Molecular Detection and Prevalence of Cryptosporidium parvum, Among Patients with Diarrhea at Al-Rifai City/Thi-Qar Province

Abstract

Cryptosporidium parvum as genus of apicomplexan parasitic protozoa is well known as a worldwide protozoan parasite in both human and a wide range of animals and considered as one of the major causes of severe life-threatening diarrhea in immunodeficient people and self- limiting in healthy individuals.  This study aimed to determine the prevalence of C.parvum in stool samples  of diarrheic  patients , this study is carried out in Thi –Qar Province / Al-Rifeadistrict in Al-Rifai general Hospital which included collection of stool samples from diarrheic patients at a period extended from October / 2017 – January / 2018 , (603) stool samples taken from patients with different ages to both sexes examined by microscopic examination and PCR technique. The results showed the percentage of positive samples C. parvum by microscopic examination was (5.1%) and negativesampleswas (94.9%), the highest  infected patients found (58%) in  males and lowest infected patients found (42%) in females,the highest  infected patients found (64.5%) in  Rural area and lowest infected patients found (35.5%) in Urbanarea, inage groupthe highest  infected patients was (35.5%) inAge groupLess than (1-10years)and lowest infected patients found (9.7%) in age group (21-30) years. Results of PCR was positive sample 20 with percentage 10.4% and 172 negative samples,  the percentage was (89.6%).the highest  infected patients found (65%) in  males and lowest infected patients found (35%) in females,the highest  infected patients found (55%) in  Rural area and lowest infected patients found (45%) in Urbanarea, .Age group was the highest  infected patients found (45%) in age group (1-10years) and lowest infected patients found (5 %) in age group (31-40) years.