Molecular Diagnosis of Microsporidia among Immunocompromised Patients in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-1-2018
Abstract
Microsporidia are obligate intracellular parasitic fungi causing chronic diarrhea, particularly among immunocompromised patients. The current method used for diagnosis is based on conventional microscopy, which does not differentiate parasites at the species level. The present study was carried out to identify microsporidian species in immunocompromised patients. From March 2016 to March 2017, a total of 289 archived stool samples were examined microscopically for microsporidian spores using Gram-chromotrope Kinyoun (GCK) stain. Positive stool samples by microscopy were subjected to polymerase chain reaction and sequencing for species identification. Based on microscopy examination, the overall prevalence of microsporidian infections was 32.2% (93/289; 95% CI = 27.1–37.8). Of these stool samples, 45 samples were successfully amplified and confirmed as Enterocytozoon bieneusi. No Encephalitozoon intestinalis was detected. Accurate identification of species might help clinicians to decide appropriate management strategies as dissemination risks and treatment response vary for different species, hence improving the management of microsporidian infections.
Keywords
adolescent, adult, aged, child, controlled study, diagnostic accuracy, Enterocytozoon bieneusi, feces analysis, Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, female, fungus identification, health care management, health care personnel, human, immunocompromised patient, major clinical study, male, microscopy, Microsporidia, microsporidiosis, molecular diagnosis, polymerase chain reaction, prevalence, risk factor, treatment response
Divisions
fac_med,ceria
Funders
University of Malaya (RP050B-17HTM and BKS005-2017)
Publication Title
The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
Volume
99
Issue
6
Publisher
American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene