Epidemiological and diagnostic study of Cryptosporidium parvum and Entamoeba histolytica in type 1 diabetic patients in Kirkuk city

Between February 2023 and January 2024, a study was conducted to investigate the types and prevalence rates of intestinal parasites among children with type 1 diabetes who visited the Children's Hospital and Azadi General Hospital in Kirkuk. A total of 315 stool samples were examined from sick children aged between 1 and 15 years using three diagnostic methods: the direct smear method, the Immunochromatographic (IC) method, and the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) method. The study identified three types of intestinal parasites: Entamoeba histolytica, Cryptosporidium parvum, and Giardia lamblia. According to the IC test, the infection rate for Cryptosporidium parvum was 9.75%, while Entamoeba histolytica recorded an infection rate of 17.9%. Microscopic examination showed an infection rate of 14.54% for E. histolytica, while C. parvum had an infection rate of 5% based on PCR testing. The overall infection rate of intestinal parasites included in the study was 77.77%. No significant differences were observed between male and female infection rates, with 54.28% of infections occurring in males and 45.71% in females. The highest infection rate was recorded in the 10-15 years age group. Additionally, the highest monthly infection rate was observed in January at 18.5%, while the lowest rate was recorded in June at 2.4%.