Cryptosporidium is an important human pathogen that was though
to be a rare opportunistic animal pathogen for several decades. Ecology
of cryptosporidiosis in Qalyobia Governorate was considered in this
study. Three hundred and twenty diarrheic children and 50 control below
5 years were examined for Cryptosporidium. The residence of detected
cases were considered the foci of our environment search.
This included 150 children in contact with animals in the same
houses, 200 diarrheic and 50-non-diarrhoic control calves, 200 water
samples, in addition to 200 soil samples and 50 samples of dust on the
mammary gland of the calves. Samples were examined by modified
Ziehl-Neelsen technique, Giemsa stain and aniline-carbol methyl violet
technique after concentration. Results showed higher percentage of
infection among younger children below the age 6 month (15.8%), while
it was (13.5%) in rural communities. This was associated with high
percentage of examined animal affection 21.5% and high percentage of
canal water contamination 40%. This incriminate the farm animals as a
reservoir and source of infection and canal water as a route of spread and
propagation of infection. |
