Study of cryptosporidiosis in a rural area of Maharashtra.

Human cryptosporidiosis has been reported world wide, both from developed and developing countries and from urban and rural areas. Present study is undertaken to assess the occurrence of cryptosporidiosis in human and cattle population (cows and calves) in and around the rural areas of Loni, district Ahmednagar, Maharashtra State. Human stool samples were collected from 220 patients of age ranging between newborn to 85 years, attending the Pravara Rural Hospital, Loni. The samples were examined using modified Ziehl-Neelsen staining technique. Drug samples were also examined from 101 asymptomatic (apparently healthy and non-diarrhoeic) cows and calves from the same area, to detect Cryptosporidium. Three positive cases (1.36%) in human and 11 positive cases (10.89%) in cattle (cows and calves) were detected. It is assumed that in rural areas the most likely source of human infection is cattle. This is the first report of human infection by Cryptosporidium from rural Maharashtra and also the first report of occurrence in cattle from India.