H Nahrevanian , M Assmar , S. M Ghorbani ,
Volume 3, Issue 2 (5-2005)
Abstract
Cryptosporidiosis is a parasitic zoonosis prevalent all over the world and recognized as one
of the important causes of diarrhea in children and immunodeficient subjects. The
manifestations range from self-limited acute diarrhea in immunocompetent individuals to
fatal chronic diarrhea in immunocompromised patients. In this study, conducted in Greater
Tehran, 214 patients in 7 disease categories in 10 hospitals were investigated. Samples
were collected from both patients with immune deficiency symptoms (Test group) and
those with an intact immune system (Control group).
Overall, 22.4% of patients had diarrhea and 77.6% had stools with a normal consistency.
1.4% of immunocompromised patients and 6.3% of those with diarrhea were found to
harbor Cryptosporidium infections. These Cryptosporidium-positive cases included one
patient with AML and two AIDS patients. The incidence rate of infection in AML and
AIDS patients who had diarrhea was 11.1% and 33.4%, respectively. While the infection is
usually self-limited in immunocompetent subjects, it could be fatal in immunodeficiency
states. Therefore attention must be paid to effective disease prevention in
immunocompromised subjects.
