract

Background: Intestinal parasitic infections constitute one of the stubborn public health issues, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and diversity of intestinal parasites and protozoa among HIV/AIDS patients in a medical center in Zinder, Niger Republic.

Methods: A total of 224 HIV-immunocompromised patients were hospitalized for acute febrile gastroenteritis. This was a prospective and retrospective descriptive study. A first prospective phase involved 93 patients and a second retrospective phase 131 patients. Stool samples were examined for parasites using standard microscopic techniques.

Results: In this prospective study, 83.7% of stool samples were tested positive for parasites and protozoa, with the cystic form of Entamoeba histolytica/dispar/moskovskii cysts (25.8%) and Cryptosporidium spp. (30.1%) being the most prevalent. Four patients had trophozoite of protozoa, including two with Giardia intestinalis (2.1%) and two with Entamoeba histolytica/dispar/moskovskii cysts (2.1%), and one patient was positive for Strongyloides stercoralis. In the retrospective study, 46.9% of stool samples were positive for parasites, with the Entamoeba histolytica/dispar/moskovskii cysts and Pentatrichomonas hominis being the most prevalent 26.1% and 7.1%, respectively. Trophozoite of Entamoeba histolytica/dispar/moskovskii cysts and G. intestinalis were present respectively in 3.2% and 2.8% of positive samples as well. Oocysts of two protozoans were identified. Cryptosporidium spp., is characterized by 28 oocysts, constituted 30.1% of the observed entities. Simultaneously, Cystoisospora belli, represented by 12 oocysts, accounted for 12.9% of the total examined samples.

Conclusion: Our findings reveal a high prevalence of intestinal protozoan parasites in HIV/AIDS patients in Niger. This point at the need for effective interventions to prevent and treat these infections. In addition, the results of this study provide important preliminary data that could inform public health policy and decision makers in the region.

Clinical trial number: Not applicable.

Keywords: HIV/AIDS; Intestinal parasites; Niger Republic; Prevalence.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Ethical approval and consent to participate: This study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki and approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) of the Faculty of Health Sciences, André Salifou University, Zinder, Niger (Approval number: FSS_UASZ_Niger_0010/2021). For the retrospective phase, the requirement for informed consent was waived by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) of the Faculty of Health Sciences, André Salifou University, Zinder, Niger, given the use of anonymized data. Consent for publication: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests.

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