Acute diarrhoea associated with Cryptosporidium sp in Belém, Brazil (preliminary report)

Abstract

SUMMARYCryptosporidium sp was detected in faeces from three children suffering from acute diarrhoea. In two cases no other concomitant agents were detected and in a 3rd. this agent was associated with Entamoeba histolytic, Entamoeba coli, Endo¬ Jimax nana, Chilomastix mesnili and Pentatricbomonas hominis, KEY WORDS -Cryptosporidium sp -Acute diarrhoea. and Venezuela 11 where it occurs more frequenty during the warmer, rainy and humid months of the year (May-August). It may also cause severe disease in patients whose immunity has been affected 12,17,18 and is a common finding among homosexual patients with AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) W°.In our study, specimens were obtained from 61 children (1-2 years old) who were followed for 9 months, and who belong to a low socioeconomic area of Belém, Brazil. 150 Faecal samples were obtained, 94 from diarrhoeic patients and 56 from non diarrhoeic control patients. The detection of Cryptosporidium was by a modified Ziehl-Neelsen staining5 , as illustrated in Fig. 1A, which allows a presumptive diagnosis. Confirmation was by both Giemsa (Pig. IB) and Auraminerhodamine staining methods. The specimens were also processed for Salmonella, Shigella and Escherichia coli (classic serotypes, enteroinvasive and enterotoxigenic strains), and for rotaviruses, enteroviruses and adenoviruses. Faeces were also examined for intestinal parasites.Cryptosporidium was found in three (3.19%) of the 94 samples. In two cases (specimen numbers 24.168 and 23.997) this was the only pathogen found, while in the 3rd. (number 24.004) it was associated with Entamoeba histolytica, Entamoeba coli, Endolimax nana, Chilomastix mesnili and Pentatricbomonas hominis. All non diarrhoeic control patients were negative for Cryptosporidium.Our findings suggest that Cryptosporidium may be a causative agent of diarroea among children, since no viruses or enteropathogenic bacteria were detected in any of these cases. We would also like to stress that this is the