Intestinal spore-forming protozoa among patients suffering from chronic renal failure

J Egypt Soc Parasitol. 2000 Apr;30(1):93-100.

Abstract

Cryptosporidium parvum, Isospora belli, Cyclospora cayetanensis and Microsporidia are four intestinal spore-forming protozoa that cause diarrhoea in immuno-competent individuals and immuno-suppressed patients. Fresh stool samples were obtained from 120 patients suffering from CRF and attending the Dialysis Unit of Zagazig University Hospital. Also, stool samples were obtained from 40 immuno-competent individuals complaining of diarrhoea (control group). The stool samples were examined by direct smear and formol-ether concentration methods then stained by Giemsa, Modified Ziehl Neelsen (MZN) and Aniline carbol methyl violet stains. The four intestinal spore-forming protozoa were detected in 40/120 (33.3%) of patients with CRF and in 2/40 (5.0%) of the control group with a statistically highly significant difference (P < 0.001). C. parvum, Microsporidia, C. cayetanensis and I. belli were detected in 18/120 (15%), 10/120 (8.3%), 9/120 (7.5%) and 3/120 (2.5%), respectively. The four protozoa were found as mixed infections with other pathogens or as single infections confirming their role alone as a cause of diarrhoea. MZN stain was the most efficient simple, and not expensive.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Animals
  • Coccidia / isolation & purification*
  • Cryptosporidium parvum / isolation & purification
  • Eucoccidiida / isolation & purification
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / complications*
  • Isospora / isolation & purification
  • Kidney Failure, Chronic / complications
  • Kidney Failure, Chronic / parasitology*
  • Male
  • Microsporida / isolation & purification*
  • Middle Aged