Background : Cryptosporidiosis is a zoonotic disease transmitted by the feco-oral route and results from the ingestion of Cryptosporidium spp. oocysts through the consumption of fecally contaminated food or water or through direct person-to-person or animal-to-person contact. Infection by the parasite accounts for up to 6% of all diarrheal diseases in immunocompetent patients, and presents in up to 24% of persons with both AIDS and diarrhea worldwide. In the literature, the prevalence of Cryptosporidium infection in Egypt varied significantly from 0% to 47%
Objective: The aim of the work was to assess the problem of cryptosporidiosis in some centers in Dakahlia Governorate, Egypt.
Subjects and Methodology: A total of 1786 individuals of different ages and both sexes were chosen randomly from May 2012 to August 2014 from rural and urban areas. All cases were subjected to history taking, clinical examination and laboratory investigations. Fecal specimens were examined by direct smear and concentration techniques using both formol-ether concentration and sheater's flotation methods. Microscopic examination of modified Ziehl-Neelsen, and aurmaine stained stool smears were also done as well as detection of coproantigens using ELISA technique .
Results: Out of 1786 collected stool  samples from four  centers, i.e. Mansoura, Talkha, Belqas and Aga, only 97(5.43%),109(6.1%) and 178(9.96%) were positive according to Ziehl-Neelsen, Auramine and  Coproantigen techniques. The highest prevalence of infection was recorded in Talkha center and Coproantigen was the most sensitive technique. Rural areas showed non  significant higher prevalence of Cryptosporidiosis, while females showed relatively significant higher infection when using auramine stain. The infection was non significantly higher among the age group less than 5 years.  Mixed infections were found in 43 cases ( 39.45% ) and distributed as 22 cases (20.18%) having one parasite, 11 cases (10.09%) having two parasites while those infected with more than two parnsites were 10 cases (9.17%). Asymptomatic cases represented 15 cases (22.73%), while symptomatic cases were 51 cases (77.27% ) and disributed as having abdominal pain (43 cases-5.15%),  jaundice (8 cases-12.12% ), abdominal distesion (39 cases -59.09% ), diarrhea (42 cases-63.43 % ), tender abdomen (44 cases-86.27% ), hepatomegaly (13 cases- 25.49 % ), dehydration (1 cases- 41.18 % ) and with ascites ( 5 cases-11.36% ) .
Conclusion: The high prevelance of Cryptosporidium infection in the studied areas must be taken in mind of laboratory personell and as a routine examination of all diarrhiec samples.