Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41601338›Full record

SynthesisInternational health2026

A global overview of microsporidia infection in HIV/AIDS patients: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis.

Ali Asghari, Mohammad Reza Mohammadi, Roumina Norouzi, Shayan Heidari, Farshad Kakian, Ali Pouryousef, Milad Badri, Farajolah Maleki, Maryam Kazem Pour

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
In one paragraph

Synthesis in International health, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Article
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Ali AsghariMedical Microbiology Research Center, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran.ORCID 0000-0002-4005-2687
Mohammad Reza MohammadiDepartment of Bacteriology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.
Roumina NorouziMedical Faculty, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia.ORCID 0009-0007-1293-3843
Shayan HeidariMedical Faculty, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia.
Farshad KakianDepartment of Nursing, School of Nursing, Larestan University of Medical Sciences, Larestan, Iran.
Ali PouryousefLeishmaniasis Research Center, Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences, Sabzevar, Iran.
Milad BadriMedical Microbiology Research Center, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran.
Farajolah MalekiZoonotic Diseases Research Center, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran.
Maryam Kazem PourZoonotic Diseases Research Center, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThis study aimed to update the global estimates of microsporidia prevalence, species/genotype distribution and clinical correlates among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients.

methodsA systematic search of international databases was conducted for studies published between 1 January 2017 and 11 October 2025. Pooled prevalence and odds ratios (ORs) were calculated using a random effects model with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

resultsThirty-nine studies from 18 countries (24 cross-sectional, 15 case-control) were included. The pooled prevalence of microsporidia among HIV/AIDS patients was 12% (95% CI 8.9 to 16), significantly higher than in controls (1.9%; odds ratio 5.7 [95% CI 3.33 to 9.74]). A higher pooled prevalence of microsporidia infection was observed in studies published after 2020 (15.9%), in those with sample sizes ≤100 participants (19.2%), in patients with CD4 counts ≤200 cells/μl (58.4%) and in males (64.9%). The highest country-specific prevalence rates were reported from Malaysia (60.9%), Mexico (48.3%), Malawi (37.0%) and South Africa (32.9%). Enterocytozoon bieneusi was the predominant species, accounting for 24 identified genotypes, followed by Encephalitozoon intestinalis, E. cuniculi and E. hellem.

conclusionsMicrosporidia remain a significant opportunistic pathogen in HIV/AIDS patients. Strengthened molecular surveillance, standardized diagnostic protocols and integration of microsporidia screening into HIV/AIDS care are essential to improve outcomes and control transmission.

Indexed as

AIDS-Related Opportunistic InfectionsGlobal HealthHIV InfectionsMicrosporidiaMicrosporidiosisGenotypeHumansPrevalencegenotypeHIVmicrosporidiaprevalencespeciessystematic review

Identifiers

PMID41601338
PMCPMC13530294

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.