Prevalence of Cryptosporidium infection in patients from a tertiary care hospital

Aim: The present study aimed to investigate the presence and prevalence of Cryptosporidium infection among the diarrhoea patients and suspects of intestinal parasitic infestation reported in Stanley Medical college Hospital ,Chennai using Modified Acid Fast Staining( cold method). Study period:The study was conducted between July 2014 to the August 2014. Study sample: 150 stool samples received from inpatients and outpatients with history of diarrhoea or suspects of intestinal parasitic infestation were used as study material. Study Method: Stool samples were processed by direct wet mount, iodine mount and modified acid-fast stain (cold method). Results: Modified acid-fast stain (cold method) revealed four cases (history of chronic diarrhoea) positive for Cryptosporidium oocysts which includes two cases of known transplants, one AIDS patient and one known case of Coeliac sprue.