Cryptosporidiosis in Children from the Sultanate of Oman

Abstract

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 afler 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 Giardio lamlia (6.0%) and Entomoeba histolytica/dispar (2.3 %). With the exception of two patients with underlying immunodeficiency disorders, all were immunocompetent. No cases of Cryprosporidium were diagnosed during the hottest months of May and June.