Background: Diagnosis of cryptosporidiosis is based on the use of the routine microscopic methods, but these methods possess poor sensitivity and also need an expert technician. The aim of the present study was to determine sensitivity and specificity of dot blot method for diagnosis of bovine cryptosporidiosis.Methods: In this study 131 fecal samples were collected from suckling calves during summer 2014. The collected samples were concentrated using formalin ether method. The samples were then examined by modified-Ziehl-Neelsen (mZN) and finally all samples were examined by dot blot methods.Findings: Oocysts of CRYPTOSPORIDIUM spp. were found in 40 (30.5%) out of 131 fecal samples using mZN staining method but 49 (37.4%) of the samples were positive for CRYPTOSPORIDIUM antigen using dot blot method.No significant differences were observed among the results of the two methods and the sensitivity and specificity of dot blot calculated as 87% and 86%, respectively.Conclusion: Based on the results of the present study, dot blot method showed rather equal performance as modified-Ziehl-Neelsen method.

ObjectivesThis study examined the number of cases of CRYPTOSPORIDIUM spp. infection in domestic birds in Diwaniyah Governorate, as well as the consequences of this illness and the methods used to diagnose it. Materials and MethodsIn the study, 205 samples from different bird species were analyzed without gender being taken into account. Some of the methods used for diagnosis were the Acid Fast Stain method and the DNA nested Polymerization Technique (PCR). Nested - PCR proved out to be better than AFS because it could find CRYPTOSPORIDIUM faster, with highest accuracy, and sensitivity. ResultsThe results showed that 90 of the samples had CRYPTOSPORIDIUM infections. Among the bird species that were studied, falseco eleonorae had the lowest incidence of cryptosporidiosis at 16%, while gallus gallus domesticus had the highest incidence at 53.3%. Out of the 60 samples taken for each species, 48.3% of Meleagris gallopova and 41.6% of Anas platyrhynchos were infected. The microscope examination showed a 43.9% infection rate (90 out of 205 samples) when compared to the other method. To use nested-PCR for molecular identification, DNA had to be taken from positive infected samples using Proteinase K method. This produced positive bands that were usually amplified at around 587 bp. The nested-PCR test showed that 47.5% of the samples (19 out of 40) were infected. ConclusionsFinally, this study highlights the critical need for efficient diagnostic tools and intervention plans by demonstrating the very high incidence of CRYPTOSPORIDIUM infection in domestic birds in Diwaniyah Governorate. In order to prevent the spread of Cryptosporidiosis in birds, the results stress the use of nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods for infection diagnosis.

Background: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of CRYPTOSPORIDIUM infection in patients with multiple sclerosis compared to control group in Isfahan city، Iran.Methods: In a case-control study، that was done in Alzahra hospital in Isfahan during 2015-2016، 50 multiple sclerotic and 50 healthy people were selected and the prevalence of CRYPTOSPORIDIUM in the two groups were detected by direct methods and concentration and compared between the two groups.Findings: Only 3 cases out of 100 were positive for CRYPTOSPORIDIUM SPP where one case was from control and 2 cases were from the case group (2 versus 4 percent). But، prevalence of CRYPTOSPORIDIUM in the two groups was not statistically different (P=0.56). Prevalence of this parasite in residence and domestic animal keeping had significant difference. 3 cases of positive were in rural areas and kept domestic animals on their houses (P<0.001).Conclusion: In this study، there was significant difference between this parasite and residence and keeping domestic animal.

Background: CRYPTOSPORIDIUM spp. are protozoan parasites that cause diarrhea in humans and animals. Subtyping data about CRYPTOSPORIDIUM spp. in Isfahan, Iran is limited,therefore, we aimed to study the prevalence rate of CRYPTOSPORIDIUM spp. in cancer patients, associated risk factors, and subtypes of CRYPTOSPORIDIUM spp. Methods: Fecal samples were collected from 187 cancer patients from the Oncology Department of Seyed-al-Shohada Hospital, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences during 2014–, 2020 and screened for CRYPTOSPORIDIUM spp. using microscopical techniques. Nested PCR amplifying 18S rRNA gene was used to detect CRYPTOSPORIDIUM spp. in samples, followed by subtyping using nested PCR amplifying gp60 sequences. Results: Overall, the rate of infection with CRYPTOSPORIDIUM spp. was 4. 3% (n=8). Five samples out of eight samples were identified as CRYPTOSPORIDIUM spp. using a nested PCR for the 18S rRNA gene, two subtypes of C. parvum named IIaA18G3R1 (n = 2) and IIaA17G2R1 (n = 2), and one subtype of C. hominis named IbA6G3 were identified by sequencing of the gp60. The IbA6G3 subtype has rarely been detected in other investigations. Conclusion: This is the first survey on the subtyping of CRYPTOSPORIDIUM spp. in this region. The results of the present survey show both zoonotic and anthroponotic transmission routes in the region.