Intensity of infection in aids-associated cryptosporidiosis

A fluorescent monoclonal anti-Cryptosporidium antibody was used to count the oocysts in stools of 12 AIDS patients with chronic cryptosporidiosis. Oocyst excretion was present throughout the day in all 12 patients. Stool-to-stool variation in oocyst concentration was within one order of magnitude. Small variations were also found in daily mean oocyst concentration and total daily oocyst excretion in 3 patients who had multiple 24-h stool collections. However, there was a large patient-to-patient variation in mean oocyst concentration (from <5.0 × 10³ to 9.2 × 10⁵ oocysts/ml.) and 24-h total oocyst excretion (from <6.0 × 10⁶ to 1.2 × 10⁹ oocysts/day). There was a significant correlation between oocyst excretion and numbers of Cryptosporidium organisms seen on small bowel biopsy. Oocyst excretion was reduced in 4 patients treated with paromomycin, but diarrhea improved only in the 2 patients with high initial oocyst excretion.