Microsporidia are emergent and opportunistic protozoa that are responsible for diseases with high morbidity and mortality, especially among individuals with immune disorders. This study had the aim of determining the clinical-laboratory profile of these agents. In total, 723 patients were evaluated, divided into two groups: I) Immunosuppressed/immunodepressed individuals; II) Apparently immunocompetent individuals. After obtaining free informed consent, these patients were interviewed and gave fecal samples. These samples were all subjected to the HPJ, Rugai and Faust techniques and to specific staining for Coccidia and Microsporidia. The frequency of Microsporidia was 1.3% (5/393) in group I, whereas it was a quarter of this in group II. The occurrence of other opportunistic intestinal parasites was also greater in group I. It was concluded, firstly, that these agents are present in our environment and, secondly, that there is a need to improve the clinical and laboratory diagnosis, in order to define the geographic distribution of these agents in the State of Goiás and throughout Brazil.
Microsporidiosis; Opportunistic intestinal parasites; Laboratory diagnosis
