Medical Parasitology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt.
J Infect Dev Ctries. 2021 Oct 31;15(10):1539-1546. doi: 10.3855/jidc.14367.
The protozoan parasite Cryptosporidium is one of the principal reasons for childhood diarrhea around the world. This work aimed to differentiate Cryptosporidium species among children suffering from diarrhea in Sharkyia Governorate, Egypt.
A total of 97 fecal specimens were taken from children suffering from diarrhea, attending Pediatric Clinics of Zagazig University and Al-Ahrar Hospitals. Full history was taken. Stool samples were examined microscopically using modified Ziehl-Neelsen stain for detection of Cryptosporidium oocysts. To identify Cryptosporidium genotypes, positive samples were then subjected to nested Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism targeting Cryptosporidium oocyst wall protein gene.
The overall detection rate was 27.8% (27/97) using modified Ziehl-Neelsen stain staining method. Using nested polymerase chain reaction, the gene was amplified in 85.2% (23/27). Restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis revealed that 65.2% (15/23) were Cryptosporidium hominis, 30.4% (7/23) were Cryptosporidium parvum, and one sample was not typed (4.4%). The significant risk factors associated with Cryptosporidium infection in children were animal contact and residence in rural areas.
Cryptosporidium is a common enteric parasite affecting children in Sharkyia Governorate, Egypt, with the predominance of C. hominis genotype in children.
原生动物寄生虫隐孢子虫是全世界儿童腹泻的主要原因之一。本研究旨在区分埃及 Sharkyia 省腹泻儿童中的隐孢子虫种。
从 Zagazig 大学儿科诊所和 Al-Ahrar 医院腹泻的儿童中采集了 97 份粪便标本。采集了完整的病史。使用改良的 Ziehl-Neelsen 染色法对粪便样本进行显微镜检查，以检测隐孢子虫卵囊。为了鉴定隐孢子虫基因型，然后对阳性样本进行巢式聚合酶链反应-限制性片段长度多态性分析，针对隐孢子虫卵囊壁蛋白基因。
使用改良的 Ziehl-Neelsen 染色法，总体检测率为 27.8%（27/97）。使用巢式聚合酶链反应，基因扩增率为 85.2%（23/27）。限制性片段长度多态性分析显示，65.2%（15/23）为隐孢子虫人型，30.4%（7/23）为隐孢子虫微小型，一个样本未分型（4.4%）。与儿童隐孢子虫感染相关的显著危险因素是与动物接触和居住在农村地区。
隐孢子虫是埃及 Sharkyia 省影响儿童的常见肠道寄生虫，以儿童中 C. hominis 基因型为主。
