Cryptosporidiosis in children from the Sultanate of Oman

Over a one year period, 807 faecal samples from children [0-12 years] were submitted for routine microbiological examination and screening for Cryptosporidium oocysts. A Phenol-auramine stain was used and putative oocysts were measured after confirmatory staining with the modified Ziehl Neelsen method. Cryptosporidium were identified in 16 [1.9%] of the samples, and was the third most common enteropathogen after Giardia Iamblia [6.0%] and Entamoeba histolytica/dispar [2.3%]. With the exception of two patients with underlying immunodeficiency disorders, all were immunocompetent. No cases of Cryptosporidium were diagnosed during the hottest months of May and June