Cryptosporidium infection in children with cancer undergoing chemotherapy: how important is the prevention of opportunistic parasitic infections in patients with malignancies?

• Published in: Parasitology research (1987) Vol. 116; no. 9; pp. 2507 - 2515
• Main Authors: Berahmat, Reza, Mahami-Oskouei, Mahmoud, Rezamand, Azim, Spotin, Adel, Aminisani, Nayyereh, Ghoyounchi, Roghayeh, Madadi, Solmaz
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01-09-2017; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Cancer; Chemotherapy; Childhood cancer; Children; Cryptosporidiosis; Domestic animals; Drug therapy; Immunocompromised hosts; Immunology; Infections; Intestinal parasites; Intestine; Malignancy; Medical Microbiology; Microbiology; Neutropenia; Original Paper; Parasites; Phylogenetics; Phylogeny; Physiological aspects; Polymerase chain reaction; Prevention; Statistical analysis; Cryptosporidiosis; Polymerase chain reaction; Chemotherapy; Children; Cancer; Cryptosporidium
• ISSN: 0932-0113; 1432-1955
• DOI: 10.1007/s00436-017-5560-5

Cryptosporidiosis is a relatively uncommon disease in healthy individuals but could be potentially worrisome in immunocompromised patients. This study aimed to evaluate
Cryptosporidium
infection in children with cancer undergoing chemotherapy. A case-control study was conducted in 132 children with cancer undergoing chemotherapy and 132 non-cancer controls. The modified Ziehl-Neelsen (MZN) staining and polymerase chain reaction methods were used for the detection of
Cryptosporidium
parasite. All positive isolates were sequenced for phylogenetic analysis. Statistical analysis was performed using the SPSS version 16 and Fisher exact test. The rate of cryptosporidiosis in children with cancer undergoing chemotherapy was 3.8%, which was higher than that of the control group. Other intestinal parasites detected in patients with cancer included
Giardia lamblia
(3%),
Entamoeba coli
(1.5%), and
Chilomastix mesnili
(0.8%). In the control group, only two (1.5%) cases were positive for
G. lamblia.
No significant difference was observed between the gender, age, residency, contact with domestic animals, stool appearance, neutropenia, chemotherapy period, and type of malignancy with regard to cryptosporidiosis. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that
Cryptosporidium parvum
isolates in this study relied on a branch that represents similar sequences from Iran and other countries. Although the rate of
Cryptosporidium
infection was relatively higher in children with cancer undergoing chemotherapy compared to the control group, any statistically significant difference has not been found between them. These findings should not be contrary to the need for healthcare to prevent opportunistic parasitic infections in malignant and immunocompromised patients.