title: Incidence of cryptosporidiosis species in paediatric patients in Malawi.
abstract: We determined the incidence of cryptosporidiosis in children aged <5 years presenting with diarrhoea in an urban and rural hospital-based setting in Malawi. Stools were collected over a 22-month period during both rainy and dry seasons. A range of microscopic methods were used to determine the presence of Cryptosporidium spp. oocysts. Species determination was by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) of oocyst-extracted DNA using 18S rRNA and COWP gene loci. Cryptosporidium spp. oocysts were seen in 5.9% (50/848) of samples, of which 43 amplified by PCR-RFLP indicated the following species: C. hominis, C. parvum, C. hominis/C. parvum, C. meleagridis and C. andersoni. Seven samples could not be amplified by PCR. Wider species diversity was found in the rural setting, and may be a result of increased malnutrition and zoonotic exposure in this area. Improvements in water, sanitation, household hygiene and animal control are required to reduce the incidence of infection in this population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil Engineering, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK. tracythomson@africa-online.net
authors.forename: T D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Morse
authors.forename: R A B
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Nichols
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Grimason
authors.forename: B M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Campbell
authors.forename: K C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Tembo
authors.forename: H V
authors.initials: HV
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003457:Cryptosporidiosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology*; D003458:Cryptosporidium / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000382:microbiology; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008295:Malawi / Q000453:epidemiology; D008853:Microscopy; D010270:Parasite Egg Count; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D012337:RNA, Ribosomal, 18S / Q000235:genetics; D012424:Rural Population; D014505:Urban Population
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D015800:Protozoan Proteins; D012337:RNA, Ribosomal, 18S; C106305:oocyst wall protein, Cryptosporidium