Abstract
Fecal samples examination of 310 individuals with variable gastro-intestinal (GI) disturbances but negative for intestinal parasites or bacterial pathogens, revealed 97 persons positive for infection with coccidian parasites employing modified Ziehl–Neelsen (ZN) staining and Sheather’s sucrose floatation technique. Cryptosporidium oocysts alone were detected in 64 (64/97; 66%) cases whereas Cyclospora oocysts along with Cryptosporidium were present in other 30 cases (31%); remaining three cases yielded only Cyclospora oocysts (3%) in their feces. None of the 97 cases positive for the two coccidian parasites was reactive for antibodies to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in their blood nor did any individual have history of taking immuno-suppressive drugs or antibiotics in the recent past. A breakdown of these 97 cases according to age and sex revealed not much difference in infection with two coccidian parasites. Further, comparison between two techniques revealed modified ZN staining was far superior to Sheather’s floatation. As the coccidian parasites, particularly Cryptosporidium is gaining much importance; therefore modified ZN staining should be included preferably along with other techniques in routine fecal examination which may lead to an overall improvement in the health-care facilities.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Barua P, Hazarika NK, Rasul E, Laskar N (2008) Microscopy for cryptosporidiosis screening in remote areas. Indian J Med Microbiol 26:203–204
Brown GH, Rotschafer JC (1999) Cyclospora: review of an emerging parasite. Pharmacotherapy 19:70–75
Current WL, Gracia LS (1991) Cryptosporidiosis. Clin Microbiol Rev 4:325–358
Current WL, Reese NC, Ernst JV, Bailey WS, Heyman MB, Weinstein WM (1983) Human cryptosporidiosis in immuno-competent and immuno-deficient persons: studies of an outbreak and experimental transmission. N Engl J Med 308:1252–1257
Eberhard ML, Pieniayek NJ, Arrowood MJ (1997) Laboratory diagnosis of Cyclospora infections (review). Arch Pathol Lab Med 121:792–797
Gracia LS, Bruckner DA, Brewen TC, Shimizu RY (1983) Techniques for the recovery and identification of Cryptosporidium oocysts from stool specimen. J Clin Microbiol 18:185
Hunter PR, Nichols G (2002) Epidemiology and clinical features of Cryptosporidium infection in immunocompromised patients. Clin Microbiol Rev 15:145–154
ICMR (2004) Ethical guidelines for biomedical research. http://www.icmr.nic.in. Accessed Jan 2004
Iyer RN (2006) Cyclosporiasis in an infant. Indian J Med Microbiol 24:144–145
Kehl KS, Cicirello H, Havens PL (1995) Comparison of four different methods for the detection of Cryptosporidium species. J Clin Microbiol 33:416–418
Kulkarni SV, Kairon R, Sane SS, Padmawar PS, Kale VA, Thakar MR et al (2009) Opportunistic parasitic infections in HIV/AIDS patients presenting with diarrhea by the level of immunosuppression. Indian J Med Res 130:63–66
MacKenzie WR, Hoxie NJ, Proctor ME, Gradus MS, Blair KA, Peterson DE et al (1994) A massive outbreak in Milwaukee of Cryptosporidium infection transmitted through the public water supply. N Engl J Med 331:161–167
Miesel JL, Perera DR, Meligro C, Rubin CE (1976) Overwhelming watery diarrhoea associated with Cryptosporidium in an immunosuppressed patient. Gastroenterology 70:1156–1160
NACO (2003) Manual of quality assurance practices in HIV testing laboratories. Published by NICD, Directorate General of Health Services, and NACO, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Govt. of India, New Delhi, p 14
NACO Fact sheets (2006) http://www.nacoline.org. Accessed 3 Jun 2008
Nagamani K, Pavuluri PR, Gyaneshwari M, Prasanthi K, Rao MI, Saxena NK (2007) Molecular characterisation of Cryptosporidium: an emerging parasite. Indian J Med Microbiol 25:133–136
Navin TR, Juranek DD (1984) Cryptosporidiosis: clinical, epidemiologic and parasitologic review. Rev Infect Dis 6:313–327
Nime FA, Burek JD, Page DL, Holscher MA, Yardley JH (1976) Acute enterocolitis in a human being infected with the protozoan Cryptosporidium. Gastroenterology 70:592–598
Satheeshkumar S, Avanthan S, Lakshmi P (2004) Intestinal infection in HIV infected patients with diarrhoea in Chennai. Indian J Med Microbiol 20:88–90
Shrikhande SN, Chande CA, Shegokar VR, Powar RM (2009) Pulmonary cryptosporidiosis in HIV negative, immunocompromised host. Indian J Pathol Microbiol 52:267–268
Sitara Swarna Rao A, Premi S, Gagandeep K (2008) Cryptosporidium species in HIV-infected individuals in India: an overview. Natl Med J India 21:178–184
Tumwine JK, Kekitiinwa A, Bakeera-Kitaka S, Ndeezi G, Downing R, Feng X et al (2005) Cryptosporidiosis and microsporidiosis in Ugandan children with persistent diarrhea with and without concurrent infection with the human immunodeficiency virus. Am J Trop Med Hyg 73:921–925
Acknowledgments
The author is thankful to the Institutional Research and Ethical Committee, PIMS, Loni, Maharashtra for permission to conduct the work and the PIMS for providing necessary facilities during the study.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Gupta, A.K. Intestinal coccidian parasitic infections in rural community in and around Loni, Maharashtra. J Parasit Dis 35, 54–56 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12639-011-0030-y
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12639-011-0030-y