A Review of the Prevalence and Diagnostic Points of Cryptosporidium Species in Immunocompromised and Healthy Human Samples in Iran

Cryptosporidium species are important intestinal pathogens with widespread distribution in humans and other hosts. Whereas the parasite causes acute and self-limiting gastroenteritis in people with healthy immune systems, many reports on this infection around the world are limited to people with defective or suppressed immune systems who suffer from a persistent and deadly infection. Using laboratory-serological and molecular methods for the detection of Cryptosporidium species in immunocompromised and healthy human samples, recent studies in Iran indicated that the prevalence of Cryptosporidium species in different samples varied between 0 to 14%. The samples in Iranian studies included human fecal and diarrheic samples from diarrheic children, patients with gastroenteritis, immunocompromised individuals, and people in contact with livestock. Furthermore, some species were reported based on molecular studies including Cryptosporidium parvum and Cryptosporidium hominis. Some studies have also reported Cryptosporidium meleagridis. In this review study, data were collected regarding the prevalence of cryptosporidiosis in high-risk individuals such as children and immunocompromised individuals. The results revealed that the higher prevalence of C. parvum in Iranian studies in the last 10 years may be attributed to the transmission of infection from animal sources.

An Update on Zoonotic Cryptosporidium Species and Genotypes in Humans

The enteric parasite, Cryptosporidium is a major cause of diarrhoeal illness in humans and animals worldwide. No effective therapeutics or vaccines are available and therefore control is dependent on understanding transmission dynamics. The development of molecular detection and typing tools has resulted in the identification of a large number of cryptic species and genotypes and facilitated our understanding of their potential for zoonotic transmission. Of the 44 recognised Cryptosporidium species and >120 genotypes, 19 species, and four genotypes have been reported in humans with C. hominis, C. parvum, C. meleagridis, C. canis and C. felis being the most prevalent. The development of typing tools that are still lacking some zoonotic species and genotypes and more extensive molecular epidemiological studies in countries where the potential for transmission is highest are required to further our understanding of this important zoonotic pathogen. Similarly, whole-genome sequencing (WGS) and amplicon next-generation sequencing (NGS) are important for more accurately tracking transmission and understanding the mechanisms behind host specificity.

Genotyping of Cryptosporidium species in children suffering from diarrhea in Sharkyia Governorate, Egypt

Introduction: The protozoan parasite Cryptosporidium is one of the principal reasons for childhood diarrhea around the world. This work aimed to differentiate Cryptosporidium species among children suffering from diarrhea in Sharkyia Governorate, Egypt. Methodology: A total of 97 fecal specimens were taken from children suffering from diarrhea, attending Pediatric Clinics of Zagazig University and Al-Ahrar Hospitals. Full history was taken. Stool samples were examined microscopically using modified Ziehl–Neelsen stain for detection of Cryptosporidium oocysts. To identify Cryptosporidium genotypes, positive samples were then subjected to nested Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism targeting Cryptosporidium oocyst wall protein gene. Results: The overall detection rate was 27.8% (27/97) using modified Ziehl–Neelsen stain staining method. Using nested polymerase chain reaction, the gene was amplified in 85.2% (23/27). Restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis revealed that 65.2% (15/23) were Cryptosporidium hominis, 30.4% (7/23) were Cryptosporidium parvum, and one sample was not typed (4.4%). The significant risk factors associated with Cryptosporidium infection in children were animal contact and residence in rural areas. Conclusions: Cryptosporidium is a common enteric parasite affecting children in Sharkyia Governorate, Egypt, with the predominance of C. hominis genotype in children.

Prevalence of Cryptosporidiosis Detected by Enzyme Immunoassay Coproantigen among People Living with HIV/AIDS Attending Selected Hospitals in Maiduguri, Nigeria

Background: Cryptosporidium species are intestinal parasites that infect both humans and animals; it causes cryptosporidiosis which usually resulted to diarrhea especially among those with impaired immunity. It was observed that enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) be ascertain was never been used as one of the techniques in the detection of Cryptosporidium parvum antigen in Maiduguri, Borno state. Materials and Methods: Four hundred stool and blood samples were collected in four selected hospitals in the study area. Stool samples were analyzed by Enzyme link immunosorbent assay to detect fecal Cryptosporidium antigen, while the blood samples were analyzed with Partec sysmex ® flow cytometric machine for CD4 T-lymphocyte counts. Results: Demographically, female are 275 while male 125 in number. The result of the stool samples have shown that, of the four hundred samples, seventy nine (79) patients were positive for Cryptosporidium species with an infection rate of 19.8%. According to gender, females have the highest infection rate of 14.25% while males 5.5%.based on age, patients between the ages of 20-39 have the highest prevalence of 9.5% followed by 40-59 with 7.5% and lastly 0-19 and >60 old are1.25 and 1.5% respectively. Traders (businessmen and women) demonstrated the highest infection rate of 8.0% followed by housewives 6.25%, civil servants 4.25% and lastly student and farmer with 1.0 and 0.25% respectively. In terms of CD4-T-lymphocyte count, those with CD4 <200cells/µl has an occurrence rate of 8.25% followed by 201-499 with 7.0% and >500 with 4.5%. on the bases of clinical details, the results have shown that patients with diarrhea has a prevalence of 13.0% while those without diarrhea has 6.75%, however, according to the hospitals the patients attended, the result has that, USUMH has 7.0%.Followed by UMTH 6.5%, SSHM 3.75%, and MSMH 2.5% respectively. Conclusion: It was concluded that those with cd4 count bellow 200 are at risk of contacting the parasites and hence is one of the causes of diarrhea among HIV patients. It is recommended that proper hygiene practice should be encouraged.

Risk factors associated with cat parasites in a feline medical center

Objectives The present study was carried out to evaluate the risk factors for and presence of intestinal parasites in cats at the feline hospital ‘CEME Gatos’, Mexico City. Methods In total, 528 fecal samples from domestic cats were collected and analyzed in order to diagnose enteroparasites. Results The parasite with the highest prevalence was Giardia species (21.97%), followed by Cryptosporidium species (7%), Toxocara cati (6.45%), Cystoisospora species (5.11%) and Dipylidium caninum (0.76%). One hundred and twenty-one cats (55.50%) were infected with a single parasite, 80 (36.69%) were infected with two and 17 (14.04%) were infected with three parasites. The results of the prevalence study showed that a liquid consistency of feces was associated with the presence of Giardia species, whereas age <7 months and mucus in the stool were factors associated with the prevalence of Cystoisospora species. Regarding T cati, the associated risk factors were age <7 months, being male, contact with other animal species and access to the outdoors. The last factor was strongly associated with the presence of T cati (eight times more likely) in outdoor cats’ feces. Brushing frequency was also an associated factor: T cati was present in cats that were never brushed. The results of the analysis of cats infected with D caninum showed that interaction with other species was a risk factor for infection. Conclusions and relevance Age <7 months, mucus in feces, living with other animal species, outdoor access and frequency of brushing are risk factors for the presence of parasites.

Comparative Performance of Eight PCR Methods to Detect Cryptosporidium Species

Diagnostic approaches based on PCR methods are increasingly used in the field of parasitology, particularly to detect Cryptosporidium. Consequently, many different PCR methods are available, both “in-house” and commercial methods. The aim of this study was to compare the performance of eight PCR methods, four “in-house” and four commercial methods, to detect Cryptosporidium species. On the same DNA extracts, performance was evaluated regarding the limit of detection for both C. parvum and C. hominis specificity and the ability to detect rare species implicated in human infection. Results showed variations in terms of performance. The best performance was observed with the FTD® Stool parasites method, which detected C. parvum and C. hominis with a limit of detection of 1 and 10 oocysts/gram of stool respectively; all rare species tested were detected (C. cuniculus, C. meleagridis, C. felis, C. chipmunk, and C. ubiquitum), and no cross-reaction was observed. In addition, no cross-reactivity was observed with other enteric pathogens. However, commercial methods were unable to differentiate Cryptosporidium species, and generally, we recommend testing each DNA extract in at least triplicate to optimize the limit of detection.