Background Microsporidia and Cryptosporidium are obligate intracellular protozoa. These medically important species are recognized as opportunistic organisms in intestinal complications in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome patients. Methods The current cross-sectional study was designed and conducted from August 2016 to August 2017 to determine intestinal Cryptosporidium and microsporidia spp. in HIV-infected individuals from the Behavioral Diseases Counseling Center, Tabriz, Iran, by modified acid-fast and modified trichrome staining and nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and real-time PCR. Results Of 100 HIV-infected persons, 21.0% (95% confidence interval [CI] 13.0 to 30.0) and 18.0% (95% CI 11.0 to 26.0) were identified as Cryptosporidium and microsporidia, respectively, by the microscopic method. Of these 100 HIV-infected persons, 18.0% (95% CI 11.0 to 26.0) and 14.0% (95% CI 7.0 to 22.0) were positive for Cryptosporidium and microsporidia, respectively, by the molecular method. The predominant species of microsporidia in patients was Enterocytozoon bieneusi (85.7% [95% CI 57.0 to 98.0]) and Encephalitozoon cuniculi (14.3% [95% CI 1.7 to 42.0]), which were found by quantitative real-time PCR and its high-resolution melting tool. Conclusions As far as we know, this study is the first to estimate the prevalence of infection with Cryptosporidium and microsporidia among HIV-infected persons in northwest of Iran. The prevalence of intestinal microsporidiosis and cryptosporidiosis in this area in HIV-infected people was higher than the global prevalence of infection among immunocompromised patients. In addition to the need for further studies to prove protozoan pathogenicity in the aforementioned group, preventive measures should be considered.

中文翻译：

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HIV 感染者中隐孢子虫和微孢子虫感染的患病率

背景 微孢子虫和隐孢子虫是专性细胞内原生动物。这些医学上重要的物种被认为是人类免疫缺陷病毒（HIV）/获得性免疫缺陷综合征患者肠道并发症中的机会微生物。方法本横断面研究是在2016年8月至2017年8月期间设计和进行的，以确定肠道隐孢子虫和微孢子虫属。通过改良的抗酸染色和改良的三色染色以及巢式聚合酶链反应 (PCR) 和实时 PCR，对来自伊朗大不里士行为疾病咨询中心的 HIV 感染者进行了检测。结果 100 名 HIV 感染者中，通过显微镜方法分别鉴定出 21.0%（95% CI 13.0 至 30.0）和 18.0%（95% CI 11.0 至 26.0）为微孢子虫。在这 100 名 HIV 感染者中，通过分子方法检测，隐孢子虫和微孢子虫分别为 18.0%（95% CI 11.0 至 26.0）和 14.0%（95% CI 7.0 至 22.0）。通过定量实时 PCR 发现，患者体内微孢子虫的主要种类是比氏肠细胞虫 (85.7% [95% CI 57.0 - 98.0]) 和兔脑炎孢子虫 (14.3% [95% CI 1.7 - 42.0])。 -分辨率熔化工具。结论 据我们所知，这项研究是第一个估计伊朗西北部艾滋病毒感染者中隐孢子虫和微孢子虫感染流行率的研究。该地区HIV感染者肠道微孢子虫病和隐孢子虫病的患病率高于全球免疫功能低下患者的感染患病率。除了需要进一步研究证明上述群体中原虫的致病性外，还应考虑采取预防措施。