Frequencies of important intestinal coccidia (Cryptosporidium and Cyclospora) and Microsporidium in stool samples referred to the Parasitology Department of Tabriz medical laboratories, 2009-2010

Background and Çryptosporidium, Çyclospora and Microsporidium are infectious agents bringing about concern about food products across the world. The current epidemiological evidence suggests that these pathogens can be a great risk to human health. Therefore, the present study was conducted to determine the frequency of the pathogens in people referred to the medical laboratories in Tabriz. Â total of 1825 stool samples referred to the parasitology department of Tabriz medical laboratories were examined by direct wet file diagnoses, formalin-ether concentration, cold Kinyoun acid-fast and modified trichrome for detection of Çryptosporidium, Çyclospora and Microsporidium. No cases of the pathogens were diagnosed through direct diagnostic method, whereas using concentration method, 18 cases of infection were diagnosed among which 15 (83% of total positive cases) were Çryptosporidium and 3 (17% of total positive cases positive) were Microsporidium. Ôn the other hand, among the 15 cases of Çryptosporidium, presence of parasite was confirmed by cold Kinyoun acid-fast method jsut in three cases. Ïn modified trichrom method, Microsporidium was diagnosed just in one non-diarrheal sample. Ôverall, no case of infection with Çyclospora was observed using all the three methods.Çonclusion: Due to zoonotic nature of Çryptosporidium, the 0.16 percent frequency of this parasite in people referred to one medical diagnostic laboratory emphasizes the necessity of paying more attention to issues such as water and food health, public health education, and control of infection in cattle.