Cryptosporidium parvum and other Intestinal parasites Among Different Groups of Immunocompromized Patients Attented Hospitals, Gaza Strip

Cryptosporidium parvum and other Intestinal parasites Among Different 

Groups of Immunocompromized Patients Attented Hospitals, Gaza Strip

BY

Yasmin S. Elessi                                   

Jomana H. Qwader

Supervisor:

Dr. Adnan AL-Hindi                                     

Dr. Abdelraouf A. Elmanama

1.1 Overview

Cryptosporidium sp. is a pathogen with a worldwide distribution and predicted to be the highest in developing countries especially in children. Diarrhea caused by C.parvum in childhood may be associated with subsequent impaired physical and cognitive development (Guerrant et al., 1999). C. parvum, a protozoan parasite of the phylum Apicomplexa, is an enteric pathogen that causes an acute as well as chronic diarrhea in humans. The human host range is broad and includes people with immunodeficiency, children in developing countries, and outbreaks among immuno‐competent individuals (Huang , 2004). Epidemiological studies have indicated that the main routes of transmission of Cryptosporidium are human–animal contact, person-to-person and waterborne (Meinhart , 1996). Numerous reports provide strong evidence that contaminated water is a high risk factor for cryptosporidiosis. In developing countries cryptosporidiosis represent up to 15% of gastrointestinal diseases among children and seroprevalence rates are generally in the 25% to 35% range and often 2 to 3times higher (Juranek , 2000). Those rates suggest that infection can be more common than surveys of fecal oocysts excretion demonstrate, as oocysts may be shed sporadicall(Ungar , 2000). The prevalence of Cryptosporidium infection in patients who are on chronic hemodialysis due to end-stage renal failure is investigated and compared with the incidence in the healthy population is 20.27%.(Turkcapar et al.,2002). Some studies on cryptosporidiosis have been conducted in countries such as Iraq (Mahdi et al., 1996), Kuwait (Iqbal et al., 2001), South Africa (Samie et al., 2006), Iran (Mirzaei, 2007), and Brazil (Bushen , 2007).

1.2 Objectives:

1.2.1 The General objectives

To study the existence of Cryptosporidium parvum and other intistinal parasites among different groups of immunocompromized patients attending AL-Shifa hospital, Gaza Strip.

1.2.2 Specific objectives

1. To determine the prevalence of Cryptosporidium parvum and other intestinal parasite among Haemodailysis patients and kidney transplant patients attending AL-Shifa hospital in Gaza Strip.

2. To correlate between the infection with Cryptosporidium parvum and different symptoms.

1.3 Significance of study

 No such study have been written out among immunocompromized patients especially in dialysis patients and kidney transplant. This research will clear the situation among those patients.