Intestinal microsporidiosis: a current infection in HIV-seropositive patients in Portugal.

Intestinal microsporidiosis is recognised as an important cause of opportunistic infections in immunocompromised patients, especially those with AIDS. Two species are implicated in diarrhoea and other gastrointestinal disease in HIV-infected patients: Enterocytozoon bieneusi and Encephalitozoon intestinalis. Diagnosis of gastrointestinal microsporidiosis was made by detecting spores of the parasite in stool specimens with Weber's modified trichrome stain and with some optical brightening agents such as UVITEX 2B or calcofluor white M2R. The identification of microsporidiosis at the species level was made using appropriate primers with PCR. The diagnosis of intestinal microsporidiosis is currently performed in the parasitology laboratory. In a study of 215 HIV-infected patients, conducted from 1996 to 1999 (approximately n = 60/year), we found a prevalence of spores of microsporidia of 51.5% (n = 31) in 1996, 14.0% (n = 5) in 1997 and 12.5% (n = 8) in 1998 and 42.8% (n = 25) in 1999. Using PCR we found that E. intestinalis was the only species responsible for the gastrointestinal symptoms in 49 patients with microsporidian spores (71%) and E. bieneusi in 29% (n = 20).

Susceptibility of Planorbarius metidjensis from Portugal and Spain to Schistosoma bovis from Salamanca, Spain.

The susceptibility of Planorbarius metidjensis from Portugal and Salamanca (Spain) to Schistosoma bovis from Salamanca was studied. The degree of susceptibility as measured by positivity rate, number of cercariae, pre-patent period and survival rate, showed that P. metidjensis from Portugal and Spain are very susceptible to S. bovis from Salamanca. The role of P. metidjensis as a host of S. haematobium is questioned and further studies are shown to be necessary. To determine if the disease exists in Portugal, the bovine and snail populations on the border with Salmanaca and Algarve are beginning to be screened.