Prevalence of Cryptosporidium sp. infection in diarrheic and non-diarrheic humans in Iran.
10.3347/kjp.2007.45.2.133
- Author:
Mohammad MIRZAEI
- Publication Type:Original Article ; Comparative Study
- Keywords:
Cryptosporidium sp.;
cryptosporidiosis;
prevalence;
diarrhea;
Iran
- MeSH:
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
- From:The Korean Journal of Parasitology
2007;45(2):133-137
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
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.
