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Published on: April 25, 2025
Molecular Analysis of the Enteric Protozoa Associated with Acute Diarrhea in Hospitalized Children
Sonia Boughattas1, Jerzy M Behnke2, Khalid Al-Ansari3
1Department of Biomedical Science, College of Health Sciences, Biomedical Research Center, Qatar UniversityDoha, Qatar.
Insights
Molecular tools detected intestinal protozoa in 22.9% of pediatric patients with chronic diarrhea. Cryptosporidium spp. was the most frequent parasite, particularly among Qatari children during winter.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Molecular Parasitology
Background:
- Pediatric diarrhea remains a significant cause of mortality in children under five globally.
- Understanding the prevalence of intestinal parasites is crucial for effective treatment and prevention strategies in pediatric populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the frequency of intestinal parasitic protozoa in pediatric patients suffering from chronic diarrhea.
- To identify the specific protozoan species and their subtypes, with a focus on Cryptosporidium spp.
- To analyze the prevalence of these infections based on regional groups and seasonality in Qatar.
Main Methods:
- Molecular diagnostic tools were employed to detect parasitic protozoa in stool samples.
- A cohort of 580 pediatric patients with chronic diarrhea was analyzed.
- Subtyping analysis was performed for Cryptosporidium species.
Main Results:
- Overall, 22.9% of pediatric patients tested positive for parasitic protozoa.
- Cryptosporidium spp. was the most prevalent parasite (15.1%), followed by Blastocystis hominis (4.7%), Dientamoeba fragilis (4%), Giardia duodenalis (1.7%), and Entamoeba histolytica (0.17%).
- Infections were more common in Qatari subjects and during the winter season. Cryptosporidium parvum (IIdA20G1 subtype) was predominant.
Conclusions:
- Molecular detection reveals a substantial burden of protozoan infections in children with chronic diarrhea in Qatar.
- The findings highlight Cryptosporidium spp. as a key pathogen, necessitating targeted control measures.
- Further research into local epidemiology and transmission dynamics of Cryptosporidium is essential for effective public health interventions.
Abstract:
Pediatric diarrhea is a common cause of death among children under 5 years of age. In the current study, we investigated the frequency of intestinal parasites among 580 pediatric patients with chronic diarrhea. Parasitic protozoa (all species combined) were detected by molecular tools in 22.9% of the children and the most common parasite was Cryptosporidium spp. (15.1%). Blastocystis hominis was detected in 4.7%, Dientamoeba fragilis in 4%, Giardia duodenalis in 1.7%, and Entamoeba histolytica in 0.17%. Protozoan infections were observed among all regional groups, but prevalence was highest among Qatari subjects and during the winter season. Typing of Cryptosporidium spp. revealed a predominance of Cryptosporidium parvum in 92% of cases with mostly the IIdA20G1 subtype. Subtypes IIdA19G2, IIdA18G2, IIdA18G1, IIdA17G1, IIdA16G1, and IIdA14G1 were also detected. For Cryptosporidium hominis, IbA10G2 and IbA9G3 subtypes were identified. This study provides supplementary information for implementing prevention and control strategies to reduce the burden of these pediatric protozoan infections. Further analyses are required to better understand the local epidemiology and transmission of Cryptosporidium spp. in Qatar.
