Cryptosporidium is a significant zoonotic parasite causing a self-healing gastroenteritis; with
C. hominis and C. parvum are the main agents of cryptosporidiosis. This study examined stool
samples from diarrheic patient live in rural areas in Fayoum Governorate, to identify causative
species and risky factors associated with zoonosis. Of 152 stool samples were collected from
December 2020 to February 2021 from outpatient clinics in El Fayoum General Hospital.
Screened smeared by MZN stain detected oocysts in 26 samples, and Copro-ELISA assay detected
positive in 32 (21.05%). By nested PCR targeting 18s rRNA gene, 11 samples were amplified.
Cryptosporidium genotyping by REFLP showed predominance of C. parvum genotype
followed by C. hominis. This was supported by highly risky association (P ≤ 0.05, OR =0.186
[0.061-0.562]) found between infected patients and animals contact.