A SURVEY OF GIARDIA AND CRYPTOSPORIDIUM SPP. IN RURAL AND URBAN COMMUNITY IN NORTH DELTA, EGYPT

Abstract

Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia duodenalis are 2 protozoan parasites that affect humans and a
wide range of domestic and wild animals. These parasites are a major cause of diarrheal disease
in humans and animals worldwide, causing high morbidity in their hosts, in
immunocompromised hosts and children, they can lead to death. In order to assess the
prevalence of these protozoans among population in the northern part of Delta and the risk of
human infection, 330 people (175 females and 155 males) with or without symptoms who
attended a Health Care Center were parasitologically studied. The purpose of this study was to
assess the frequency of Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia spp. in the northern part of Delta
(Damietta governorate) and the risk of human infection of these protozoa related to personal data,
socio-cultural and environmental characteristics, and the presence of symptoms/signs among a
rural and urban population. Of the surveyed population (330), 3.6% were infected with
Cryptosporidium spp. only or 24.2% with Giardia spp. and 2.4% were infected with both
protozoa. The frequency of infection according to sex; 2,7% of males were infected and 0.9% of
females by Cryptosporidium spp, 12.7% and 11.5% by Giardia spp. and 1.5% and 0.9% by both
parasites, respectively. Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia spp. was frequent in children (under 12
year) than adults in both sexes, however, Cryptosporidum infections were most frequently
diagnosed in children less than 12years old and prevalence decreased with age. The prevalences
of these protozoa in this community are lower than those reported by other studies, which is
probably associated with the low density of the studied population. Statistical analysis revealed
that a male sex, children, loss of weight, impropal waste disposal, diarrhea and abdominal pain
were correlated with the presence of these parasites, which indicate the importance of these
factors in rural communities.
Keywords: Cryptosporidium spp., Giardia spp, epidemiology, rural and urban community, North
Delta, Damietta Governorate.