C ryptosporidium hominis Subtypes and E nterocytozoon bieneusi Genotypes in HIV ‐Infected Persons in I badan, N igeria

Summary C ryptosporidium and E nterocytozoon are common opportunistic pathogens in HIV + patients in developing countries, especially those do not have access to antiretroviral therapy. To determine the distribution of genotypes/subtypes of C ryptosporidium and E nterocytozoon bieneusi , faecal specimens were collected from 132 HIV + persons attending a tertiary hospital in I badan, N igeria. By polymerase chain reaction, eight and ten patients were identified as positive for C ryptosporidium spp. and E . bieneusi, respectively. Seven of the C ryptosporidium specimens were identified as C . hominis, while the remaining one as the new species C . viatorum recently identified in the U nited K ingdom. DNA sequencing of the 60‐kDa glycoprotein gene showed that the C . hominis belonged to three common subtype families: Ia (in three patients), Ib (in one patient) and Ie (in one patient). In contrast, DNA sequencing of the E . bieneusi internal transcribed spacer products showed the occurrence of genotypes associated with both humans (Peru 8 in one patient, Nig2 in two patients and a new genotype in one patient) and animals (D in one patient and Type IV in five patients). Low CD 4+ cell count was identified as a risk factor for both cryptosporidiosis and microsporidiosis.