Case Report Chronic Microsporidial Enteritis in a Missionary from Mozambique

Microsporidiosis often occurs in immunocompromised persons but may also occur in those who are immunocompetent Infection by Microsporidia Involves a variety of organs and systems, most notably, intestine lung kidney brain, sinuses, muscle and eyes Encephalitozoon bicneust and Encephahtozoon intestinalis are associated with gastroen tent's, and Enterocytozoon hellem and Encephalitozoon cumuli( are associated with keratoconjunctivitis We report a case of chronic microspondiosis in a 28-year old woman missionary from Mozambique who came to our diagnostic laboratory with nausea, lower abdominal pain, and frequent bowel movements Over two years, the patient was clinically assessed and treated for malaria and giardiasis without laboratory diagnosis while in Mozambique Identification of the causative agent of her condition was not attempted during the course of her illness in Mozambique Furthermore adverse effects of malaria and giardiasis medications may have exacerbated the chronic illness in this patient and mimicked chronic microspondiosis