Parasites, Hosts and Diseases

The Korea Society for Parasitology and Tropical Medicine (대한기생충학·열대의학회)
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Prevalence of Cryptosporidium-Associated Diarrhea in a High Altitude-Community of Saudi Arabia Detected by Conventional and Molecular Methods

  • Hawash, Yousry (Department of Medical Parasitology, NLI, Menoufia University) ;
  • Dorgham, Laila Sh. (Department of Nursing, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Taif University) ;
  • Al-Hazmi, Ayman S. (Department of Medical Laboratory Science, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Taif University) ;
  • Al-Ghamdi, Mohammed S. (Department of Medical Laboratory Science, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Taif University)
  • Received : 2014.04.28
  • Accepted : 2014.07.15
  • Published : 2014.10.31
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Abstract

Cryptosporidium diarrhea represents a relevant clinical problem in developing countries. In Al-Taif, a city of Saudi Arabia that lies at an altitude of an around 2 km above the sea level, Cryptosporidium infection seems to be undiagnosed in nearly all clinical laboratories. Furthermore, nothing was published regarding Cryptosporidium-associated diarrhea in this area. The objectives of this research were to (1) determine the Cryptosporidium prevalence among patients with diarrhea and (2) to estimate the performances of 3 different diagnostic methods. Total 180 diarrheal fecal samples, 1 sample per patient, were collected between January and August 2013. Samples were screened for Cryptosporidium with modified Zeihl Neelsen (ZN) microscopy, $RIDA^{(R)}$ Quick lateral flow (LF) immunotest, and a previously published PCR. The Cryptosporidium prevalence rate was 9.4% (17/180), 10% (18/180), and 11.6% (21/180) by microscopy, LF, and PCR test, respectively. Infection was significantly (P=0.004) predominant among children <5 years (22%) followed by children 5-9 years (11.1%). Although infection was higher in males than in females (16.2% males and 8.5% females), the difference was not statistically significant (P=0.11). Compared to PCR, the sensitivity of microscopy and the LF test were 80.9%, 85.7%, respectively. To conclude, high Cryptosporidium-associated diarrhea was found in this area especially in children ${\leq}9$ years. The PCR test showed the best performance followed by the LF test and ZN staining microscopy. The primary health care providers in Al-Taif need to be aware of and do testing for this protozoon, particularly for children seen with diarrhea.

Keywords

References

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