Dehkordy A Balouty, Rafiei A, Alavi Sm, Latifi Sm
Department of Myco-parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
Iran J Parasitol. 2010 Dec;5(4):42-7.
Cryptosporidium is a protozoan parasite with worldwide distribution. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of Cryptosporidium infection by antigen detection in faeces among immunocompromised patients referred to educational hospitals of Ahvaz City, South-West of Iran, 2009-2010.
Fecal samples from 176 immunocompromised patients were collected and Cryptosporidium coproantigen test was performed using ELISA method (DRG kit, Germany). A questionnaire was completed for each case and the results were analyzed using descriptive and Chi-Square tests, by SPSS statistical software (15(th) version).
Our study indicated 5.1% Cryptosporidium infection prevalence in the immunocompromised participated population. Furthermore, 4.2 %, 4 %, 4.5 % and 9.1 % infection rates were identified in children suffered from hematopoietic malignancy, adult cancer patients, renal transplant recipients, and HIV(+) cases, respectively. There was not significant correlation between the infection and age and gender (P>0.05). Infection was most frequent among HIV(+) patients.
The present study confirmed the high prevalence of Cryptosporidium antigen in fecal samples of immunocompromised patients in the region. As no chemotherapeutic agents have yet proven, especially in immunosuppressed patients, therefore our results highlight the importance of preventive intervention in these groups.
隐孢子虫是一种分布于全球的原生动物寄生虫。本研究旨在通过抗原检测评估2009 - 2010年转诊至伊朗西南部阿瓦士市教学医院的免疫功能低下患者粪便中隐孢子虫感染的患病率。
收集176名免疫功能低下患者的粪便样本，采用ELISA方法（德国DRG试剂盒）进行隐孢子虫粪便抗原检测。为每个病例填写一份问卷，并使用SPSS统计软件（第15版）通过描述性检验和卡方检验对结果进行分析。
我们的研究表明，参与研究的免疫功能低下人群中隐孢子虫感染患病率为5.1%。此外，在患有血液系统恶性肿瘤的儿童、成年癌症患者、肾移植受者和HIV阳性病例中，感染率分别为4.2%、4%、4.5%和9.1%。感染与年龄和性别之间无显著相关性（P>0.05）。HIV阳性患者中感染最为常见。
本研究证实该地区免疫功能低下患者粪便样本中隐孢子虫抗原的高患病率。由于尚未证实有化疗药物，尤其是对免疫抑制患者，因此我们的结果凸显了对这些人群进行预防性干预的重要性。
