Bioscience Research, Bioscience Research, 8(1): 26-29, 2011 Available online at www.isisn.org Research Article © ISISnet Publishers Print ISSN: 1811-9506 Online ISSN: 2218-3973 Seasonal variation of microsporidiosis among HIV-infected persons in Benin City, Nigeria. F.O. Akinbo 1 , C. E. Okaka 2 , R. Omoregie 3 , O.Igbinuwen 4 and C. Egbe 5 1 Department of Pathology, University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, Nigeria. 2 Department of Animal and Environmental Biology, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria. 3 School of Medical Laboratory sciences, University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, Nigeria. 4 Department of Haematology, University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, Nigeria. 5 Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, Nigeria. *Corresponding author The prevalence of microsporidiosis in relation to seasonal variations is unknown. This study is aimed at determining the correlation between seasonal variation and the prevalence of microsporidiosis in HIV-infected persons in Benin City, Nigeria. A total of 763 persons consisting of 463 HIV-infected patients attending HIV clinics and 300 apparently healthy HIV non-infected persons were recruited in this study. Stool specimens were collected from each patient and processed using standard procedure. The prevalence of microsporidiosis was significantly associated with season. More episodes of intestinal parasitic infections were observed in the rainy season than the dry season (OR = 1.990; 95% CI = 1.374, 2.882; p = 0.0004). This study underscores the association between microsporidiosis and seasonal variations with higher prevalence during the rainy season. Key words: Benin City, HIV, microsporidiosis, Seasonal variation. Microsporidia species is one of the common causes of chronic diarrhea in AIDS patients (van Gool et al., 1995; Tumwine et al., 2002) which is responsible for unexplained weight loss in HIV- infected persons (Sokolova et al., 2011). The clinical manifestations of microsporidiosis are diverse and include intestinal, pulmonary, ocular, muscular, and renal disease (Didier and Weiss, 2006). The correlation between seasonal variation and the prevalence of microsporidiosis is still under investigation. A study in the United States (Conteas et al., 1998) and another in Brazil (Cotte et al., 1999) did not observe seasonal trend in the prevalence of microsporidiosis. Data are lacking on the association between seasonal variation and the prevalence of microsporidiosis in HIV- infected persons in Nigeria. This study is aimed at determining the correlation between seasonal variation and the prevalence of microsporidiosis in HIV-infected persons in Benin City, Nigeria. MATERIALS AND METHODS Study population The study was carried out at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City – a teaching hospital with a referral status and center for HIV/AIDS management under the United States President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). A total of 763 persons consisting of 463 HIV-infected patients attending HIV clinics and 300 apparently healthy HIV non-infected individuals that were contacted through HIV outreach programs in their homes and offices that served as controls were included in this study. 26