Cryptosporidiosis in Bangladesh

Abstract

Despite the large number of enteropathogens identified in recent years the cause of many episodes of diarrhoea remain undetermined. The protozoan Cryptosporidium was first described as a pathogen causing diarrhoea in animals in 1907, and in man in 1976.' We were able to identify the cause for diarrhoea in only two thirds of patients coming to our clinic.' Cryptosporidiosis is an emerging zoonotic disease, and we therefore began screening for cryptosporidial oocysts in stools of patients visiting our clinic as part of a surveillance programme.