CYCLOSPORA INFECTION IN RENAL TRANSPLANT RECIPIENT

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Department of Medical Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Egypt.

Abstract

Cyclospora cayetanensis (C. cayetanensis) can cause serious diarrheal illness in immunocompromised patients. The present work aimed to detect C. cayetanensis infection among patients with renal transplantation attending the nephrology unit of Kasr Al-Aini, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University. A total of 50 stool samples were collected and subjected to direct microscopy to screen for parasitic stages. A modified acid fast staining technique (Kinyoun’s method) was used to detect C. cayetanensis oocysts. Cyclospora oocysts were revealed in 5 (10%) of the stool samples examined. Other parasites detected among the patients included Cryptosporidium parvum 5 (10%) and Blastocystis 15 (30%). 30% of the patients were suffering from diarrhea and or colic. All C. cayetanensis positive cases were presenting with diarrhea.

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