Molecular detection of microsporidiosis in various samples of Iranian immunocompromised patients

Microsporidia infections occur in virtually all invertebrate and vertebrate hosts, including humans. The aim of this study is detection of microsporidiosis in various samples of Iranian immunosuppressed patients during 2011–2012 by molecular methods. The samples included stool samples from the healthy participants and samples from biological fluids of the patients according to consult of their physician and the site of infection. The sample size was determined as 258 for each group. Clinical and demographical data related to each participant was collected. DNA extraction and nested polymerase chain reaction were carried out on all the samples. In the control group, the rates of Encephalitozoon and Enterocytozoon infections were 5.3 and 4 % respectively higher in males and in the age range of 30–45, and all positive cases had gastrointestinal symptoms. In the patient group, most infection cases occurred in male patients and in the age range of 60 and above. Patients with microsporidiosis mostly had the symptoms of chronic diarrhea, vomiting, weight loss, dyspepsia, and malabsorption. In BAL samples from patients 2 % Encephalitozoon and 0.7 % Enterocytozoon, in the sampling bone marrow transplantation from patients 5.7 % Encephalitozoon, 1.43 % Enterocytozoon and from patients who underwent kidney transplantation 5.26 % Enterocytozoon were detected. The most cases of human microsporidiosis are associated with human immunodeficiency virus infection or other states of immunosuppression, particularly in organ transplant recipients; the result of this study confirms this claim.