ABSTRACT
A total of 35 Cryptosporidium positive samples were collected from children in Jeddah city. The samples were microscopically examined with Ziehl Neelsen (ZN) and Auramin phenol (AP) staining methods. Cryptosporidium antigen was detected in the faecal samples by using the Cryptosporidium ELISA kit. Cryptosporidium sp. were identified by targeting an 840 bp of the hyper-variable region of the 18S rRNA gene and about 550 of the first domain (N terminal) of the COWP gene. The sub-genotypic identification of C. parvum and C. hominis isolates was done by targeting the sporozoite antigen gp15/45/60 gene. Four sp. were identified; C. hominis 13/35 (37%), C. parvum 15/35 (42.9%), C. meleagridis 1/35(2.9 %), & C. muris 1/35 (2.9 %). One isolate was a mixed infection of C. parvum & C. hominis.
