Introduction: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is a global pandemic, with cases reported virtually from every country. The gastrointestinal involvement in HIV/AIDS is almost universal, and intestinal parasitic infection remains as an important cause of morbidity and mortality in developing countries. If the number of parasites in the stool specimens are low, examination of a direct wet mount may not detect parasites, hence the stool should be concentrated either by sedimentation or floatation techniques. Therefore the present study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of enteric parasites among HIV seropositive patients with and without diarrhea and to evaluate different concentration techniques for their detection. Material and Method: A total of 510 HIV seropositive patients were included in the study. Stool specimens were collected in wide mouthed, clean, dry, plastic containers with tight fittings lids. Microscopic examination was done by direct saline and iodine mount. All the specimens were subjected to formol ether centrifugal sedimentation technique and zinc sulphate centrifugal floatation technique for concentration of parasitic ova and cysts. Sheather’s sugar floatation technique was performed for detection of coccidian parasites. The data obtained was analyzed by applying appropriate statistics wherever needed. Result and Observations: Out of 510 HIV seropositive patients, intestinal parasites were detected in 132 (25.88%) cases. A total of 149 intestinal parasites were isolated from 132 patients of which 116 patients showed single parasite and 16 showed mixed infections. Detection rate of intestinal parasites by saline and iodine mount was 17.06%. The rate of detection of intestinal parasite by formol ether sedimentation technique and zinc sulphate centrifugal floatation technique was 26.67 % and 10.20 % respectively. A total of 78 (15.29%) coccidian parasites were detected by Sheather’s sucrose floatation technique. Conclusion: Routine screening of the stool samples of all HIV seropositive patients with diarrhoea and without diarrhoea should be done for prompt patient care, to prevent the fulminant form of the disease. Along with saline and iodine mount, formol ether centrifugal sedimentation technique and Sheather’s Sucrose floatation technique can be used to increase diagnostic sensitivity.

Keywords: HIV; Diarrhoea; Concentration Technique; Coccidian Parasites