Prevalence of Cryptosporidiosis among diarrhea patients attending clinics in Bushenyi district of Uganda

Abstract

Background: Diagnosis of Cryptosporidium species that causes Cryptosporidiosis and associated diarrhea especially among HIV-infected and AIDS patients remains a big challenge for health care providers in this region. Objective: To determine the prevalence of cryptosporidiosis among the hospital attendees in the Bushenyi district of Uganda. Materials and Methods: Standard parasitological methods were used in the identification of parasites including cryptosporidiosis from among the 105 diarrhea patients whose samples were analyzed. Results: We report a 66.7% (70 out of 105) overall parasite prevalence and 16.2% (17 out of 105) prevalence of Cryptosporidium oocysts was found in the patients studied. Fifty-two percent (52.1%) of the patients were HIV positive and the majority of the study population presented with persistent diarrhea (67.4%). High percentages of HIV-positive cases were observed in the 25-34years (44.0%) and the 35- 45 years (28.0%) age groups. Other intestinal parasites found to be causing diarrhea alongside cryptosporidium are hookworm which was observed in 12 (11.4%) patients, Ascaris lumbricoides also in 12 (11.4%) patient, Entamoeba histolytica was found in 11 (10.5%) patients, Giardia lamblia in 5(4.8%) patients, Isospora belli in 5(4.8%), Cyclospora cayetanensis in 4 (3.8%) patients, Strongyloides stercolaris in 2 (1.9%), and Trichuris trichiura was found in 2 (1.9%) patients. Conclusion: Poor hygiene both personal and environmental, poor diagnostic, clinical, prevention, and control skills facilities may have impacted Cryptosporidiosis reported in this study. Opportunistic infections and comorbidities by other parasites were noted in HIV/AIDS among the studied population. Microscopic detection of Cryptosporidium species assists ineffective intervention.