PREVALENCE OF CRYPTOSPORIDIUM INFECTION AND ITS CORRELATION WITH CD4+ COUNT AMONG HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS SEROPOSITIVE PATIENTS WITHIN KADUNA METROPOLIS, NIGERIA

Abstract
Cryptosporidiosis being an opportunistic infection is becoming more prevalent in HIV seropositive patients. This study was carried out to determine the prevalence of Cryptosporidium infection and CD4+ count among HIV seropositive patients within Kaduna metropolis. Stool specimens were collected from 300 HIV seropositive patients and 30 controls (HIV seronegative patients) between October 2011 and January 2012, and were examined for oocyst and antigen of Cryptosporidium by microscopy and ELISA method respectively. Microscopy was used as the Gold standard and its sensitivity was compared with that of ELISA. Patients’ blood were also analysed for CD4+ T-cell count by flow cytometry. Prevalence of 15% (45/300) was obtained using microscopy. Sensitivity of microscopy when compared to ELISA was found to be 24.9%. For the control, a prevalence of 3.3% was obtained. Association between the infection and sociodemographic characteristic of patients shows a higher prevalence among those who defecate in open layouts (50%: 3/6) and those whose source of drinking water was river (50%: 1/2). There was a significant association between Cryptosporidium infection and diarrhoea (χ2 = 104.669, df=1, p=0.000) and the duration of diarrhoea (χ2 = 117.073, df=4, p=0.000). There was no significant difference in relation to occupation, marital status, age, sex, education, animal contact, overseas travel and swimming (p>0.05). There was a decrease in prevalence with increase in duration of being on HAART. The study showed a strong association between Cryptosporidiosis and CD4+T-cell count (χ2 = 58.478, df=10, p=0.000). Mean CD4+ count was 409.86±14.1 while the median was 382. 7 TABLE OF CONTENT Page Title page - - - - - - - - - - i Declaration - - - - - - - - - - ii Certification - - - - - - - - - - iii Dedication - - - - - - - - - - iv Acknowledgement - - - - - - - - - v Abstract - - - - - - - - - - vi Table of content - - - - - - - - - vii List of tables - - - - - - - - - xi List of figures - - - - - - - - - xii Appendixes - - - - - - - - - - 83 CHAPTER ONE 1.0 INTRODUCTION- - - - - - - - - 1 1.1 Statement of problem - - - - - - - - 3 1.2 Justification - - - - - - - - - 4 1.3 Aim - - - - - - - - - - 5 1.4 Specific objectives - - - - - - - - 5 1.5 Research hypothesis - - - - - - - - 6 1.6 Research question - - - - - - - - 6 CHAPTER TWO 2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW - - - - - - - 7 2.1.0 Taxonomy of Cryptosporidium - - - - - - 7
Description
A THESIS SUBMITED TO THE SCHOOL OF POSTGRADUATE STUDIES, AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF MASTER OF SCIENCE IN MICROBIOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF MICROBIOLOGY, FACULTY OF SCIENCE, AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY
Keywords
PREVALENCE, CRYPTOSPORIDIUM INFECTION, CORRELATION, CD4+ COUNT AMONG HUMAN, IMMUNODEFICIENCY, VIRUS SEROPOSITIVE, PATIENTS WITHIN, KADUNA METROPOLIS, NIGERIA
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