Research in Medicine

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Abstract: Background: Cryptosporidium is a worldwide protozoa and one of the most important causes of diarrhea among under 5 years children and immunocompromized patients. The majority of studies conducted about the parasite is in developed countries and mainly focused on immunocompromized subjects. Also diarrhea and malnutrition are common in young children in developing countries and a reciprocal relationship has been postulated with diarrhea leading to malnutrition and malnutrition predisposing to diarrhea. Therefore this study was carried out in order to find the prevalence of Cryptosporidium infection and to assess micronutrient deficiencies in children hospitalized due to diarrhea and to compare micronutrient status in children with or without Cryptosporidium. Material and Methods: In this survey 504 stool samples were collected from hospitalized and outpatient children with acute diarrhea (259 and 245, respectively). Meanwhile, 114 stool samples were collected from children hospitalized for elective surgery who did not have diarrhea during the past 2 weeks before consultation (control group). All stools were screened by ELISA method for detection of Surface Cryptosporidium Antigen. In addition serum samples were collected from hospitalized children with diarrhea to assess vitamin A level by HPLC and Zn and Se by ICP-MS technique. Results: Of 504 samples, 12(2%) were infected with cryptosporidium. None of the controls were positive for cryptosporidium antigen. According to gender, there was no difference between girls and boys. Seven cases (58%) of infected children were seen in during spring. The mean of vitamin A and Zn in children with cryptosporidium were lower than other hospitalized children with diarrhea (p<0.05), however, the mean of selenium was higher in infected children although their difference did not reach a statistically significant level. Conclusions: Results revealed that the prevalence of infection with cryptosporidium in this survey was similar to the majority of studies performed in other parts of Iran. It seems that there is a need of laboratory tests to diagnose cryptosporidium infection in watery stools in Iran.

Keywords: Cryptosporidium, Micronutrients, Diarrhea

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