Abstract

Background: In developing countries, the incidence of pulmonary aspergillosis (PA) in HIV-positive subjects has risen persistently and characterised by a significant drop in CD4+ cell count. Aim: To determine the prevalence of PA amongst individuals presenting with HIV at a tertiary hospital in Nigeria.

Methods: Sputum samples were collected from 200 and 195 HIV- positive (study group) and HIV- negative (control group) subjects respectively aged 15 - 64 years. A structured questionnaire was used for data retrieval. Identification of Aspergillus species was done using standard microbiological methods. Furthermore, CD4+ cell count was determined using the Partec new model Cyflow Counter. Data analysis was done using the SPSS Version 21.

Results: The mean age (mean ± SD) was 43.65 years ± 12.00 for the HIV-positive subjects. The prevalence of PA was 52% among the HIV-positive subjects. The distribution of Aspergillus species revealed A. fumigatus as the most specie with prevalence of 49.04% among the HIV-positive subjects. The HIV-positive subjects were significantly associated with PA than the HIV-negative subjects (p= 0.001). The mean CD4+ cell count of the HIV-positive subjects with PA was 194.70 cells/μL ± 64.10. PA was significantly associated with HIV-positive subjects having a CD4+ cell count ˂ 200 cells/μL (p = 0.003) as well as the age (p = 0.003) and gender (p = 0.014) of the HIV-positive subjects.

Conclusion: Majority of the HIV-positive subjects had PA of which decreased CD4+ cell count (˂ 200 cells/μL) was associated; likewise the age and gender of the HIV-positive subjects.

Keywords: Pulmonary aspergillosis, Aspergillus species, HIV, CD4+ cell count