A baseline epidemiological study of the co-infection of enteric protozoans with human immunodeficiency virus among men who have sex with men from Northeast China

Zhao, Wei1,2; Yao, Lan3; Zhuang, Min1; Lin, Yuan-Long4; Chen, Xiao-Hong5; Wang, Li6; Song, Bo5; Zhao, Ya-Shuang7; Xiao, Yun8; Zhang, Feng-Min1; Wang, Fu-Xiang4; Ling, Hong1,3

2022-09-01

10.1371/journal.pntd.0010712

PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases   Impact Factor & Quartile

1935-2735

["Background","Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and enteric parasite co-infection not only aggravates the clinical symptoms of parasites but also accelerates acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) progression. However, co-infection research on men who have sex with men (MSM), the predominant high-risk population of HIV/AIDS in China, is still limited. In this study, we investigated the epidemiology of enteric parasites, risk factors, and associations with clinical significance in an MSM HIV/AIDS population in Heilongjiang Province, northeast China.","Methods","We recruited 308 MSMs HIV/AIDS patients and 199 HIV-negative individuals in two designated AIDS hospitals in Heilongjiang between April 2016 and July 2017. Fresh stool samples were collected. DNA extraction, molecular identification, and genotyping of Cryptosporidium species, Entamoeba histolytica, Cyclospora cayetanensis, Enterocytozoon bieneusi, and Blastocystis hominis were performed. Fourteen diarrhea-related pathogens were examined to exclude the influence of other bacterial pathogens on diarrhea incidence.","Results","31.5% of MSM HIV/AIDS participants were infected with at least one parasite species, a significantly higher proportion than that found in the HIV-negative individuals (2.5%). E. bieneusi presented the highest prevalence, followed by B. hominis, E. histolytica, Cryptosporidium spp., and C. cayetanensis. Warm seasons were the risk factor for parasitic infections in this population [odds ratio (OR) = 2.6, 95% CI: 1.47-4.57]. In addition, these individuals showed a higher proportion (35.8%) of present diarrhea (PD) compared with men who have sex with women (MSW) with HIV/AIDS (16.7%). The infection proportions of both Cryptosporidium spp. and E. histolytica were significantly higher in the PD. E. bieneusi infection was more prevalent in the historic diarrhea (HD) group. CD4+ T cell counts in the MSM patients with the above three parasites were significantly lower. New species and genotypes were found, and MSM patients had a wider range of species or genotypes.","Conclusions","Enteric parasitic infection was prevalent in the MSM HIV/AIDS population, especially in patients with present diarrhea during warm seasons. E. histolytica and B. hominis should also be considered high-risk parasites for opportunistic infections in AIDS patients in addition to Cryptosporidium spp."]

SCI

English

Corresponding

National Natural Science Foundation of China["81772190","81672003","81871654"] ; Natural Science Foundation of Heilongjiang Province of China[LH2021H007] ; Harbin Medical University Scientific Research Innovation Fund[2016JCZX42]

Infectious Diseases ; Parasitology ; Tropical Medicine

Infectious Diseases ; Parasitology ; Tropical Medicine

WOS:000892363000004

PUBLIC LIBRARY SCIENCE

Web of Science

1.Harbin Med Univ, Wu Lien Teh Inst, Sch Basic Med,Key Lab Pathogen Biol, Dept Microbiol,Heilongjiang Prov Key Lab Infect &, Harbin, Peoples R China
2.Wenzhou Med Univ, Sch Basic Med, Dept Parasitol, Wenzhou, Peoples R China
3.Harbin Med Univ, Sch Basic Med, Dept Parasitol, Harbin, Peoples R China
4.Southern Univ Sci & Technol, Shenzhen Key Lab Pathogen & Immun, Shenzhen Peoples Hosp 3,Natl Clin Res Ctr Infect, Hosp 2,State Key Discipline Infect Dis, Shenzhen, Peoples R China
5.Harbin Med Univ, Affiliated Hosp 4, Dept Infect Dis, Harbin, Peoples R China
6.Heilongjiang Prov Hosp, Harbin, Peoples R China
7.Harbin Med Univ, Dept Epidemiol, Publ Hlth Coll, Harbin, Peoples R China
8.Harbin Med Univ, Coll Bioinformat Sci & Technol, Harbin, Peoples R China

Zhao, Wei,Yao, Lan,Zhuang, Min,et al. A baseline epidemiological study of the co-infection of enteric protozoans with human immunodeficiency virus among men who have sex with men from Northeast China[J]. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases,2022,16(9).

Zhao, Wei.,Yao, Lan.,Zhuang, Min.,Lin, Yuan-Long.,Chen, Xiao-Hong.,...&Ling, Hong.(2022).A baseline epidemiological study of the co-infection of enteric protozoans with human immunodeficiency virus among men who have sex with men from Northeast China.PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases,16(9).

Zhao, Wei,et al."A baseline epidemiological study of the co-infection of enteric protozoans with human immunodeficiency virus among men who have sex with men from Northeast China".PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases 16.9(2022).