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INTRODUCTION:
Cryptosporidiosis is an enteric disease caused by various species of the genus Cryptosporidium. This parasite is associated with episodes of acute diarrhea, malabsorption, and negative effects on physical and mental development, mainly in children under five years of age. In Panama, little is known about the prevalence of this infection or the species involved. This study describes, for the first time, the circulating species of Cryptosporidium.
METHODS:
A total of 618 stool samples from children under five years old were analyzed in six rural communities. Concentration by sedimentation using formol-acetate of ethyl was employed. An aliquot of the sediment was stained with Kinyoun stain. To identify Cryptosporidium species, the SSUrRNA gene region of the parasite was amplified using the RFLP-PCR technique.
RESULTS:
Microscopic analysis of the 618 stool samples showed a general intestinal parasitic infection prevalence of 83% and 1.94% for Cryptosporidium spp in fecal smears stained with Kinyoun. A nested PCR-RFLP of the Cryptosporidium SSUrRNA gene identified Cryptosporidium hominis as the most common species (62.5%, 5/8). Additionally, the presence of C. meleagridis (25%, 2/8) and C. parvum (12.5%, 1/8) was confirmed. The discovery of Cyclospora cayetanensis in 2.5% of samples from the indigenous community of Emplanada de Chorcha in Panama is of particular concern.
CONCLUSION:
This study describes, for the first time, the circulating species of Cryptosporidium in children under five years old from six rural communities in Panama. Although the prevalence of cryptosporidiosis in children was found to be low, the presence of multiple species of this parasite calls for attention from health authorities to properly implement surveillance, management, and prevention measures in accordance with the epidemiological behavior of each species.
