Co-infection of HIV and parasites in China: Cryptosporidium prevalence in environmental water in HIV/AIDS high endemic areas

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to explore relationship between water contamination of Cryptosporidium parasite
and co-infection of HIV with parasites in HIV/AIDS highly endemic areas in China, in order to understand the
waterborne transmission routes of Cryptosporidium parasite in local environmental settings. The prevalence and
contamination degree of Cryptosporidium oocysts in surface water and drinking water samples was detected in
HIV/AIDS highly endemic areas in Anhui province, China. The surface water was collected from rivers and ponds,
and drinking water was obtained from well water, bottled water and tap water. All water samples were detected by
using Filta-Max Xpress method employed with immunomagnetic separation (IMS) and fluorescence staining
techniques. The main results showed that a total of 32 water samples were collected, of which 9 were collected
from the surface water, including 6 of pond water and 3 of the river water; 23 were from the drinking water,
including 19 of well water, 3 of bottled water and 1 of tap water. The positive rate of Cryptosporidium oocysts
was 30.43% in the drinking water, and 55.56% in surface water. The positive rate of Cryptosporidium in pond
water was significantly higher than in the river water, and that in bottled water was higher than in well water. The
highest density of Cryptosporidium oocysts in the surface water samples was 8000/100 L, much higher than that
in well water (59/100 L) and bottled water (39/100 L). In conclusion, Cryptosporidium contamination in local
surface water is serious and is a high risk to people lived with HIV-positive (PLWH) to be infected with
Cryptosporidium spp. And water contamination with Cryptosporidium oocysts is one of the major causes that
lead to Cryptosporidium infection for HIV infected cases. It is necessary to carry out surveillance on
Cryptosporidium infection in people living with HIV positive.