Opportunistic parasitic infections among immunocompromised Egyptian patients.

The commonest opportunistic parasites causing morbidity and/or mortality in the immuno-compromised subjects are mainly the gastro-intestinal ones. This study clarified the prevalence of the opportunistic parasites among a group of immunocompromised patients selected from Al Azhar University Hospitals. One hundred immunocompromised patients (GI) were divided into GIa: 40 malignancy patients. GIb: 30 with diabetes mellitus. GIc: 30 with chronic renal failure. GII: included 20 cross-matched healthy subjects as controls. Sheets were filled out on each subject including all personal and medical history. Both groups were subjected to stool and blood examinations for parasites. The results showed opportunistic parasites in 30% of patients and in 10% of healthy controls. The highest group had parasitosis was patients suffering from malignancy (18%). The patients suffering from chronic renal failure or from diabetes mellitus were equally affected (6% each group). There was significant relation between malignant patients and diabetic or chronic renal failure ones, but without significant relation between diabetic and chronic renal failure patients. Giardia lamblia was the most common parasite found in the patients (10%) of which 5% were among patients suffering from malignancy. Others were Cryptospotidium parvum (7%) Cyclospora cayetanensis (3%) and Microsporidia species (2%). Mixed infection was detected in 2 cases that had C. parvum and Cyclospora. But, neither Isospora belli nor Strongyloides stercoralis were detected. Also, ELISA showed antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii in sex patients but none against Leishmania d. infantum.