Cryptosporidiosis in Kuwaiti children: association of clinical characteristics with Cryptosporidium species and subtypes

Abstract

To determine the association of clinical characteristics with Cryptosporidium types and subtypes, faecal specimens from 2548 children with diarrhoea were screened by microscopy for Cryptosporidium spp., and positive specimens were genotyped and subtyped by PCR-RFLP. A total of 87 of the 2548 children (3.4 %) had cryptosporidial diarrhoea by microscopy and the majority (41.4 %) of the infected children were in the 4-8-year-old age group. Molecular characterization of the 83 children studied further (4 had mixed infections and were not subtyped) showed that Cryptosporidium parvum was the most commonly identified species (73.5 %) and consisted of three subtypes: IIa and IId were the most common (80.3 %), followed by IIc. Twentytwo (26.5 %) of the children had Cryptosporidium hominis and showed three subtypes: Id was the most common (54.5 %), followed by Ia (36.4 %) and Ie. Associated clinical manifestations varied between C. parvum and C. hominis. Diarrhoea associated with subtype Id, the most commonly identified C. hominis subtype, was more severe than that associated with other subtypes. In conclusion, this study confirmed a very different Cryptosporidium genotype and subtype distribution compared with other tropical countries among Kuwaiti children with diarrhoea, with a predominance of C. parvum IIa and IId. In addition, subtype Id of C. hominis was associated with more diverse and severe clinical manifestations in infected children, suggesting that parasite genetics may play an important role in the clinical manifestations of human cryptosporidiosis.

Cryptosporidium spp., Giardia duodenalis, Enterocytozoon bieneusi and Other Intestinal Parasites in Young Children in Lobata Province, Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Principe

“…However the C. parvum IIa subtype family usually described as zoonotic was reported previously as being associated to anthroponotic transmission in developing countries [9]. Similarly to the present study, iIqbal et al reported Ia and Ie C. hominis and IIa and IId C. parvum as the more frequent subtype families among children from Kuwait [54].…”

Molecular Characterization of Cryptosporidium spp. Isolated From Immunocompromised Patients and Children

“…In Saudi Arabia, the incidence of C. parvum was 42.9%, followed by 37% of C. hominis , C. meleagridis and C. muris in one sample (29). In Kuwait C. parvum and C. hominis were detected in 73% and 27% of isolates, respectively (30). …”

<em>Cryptosporidium</em> spp. and rotavirus gastroenteritis and change of incidence after rotavirus vaccination among children in Raparin Pediatrics Hospital, Erbil, Iraq

“…4,[11][12][13][14] According to WHO, diarrhea is regarded as the second highest cause of morbidity and mortality among the children in developing countries, 1 for which cryptosporidiosis and rotavirus are the most common parasitic and viral cause for gastroenteritis worldwide. 2 Comparing with studies carried out in other Iraqi provinces, our record was much lower than that reported by 11,12 in children aged less than three years old in Erbil and Sulaimani, respectively.…”