Intestinal coccidian parasitic infections in rural community in and around Loni, Maharashtra

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.Keywords Intestinal coccidian parasites Á Cryptosporidium parvum Á Cyclospora cayetanensis Á Infection in humans Numerous GI protozoan parasites causing intra-cellular infections predominantly in intestinal epithelial cells have emerged in recent years, including two important coccidian parasites-Cryptosporidium parvum and Cyclospora cayetanensis. Infection occurs through ingestion of contaminated food and water containing parasites' sporulated oocysts and in humans, the infection with Cry. parvum was first documented in 1976 (Miesel et al. 1976;Nime et al. 1976), whereas with Cyc. cayetanensis in 1977 (Brown and Rotschafer 1999;Satheeshkumar et al. 2004). Both the parasites have been recognized as a cause of GI illness in immuno-competent as well as in immuno-deficient persons that results in diarrhea of varying frequencies (Current et al. 1983). The infection in immuno-competent individuals is self-limited though intermittent intestinal discomfort-ness may be experienced, whereas it can be unrelenting and fatal in immuno-compromised individuals unless treated properly (Current and Gracia 1991;Navin and Juranek 1984). Massive out-breaks caused by the two coccidian parasites have been reported in general population, particularly in persons from the United States (Brown and Rotschafer 1999;MacKenzie et al. 1994). As both the parasites are gaining importance in India also (Barua et al. 2008;Iyer 2006;Shrikhande et al. 2009), the present study therefore was undertaken to find out infections with the two coccidian parasites as a possible cause of GI disturbances in rural community in and around Loni, Maharashtra.Fecal samples from 1,292 persons aged about 1-65 years, attending out-patient department of Pravara Rur...

Repertory of eukaryotes (eukaryome) in the human gastrointestinal tract: taxonomy and detection methods

“…Moreover, the microscopic method for identification of intestinal coccidian include finding the characteristic spherical oocysts in a faecal smear or formol‐ether concentrated faecal samples using acid‐fast stain or auramine‐rhodamine stain . The oocysts of both Cryptosporidium species , Cyclospora and Isospora, are detected in faeces by employing modified Ziehl–Neelsen (ZN) staining and Sheather's sucrose floatation technique . Additionally, weber's chromotrope‐based stain has been used for diagnosing microsporidial infections caused by Enterocytozoon bieneusi in faeces by light microscopy examination .…”

Cryptosporidiosis in HIV-seronegative patients: A case series

“…Few studies have reported frequency of Cryptosporidium spp to be 21% in Chennai and 66% in Maharashtra. 15,16 Prevalence in north India ranges from 36% to 50% in adult diarrhea cases. 10,17 A review of 78 reports has shown that Cryptosporidium spp prevalence varies in developed and developing nations with seropositivity has high as 90% in Brazil and 50% in China to 22% in high income countries.…”

Aspectos epidemiológicos de coccidiosis intestinales en comunidad rural de la Península de Paraguaná, estado Falcón, Venezuela

“…Las infecciones por coccidios intestinales se encuentran ampliamente distribuidas en el mundo, detectándose tasas de prevalencias muy variadas: China (12%) 8 , Nepal (5,6%-14,1%) 9 , Polonia (5,4%) 10 , India (1,13-31,29%) 11,12 , Arabia Saudita (19,23%) 13 , Nigeria (2,2-32,2) 14 , Costa de Marfil (3,9-7,7%) 15 , Etiopía (7,9-20,8%) 16 , Libia (0.9-13%) 17 . Para países de Latinoamérica, se han encontrado cifras de prevalencia variables similares, incluyendo Guatemala (7,14-13,7%) 18 , México (9,,4%) 19,20 , Argentina (1,3%) 21 , Perú (4->40%) 22 .…”