Journal of
Parasitology and Vector Biology

  • Abbreviation: J. Parasitol. Vector Biol.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 2141-2510
  • DOI: 10.5897/JPVB
  • Start Year: 2009
  • Published Articles: 202

Full Length Research Paper

Prevalence of Cryptosporidiosis infection among children under 5- years in Cotonou, Benin

Aurore Ogouyèmi-Hounto
  • Aurore Ogouyèmi-Hounto
  • Unité d’Enseignement et de Recherche en Parasitologie –Mycologie/Faculté des Sciences de la Santé/ Université d’Abomey Calavi. Laboratoire de parasitologie du Centre national Hospitalier et Universitaire de Cotonou. 01 BP188 Cotonou, Bénin.
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Florence Alihonou
  • Florence Alihonou
  • Unité de Pédiatrie et de génétique médicale, Faculté des Sciences de la Santé/ Université d’Abomey Calavi. Service de pédiatrie du Centre National Hospitalier et Universitaire de Cotonou. 01BP386 Cotonou, Bénin.
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Immaculée Aholoukpe
  • Immaculée Aholoukpe
  • Laboratoire de parasitologie du Centre national Hospitalier et Universitaire de Cotonou. 01BP386 Cotonou, Bénin.
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Lehila Bagnan
  • Lehila Bagnan
  • Unité d’Enseignement et de Recherche en Parasitologie –Mycologie/Faculté des Sciences de la Santé/ Université d’Abomey Calavi. Laboratoire de parasitologie du Centre national Hospitalier et Universitaire de Cotonou. 01 BP188 Cotonou, Bénin.
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Jeanne Orekan
  • Jeanne Orekan
  • Laboratoire de parasitologie du Centre national Hospitalier et Universitaire de Cotonou. 01BP386 Cotonou, Bénin.
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Blandine Sossa
  • Blandine Sossa
  • service de pédiatrie du Centre National hospitalier et Universitaire de l’hôpital de la mère et de l’Enfant Lagune (CHU-MEL). Cotonou ; 01BP107 Cotonou, Bénin.
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lutecia Zohoun
  • lutecia Zohoun
  • Unité de Pédiatrie et de génétique médicale, Faculté des Sciences de la Santé/ Université d’Abomey Calavi. Service de pédiatrie du Centre National Hospitalier et Universitaire de Cotonou. 01BP386 Cotonou, Bénin.
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Jules Alao
  • Jules Alao
  • Unité de Pédiatrie et de génétique médicale, Faculté des Sciences de la Santé/ Université d’Abomey Calavi. Service de pédiatrie du Centre National Hospitalier et Universitaire de Cotonou. 01BP386 Cotonou, Bénin.
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Dorothée Kinde Gazard
  • Dorothée Kinde Gazard
  • Unité d’Enseignement et de Recherche en Parasitologie –Mycologie/Faculté des Sciences de la Santé/ Université d’Abomey Calavi. Laboratoire de parasitologie du Centre national Hospitalier et Universitaire de Cotonou. 01 BP188 Cotonou, Bénin.
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  •  Received: 17 February 2017
  •  Accepted: 19 April 2017
  •  Published: 30 June 2017

Abstract

Cryptosporidiosis is recognized as one of the leading causes of childhood diarrhea in developing countries, but no data has been published, so far, on the prevalence among children with diarrhea in Benin. The aim of the present study was to assess, for the first time, the prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp. infection in Cotonou, Benin. A prospective study involving children younger than 5 years of age (n = 104) hospitalized or consulted in the paediatric departments of three hospitals between September 2015 and May 2016 was carried out. Cryptosporidium oocysts were detected by means of a smear of sedimented stool stained by the modified Ziehl-Neelsen technique and were found in 5.8% of the studied population. Neither age, non-use of drinking water, nor nutritional status influenced the presence of cryptosporidiosis in the study, but 5 of the 6 children infected were less than two years of age. In conclusion, this first study showed that infection with Cryptosporidium spp. could be a cause of diarrhea in a not insignificant proportion in Cotonou. Studies with larger numbers of patients, conducted for a longer time and in rural areas would be necessary to estimate the real prevalence of cryptosporidiosis and to assess the risk factors.

Key words: Cryptosporidiosis, prevalence, children, Benin.