The Medical Journal of Basrah University

Abstract

ABSTRACT
Over nine months period, the incidence of microsporidiosis in patients receiving treatment for malignancy was
investigated. A total of 53 patients (27 males and 26 females) were involved in this study. All patients had stool
analysis for microsporidium spp. stools from 53 control groups (30 males and 32 females) have also been
investigated. Microsporidium spp. spores were detected in stools of 5 males and 3 females among patients treated
with anti-cancer therapy. Three patients particularly affected with leukemia showed positive results. It was concluded
that advanced stages of malignancy affected patients who received anti-cancer therapy are at risk from infection with
this pathogen, while working physicians showed little awareness concerning this opportunistic infection.