Microsporidia Infection in Immunologically Compromised Hospitalised Patients

Abstract

Microsporidia Encephalitozoon cuniculi, an obligate intracellular spore-forming protozoan parasite infecting a wide range of vertebrate and invertebrate hosts, has been described as an opportunistic pathogen in severely immuno-compromised human hosts.

An antibody immune response to the presence of antibodies against E. cuniculi was investigated serologically using an indirect immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT). Of the total number of 113 sera from immunologically compromised patients examined, 16 were positive at the titre 1:32, which represented 14.1%. 11 people were positive at the titre 1:64 also, and 6 at the titre 1:256. From the 14.1% people who tested positive 12 were children and 4 adults.