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Low prevalence of intestinal cryptosporidiosis among immunocompetent and immunocompromised patients with and without diarrhoea in Southern Germany

Niedrige Prävalenz intestinaler Kryptosporidiose bei immunkompetenten und abwehrgeschwächten Patienten mit und ohne Diarrhoe in Süddeutschland

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Summary

1160 stool specimens, from 160 severely immunocompromised patients, from 70 adults and 180 children with acute diarrhoea and from 60 controls without diarrhoea and without evidence of immunocompromising underlying disorders, were examined for Cryptosporidium excretion. Only two children (1.1%) (one with previous contact to a straying cat and to lambs, the other without known risk) had documented intestinal cryptosporidiosis, whereas none of the symptomatic adults, immunocompromised patients or controls were found to be positive for Cryptosporidium fecal excretion. Other potential protozoal enteric pathogens among immunocompromised patients were only found in seven of 25 patients with HIV infection. We conclude that sporadic intestinal cryptosporidiosis in Southern Germany is a rare disease in humans even of younger age, but should be included in the differential diagnosis of diarrhoea in immunocompetent and immunocompromised patients.

Zusammenfassung

1160 Stuhlproben von 160 abwehrgeschwächten Patienten, von 70 Erwachsenen und 180 Kindern mit akuter Diarrhoe und von 60 erwachsenen Kontrollpersonen ohne Diarrhoe und Immundefekt wurden auf Kryptosporidien untersucht. Nur zwei aus der Gruppe symptomatischer Kinder ohne Immundefekt (1,1%) hatten einen positiven Befund (ein Kind mit Kontakt zu einer streunenden Katze und zu Lämmern, das andere ohne bekannte Exposition), dagegen keiner der Erwachsenen mit und ohne Diarrhoe und keiner der abwehrgeschwächten Patienten. Andere, potentiell pathogene Protozoen bei Immundefizienten wurden lediglich bei sieben von 25 HIV-Infizierten nachgewiesen. Wir schließen daraus, daß die Kryptosporidiose im süddeutschen Raum auch bei Kindern eine sehr seltene sporadische Erkrankung ist. Sie sollte jedoch in der Differentialdiagnose der akuten Diarrhoe berücksichtigt werden.

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  1. Sektion Infektionskrankheiten Zentrum Innere Medizin, Universität Ulm, Steinhövelstraße 9, D-7900, Ulm/Donau, Germany

    W. Kern,  S. Mayer,  P. Kreuzer &  E. Vanek

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  1. W. Kern
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  2. S. Mayer
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Kern, W., Mayer, S., Kreuzer, P. et al. Low prevalence of intestinal cryptosporidiosis among immunocompetent and immunocompromised patients with and without diarrhoea in Southern Germany. Infection 15, 440–443 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01647226

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01647226

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