Parasitological and bacteriological studies in recurrent diarrhoea in patients with chronic liver diseases

Sixty patients with chronic liver disease complaining of persistent or recurrent diarrhoea where studied. The stools were examined by direct smear, formol ether concentration method and modified Ziehl Neelsen technique for Cryptosporidium in addition to stool cultures for enteric pathogenic bacteria as Salmonella, Shigella and E. coli. Giardia lamblia was the most prevalent pathogen responsible for diarrhoea in 23.3% of cases followed by Entamoeba histolytica in 21.6%, Schistosoma mansoni in 5% and Hymenolepis nana and Ascaris lumbricoides in 1.6%. Concerning bacteria, Salmonella was detected (10%), Shigella (6.7%) and E. coli (13.3%). In conclusion, Cryptosporidium was not a cause of diarrhoea in patients with chronic liver disease.