Cryptosporidium infection in human diarrhoea patients in west Azerbaijan, Iran

The stool samples from 363 diarrhoeic and non- diarrhoeic children and adults from several locations in two towns of west Azerbaijan area of Iran examined for Cryptosporidium infection by modified Ziehl- Neelsen technique revealed the presence of infection in 7.66% of diarrhoeic patients and in none of the non- diarrhoeic individuals. The percentage of detection was higher among females [11.21%] than males [4.96%]. 10.12 percent of children below five years of age and 4.65% of those between five and 15 years of age were positive, whereas only 2.12% of the adults were positive. The study has brought to light the existence of human Cryptosporidium infection in Iran perhaps for the first time