MICROSPORIDIA: Clinical Presentation

Conjunctival and corneal epithelium infections occur in HIV patients, while corneal stroma and ulceration occur in immunocompetent individuals. The chronic intractable diarrhea, fever, malaise, and weight loss of E. bieneusi infections are similar to symptoms of cryptosporidiosis or isosporiasis. These patients have been diagnosed with AIDS and they tend to have 4 to 8 watery, non-bloody stools per day, which can be accompanied by nausea and anorexia. There may also be dehydration and fat malabsorption. These patients tend to be severely immunodeficient, with a CD4+ count always below 200 and often below 100. Concurrent infections with Encephalitozoon intestinalis have been reported.