A Pilot Study of Microsporidiosis and CD4 T-Cells in North- Central, Nigeria

Abstract

Two species of Microsporidia were identified (Enterocytozoon bieneusi and Encephalitozoon cuniculi) among the non-HIV, and immunocompromised individuals at the Jos, Plateau and Benue State, Nigeria. In Jos, 500 species were subjected to laboratory test and the infection rate of microsporidium species were 1(0.5%) for gastroenteritis with <350 cell/μl; 15(15.0%) were HIV individuals with <200 cell/ μl, and 19(19.0%) AIDS patients had low CD4 counts (<100 cell/ μl). The severity of the illness was seen to have impact on the CD4 counts of the individuals in Makurdi where, in both sexes 5(3.5%) students had <100 cells/ μl CD4 counts with corresponding fall in 36(5.7%) Civil servants of <100 cells/ μl cells count. Housewives were 44(8.8%) with <50 cells/ μl, and others (undefined occupational status) 11(1.5%) had CD4 counts <90 cell/ μl. Microsporidiosis is now known to cause a serious threat in HIV/AIDS patients in Nigeria with less pathogenesis among non-HIV individuals hence, P<±1.96 critical region, we accept that, there was a significant difference in the distribution of Microsporidiosis among sexes in Makurdi with the x2=0.59<7.8 at 5% level of significance (indicating a significant difference in sex related prevalence at the Jos, Plateau). However, there was high level of social behavior observed at Makurdi with a general low CD4 counts (<50 cell/ μl-<100 cell/ μl).