Evalution the association between the infection with Cryptosporidum spp. and some immunological parameters

Abstract

The coccidian infection cryptosporidiosis affects humans, domestic animals, and untamed vertebrates. The primary objective of this research was to assess the prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp. among diverse groups of individuals residing in Al-Anbar Province. These individuals sought medical care across a range of healthcare facilities, this encompasses facilities such as Al-Ramadi Maternity and Children's Hospital, Fallujah Teaching Hospital, IDP camps, well-frequented health centers in Al-Anbar Province, and privately-operated laboratories. The data collection period encompassed the timeframe from March 2022 to February 2023. Additionally, the study aimed to investigate potential correlations between Cryptosporidium spp. infection and various factors, including age, gender, place of residence, and seasonal variations, as well as evalute the immunological parameters as IgM,IgG,IL-4 and IL-18. A total of 420 stool samples and blood serum samples were collected from individuals, including both children and adults, as well as males and females, across Al-Anbar province and private laboratories. Among the individuals tested, 60 were found to be infected with Cryptosporidium spp., resulting in an infection rate of 14.3%. The research included 28 (46.7%) participants who were male and 32 (53.3%) who were female. No statistically significant variances were noted between Cryptosporidium spp. infection and gender. However, when considering age groups, certain groups were found to be more susceptible to infection. Notably, the highest infection rate was observed in the age group of 1 to 14 years, with 21 individuals (15.3%) affected. Regarding residency, 37 patients (15.7%) hailed from rural areas, while 23 (12.5%) came from urban areas. In terms of occupation, children exhibited a higher rate of Cryptosporidium spp. infection compared to individuals in other occupational categories.The study also documented the seasonality of Cryptosporidium spp. infections, with the highest infection rate of 31.80% occurring in April 2022, July 2022, and August 2022, corresponding to the summer season. This seasonal variation was found to be statistically significant. Furthermore, the study employed ELISA testing, which revealed that 22 serum samples (22.9%) tested positive. Specifically, IgM ELISA results showed a 10.40% positivity rate, while IgG results indicated a 12.50% positivity rate for Cryptosporidium spp. These results were obtained using the ELISA method.