RESUMO
A coproprotozoal study was carried out on 63 patients suffering from malignancy. The majority had cancer of the hemopoietic system. All patients were under chemotherapy and classified into two groups: Group A [33 children] and group B [30 adults], of whom 20 immunocompetent diarrheic patients of matched age and sex were considered as controls. Stool samples were examined by merthiolate iodine-formaldehyde concentration technique [MIF]. Modified Zeihl- Neelsen [ZN] stain was performed for Cryptosporidium oocysts. The detection of Cryptosporidium coproantigen by enzyme-linked immunoassay test [Ridascreen test] was used. Immunoglobulins [IgG, IgM, IgE and IgA], C3, C4 and CD4:CD8 ratio were measured. According to their levels, 25 out of 63 patients had both humoral and cellular immunodeficiency. The incidence of Cryptosporidium in cancer patients was 23.8%, while it was 37.7% and 91% in children and adults immunodeficient patients, respectively. ZN stain was able to diagnose Cryptosporidium in 13 out of 35 immunodeficient cases, while ELISA detected only 11 cases. Cryptosporidium infection in immunodeficient cancer patients had significantly more frequent and prolonged duration of diarrhea than in negative ones