Molecular and epidemiological study of cryptosporidium spp. in Mid-Euphrates Area

Abstract EN

Objectives : the aim of present study was to search for Cryptosporidium spp.

in our children and tracking different epidemiological effects.

Methodology : Random fecal specimens were collected from 467 of children whom attended to hospitals from four Iraqi governorates, modified Ziehl-Neelson staining for all samples, two advanced PCR techniques (Nested PCR and Real Time PCR) were used for all positive samples to detect species.

Data was analyzed by use of Yat’s Chi-square test.

Results : Among the 467 examined children, Cryptosporidium Oocysts were found to be excreted in 39 (8.35 %) of them.

Molecular tests showed that C.

parvum and C.

hominis found in 72.9 % and 24.3 % of positive samples respectively, two samples (5.1 %) explain mixed species infection, whilst one sample (2.7 %) don’t reveal any amplification, that may mean species other than of C.

parvum or C.

hominis.

Conclusions : The present study emphasized the public health importance of Cryptosporidium spp in the study area.

It seems that zoonotic species (C.

parvum) is the most important cause of infection in the region.

According to our knowledge, this report is the first that recorded the species of Cryptosporidium in Iraq.

Recommendations : Further studies at different areas and age groups are required to investigate the molecular epidemiology of cryptosporidiosis in our community, and also in the animals to evaluate the role of zoonotic transmission in cryptosporidiosis epidemiology.