Prevalence of Cryptosporidium Spp. with other intestinal microorganisms among regular visitors of raparin pediatric Hospital in Erbil City-Kurdistan Region, Iraq

Abstract EN

Cryptosporidiosis is an infection caused by Cryptosporidium spp.; a protozoan parasite that infects the gastrointestinal tract.

The infection is of major public health concern in both developed and developing countries.

The disease is potentially life-threatening in immunocompromised patients.

Younger children are more susceptible to infection than others.

Human get infection either from food or water.

The current study aims to explore the prevalence of cryptosporidiosis and other related intestinal microorganisms infection in children of age ≤5 years old.

A cross - sectional study was conducted by collecting stool samples from 100 children from regular visitors of Raparin Hospital, Erbil city.

Stool samples were analyzed microscopically by direct wet mount preparation and modified Ziehl-Neelsen Method for detecting Cryptosporidium spp.

and other intestinal microorganisms.

The prevalence of cryptosporidiosis in Erbil children of age ≤5 years old was 14%.

Prevalence rates for amoebiasis and giardiasis were 24.4 % and 1.1 % respectively.

Prevalence of cryptosporidiosis among children revealed that the prevention from parasitic infection is recommended.