This study's objective was to search for
Cryptosporidium sp. in diarrheic feces from children
aged zero to 12 years and cared for at medical units within
Universidade Federal de Uberlandia or at a private practice in
Uberlandia, State of Minas Gerais, Brazil, from September
1992 to August 1993. Three fecal samples preserved in 10%
formalin, were collected from 94 children. Oocyst
concentration was performed through Ritchie's (modified)
method and staining of fecal smears for each sample (total of
1128 slides) was done by the "Safranin/Methylene Blue" and the
"Kinyoun (modified)" techniques. The Hoffmann, Pons & Janer
method was also employed to look for other enteroparasites.
From 94 children, 4.26% excreted fecal Cryptosporidium
oocysts. The infection seemed to vary according to age: 5.08%
of patients aged zero to two years old; 33.33% of those aging
eight to ten years (P}0.05). Cryptosporidium appeared
in November, December and March, during the rainy season.
20.21% of the children harbored at least one enteroparasite
different from Cryptosporidium, mainly Giardia intestinalis
(12.77%). From Cryptosporidium infected patients, two had
only this kind, another harbored Giardia intestinalis;
the last one hosted Strongyloides stercoralis.
