Abstract

A total of 530 HIV-seropositive patients, undergoing treatment at the Phytobiotechnology Research Foundation (PRF) Clinic from May 2007 to May 2008, were screened for yeast infection using various specimens. Of the total number of patients, 318 were females and 212 were males. The specimens comprised 550 stools specimens, 422 oral swabs, 98 sputum specimens, 60 vaginal swabs and 25 urine specimens. These were aerobically cultured on Sabouraud dextrose and potato dextrose agar media. A total of 79.6% of the patients indicated presence of yeast in oral specimens, while 28.3% indicated the presence of yeasts in stool specimens. Candida albicans was the sole isolate from urine and vaginal swabs. Geotrichium candidum was solely isolated from stool specimens (18.75%), while Cryptococcus neoformans (5%) was also isolated from sputum specimens. Bulk methanol extracts of Magnifera indica(mango) seeds, Aspilia africana (African iodine) leaves, Ageratum conyroides(goat weed/king grass) leaves, Allium sativum (garlic) bulb, Vernonia amygdalina(bitter leaves), Khaya senegalensis (drywood mahogany) seeds, Moringa oleifera(drum stick/horseradish) and Persea americana (avocado) seeds exhibited appreciable growth inhibition of Candida spp. and Geotrichium spp. The results indicated that yeast infections are prevalent in HIV/AIDS patients and can be controlled with natural products.

Key words: Yeast, AIDS, seropositive, methanol extracts, medicinal plants.