CONCURRENT INTESTINAL PARASITOSES WITH CRYPTOSPORIDIUM SPECIES AMONG PATIENTS \VITH GASTROINTESTINAL DISORDER IN LAGOS, NIGERIA

Abstract

Cryptosporidium, a protozoan parasite that causes gastrointestinal illness, is transmitted
by ingestion of oocysts excreted in human or animal stools. Cryptosporidiosis presents
with severe diarrhoea inHIVI AIDS patients and self-limiting in immunocompetent individuals.
The parasite is yet to receive sufficient public health attention in Nigeria. This study was
undertaken to investigate association of Cryptosporidiuni oocysts with other intestinal
parasites in patients with gastrointestinal complaints. The collected stool samples were
examined immediately with wet mount using saline solution and 5% lugol iodine. The aliquot
was centrifuged ll1 formal-ether using concentration technique, then stained with Kinyoun's
Carbol-fuchsin. Two hundred and thirty-eight (238) stool samples were collected from
patients with diarrhoea and other gastrointestinal symptoms. Of the 238 participants,
20(8.4%) were HIV-seropositive patients. Cryptosporidium oocyst was identified using
Kinyoun carbol fuscb..in stain. The overall prevalence of Cryptosporidium was (6.3 %). Of
the 218 HIV-seronegative individuals, 4.6% were positive for Cryptosporidiuni and among
the 20 HIV-seropositive patients, 15(75.0%) were positive. Apart from Cryptosporidium;
23.9% ofthe patients were positive for other intestinal parasites such as Ascaris, Fasciola,
Giardia, Trichuris. Entamoeba histolyticaldisparranked highest with (7.14%) positive,
followed by Ascaris (6.3%). The highest infection rate (8%) was recorded in the age
group 11-20 years and there was a statistical significant difference between infected and
uninfected in relation to sex (Chi square =0.731, df= 1, P<0.05). The occurrence of
Cryptosporidium with other intestinal parasites such as Entamoeba liistolytica/dispar
and Giardia underscores the need for the inclusion of Cryptosporidium investigations
when examining patients stool.