Molecular epidemiological studies of Cryptosporidiosis diarrhea in children of Guangzhou sentinel hospital

Objective The aim of this study was to understand the pathogenic prevalence and molecular epidemiology of Cryptosporidiosis diarrhea in children cases of hospital outpatients in Guangzhou. Methods Children outpatients with acute diarrhea were surveyed and their fecal specimens were collected at a sentinel hospital in Guangzhou from June 2012 to May 2013.Fecal samples were determined for Cryptosporidium by nested PCR. Results A total of 348 objects were investigated, with a positive rate of 3.45%(12 / 348). Children below 3 year old had the highest rate of infection. The prevalence rates showed no differences among gender, age and time groups. Most infections occurred during the cool season of November to December,and the warm season of March to April. Twelve Cryptosporidium isolates were identified, of which 8 were Cryptosporidium hominis, and 4 Cryptosporidium parvum; among them 6 Ia, 2 Ib, 3 IIa, and 1 IId subtype. Conclusion Children diarrhea patients below age 3 of Guangzhou are at risk of Cryptosporidium infection in spring and winter.