Gastrointestinal protozoa are one of the global health problems, particularly in the Eastern Mediterranean
Countries. Urgent parasitological diagnosis is indicated to start proper treatment.
The present study evaluated multiplex real-time (RT) PCR and microscopic examination for detection
of some pathogenic protozoa mainly Cryptosporidium parvum, Entamoeba histolytica/
dispar and Giardia lamblia among diarrheic school aged children. The morning stool samples of
100 diarrheic children were examined by stained microscopy smears and multiplex RT-PCR for
gastrointestinal intestinal protozoa.
The results showed that among the positive children 67/100 by microscopy the detected protozoa
were G. lamblia followed by Blastocystis hominis, E. histolytica/dispar, C. parvum and lastly
Cyclospora spp. Using multiplex RT-PCR G. lamblia and C. parvum were detected in 40 and 2
stool samples respectively. Twelve samples of E. histolytica/dispar detected by microscopy were
negative by multiplex real time PCR probably due to the non-pathogenic E. dispar