Background: In Assiut, Upper Egypt, studies that estimate the burden of cryptosporidiosis are scarce. Besides, molecular speciation of Cryptosporidium is necessary for identifying possible transmission routes and consequently implementing successful preventive approaches.
Objective: To determine the burden of cryptosporidiosis in infecting diarrheic patients attending Assiut University Hospitals, and to identify the causative species.
Subjects and Methods: A total of 220 stool samples were collected from diarrheic patients of all ages and both sexes who attended outpatient clinics of Assiut University Hospitals. Samples were examined microscopically using modified Kinyoun's acid fast staining for detection of Cryptosporidium oocysts. Positive samples were subjected to nested PCR (nPCR) to amplify the gene encoding SSU rRNA, followed by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) to accurately distinguish Cryptosporidium species.
Results: The overall microscopically detected infection rate of Cryptosporidium spp. was 18.18% (40/220). Molecular diagnosis identified only 32 positive samples (14.54%). The RFLP yielded typical restriction patterns for C. parvum in 17 (53.13%), C. hominis in 11 (34.37%), and C. meleagridis in 4 (12.5%). While C. parvum was prevalent in rural areas, C. hominis dominated in urban areas, and all cases of C. meleagridis were recovered only in rural areas (P = 0.0005). Significant association was recorded between C. parvum, and C. meleagridis infection and contact with animals (P = 0.009).
Conclusion: The detection rate of C. hominis highlights the anthroponotic pathway in urban areas. In addition, the genetic diversity of Cryptosporidium spp. with the predominance of C. parvum suggested potential zoonotic transmission particularly in rural areas in Assiut, Egypt. These data are valuable for development of effective control approaches against human cryptosporidiosis