Prevalence and risk factors associated with Cryptosporidium species infections in Bungoma County, Kenya

A prospective study on prevalence of Cryptosporidium and Cryptosporidiosis was carried out in Bungoma County, Kenya. A total of 712 fecal samples from children up to five years of age were collected, from four Hospitals during a 30 month period covering January 2011 to June 2013. Overall prevalence of cryptosporidiosis was 5.06%. Cryptosporidiosis was significantly associated with diarrhea (P = 0.01 OR = 1.301) and abdominal swelling and pain (P = 0.031, OR = 1.56, 95% = 1.04-2.34). Cryptosporidium infections were found to be seasonal with peaks and lows. There was a significant association between water sources for domestic use and Cryptosporidium infections (Mann Whitney test P = 0.0432). Boiling appeared to be the most effective way of water treatment to eliminate Cryptosporidium, as only one case was reported out of the 245 cases (0.04%) who reported boiling drinking water. Although a higher number of those who reported to have had exposure to livestock had Cryptosporidium than the non-exposed (23/36 and 13/36 respectively), this was not statistically significant (P >0.0634). The results suggest that prevalence of cryptosporidiosis is comparable to other regions of the world and transmission is more anthroponotic than Zoonotic. Source and treatment of water for domestic use were significant risk factors, associated with the disease.