First diagnosis of microsporidiosis human in Uruguay

Summary Microsporidia are protozoan parasites found in vertebrates and invertebrates. In the 80's they were recognized as a cause of diarrhea in HIV-AIDS patients and lately in patients with renal transplantation and immunocompetent patients (traveler's diarrhea). The objective of this paper is to communicate the first founding of this agent in a patient with HIV-AIDS and to contribute to determine the most important pathogenic and diagnostic characteristics of microsporidia. In 1998 the Parasitoloy Departament implemented colouring techniques for microsporidia, gram-chromotrope and trichrome. The first founding was observed in a HIV-AIDS patient with a 9 month-course of diarrhea; specific treatment was not performed since the patient carried a concomitant cryptococcal meningoencephalitis, that provoked his death. Recognition of theses oportunist agents as a cause of diarrhea in Uruguay contribute to determine the aetiologic diagnosis of chronic diarrhea in patients with HIV-AIDS. Specific colouring techniques should be incorporated in diagnosis algorithm for enteroparasitosis in risk groups.