Korean J Parasitol.  2007 Jun;45(2):133-137. 10.3347/kjp.2007.45.2.133.

Prevalence of Cryptosporidium sp. infection in diarrheic and non-diarrheic humans in Iran

• Mirzaei M

• KMID: 1720538
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3347/kjp.2007.45.2.133

Abstract

For evaluation of the prevalence of Cryptosporidium sp. infection in diarrheic and non-diarrheic humans in Iran, fecal specimens from diarrheic (n = 129) and non-diarrheic humans (n = 271) were collected and examined for the presence of Cryptosporidium sp. oocysts. The presence of Cryptosporidium sp. oocysts was determined by Ziehl-Neelsen acid-fast staining. Humans were grouped according to their age as follows: younger than 15, 16-25, 26-35, 36-50, and over 51 years. The results showed that the overall prevalence of infection in all 400 samples was 10.8%, but the prevalence (25.6%) in diarrheic humans was higher than that (3.7%) in non-diarrheic humans. Oocysts of Cryptosporidium sp. were detected in the feces of 21.4%, 9.3%, 8.8%, 6.7% and 5.7% of different age groups, respectively. The intensity of oocysts was significantly higher in diarrheic humans than in non-diarrheic ones. There was a significant association between Cryptosporidium sp. infection and occurrence of diarrhea (P < 0.05). The results indicate that Cryptosporidium sp. infection is prevalent in diarrheic humans in Iran.

Keyword

Cryptosporidium sp.; cryptosporidiosis; prevalence; diarrhea; Iran

MeSH Terms

Adolescent
Adult
Age Factors
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Animals
Child
Child, Preschool
Cryptosporidiosis/*epidemiology/parasitology/pathology
Cryptosporidium/*isolation & purification
Diarrhea/*epidemiology/parasitology
Feces/parasitology
Histocytochemistry
Humans
Infant
Infant, Newborn
Iran/epidemiology
Middle Aged
Oocysts
Prevalence