his research was conducted to determine the prevalence of Cryptosporidium oocysts among
children with acute gastroenteritis in Zaria, Nigeria by Kinyoun Modified Carbol-Fuchsin Staining
(Modified Ziehl-Neelsen Staining) Technique. The results for the screening of Cryptosporidium
oocysts showed that out of 372 stool samples investigated, 17 samples were positive for the
oocysts. Among 17 positive samples, 8 were among 199 male while 9 were among 173 female
children studied. The statistical association between microscopic detection of oocyst and gender
was not significant (?
2 = 0.297, df = 1, p=0.586). However, there was no statistically significant
association between the prevalence of Cryptosporidium oocyst and the age of children observed (?
2
= 7.268, df = 9, p = 0.609). The results also showed no significant association between the
prevalence of Cryptosporidium oocysts and the house hold animals (?
2 = 1.489, df = 4, p=0.829).
There was also no statistically significant association between the prevalence of Cryptosporidium
oocysts and the source of drinking water (?
2 = 6.367, df = 4, p=0.173). Similarly, there was not
statistically significant association between the prevalence of Cryptosporidium oocysts and the
type of toilet among the study population (?
2 = 1.128, df = 2, p=0.569).