Prevalence of Giardiasis and Cryptosporidiosis among children in relation to water sources in Selected Village of Pawi Special District in Benishangul-Gumuz Region, Northwestern Ethiopia

Introduction: Giardia lamblia and Cryptosporidium parvum are implicated in many waterborne disease outbreaks in different parts of the world. Objective: This study was conducted to assess the prevalence of these two parasites among children below 14 years old that drink water from different sources. Methods: Single stool specimens were collected from a total of 384 children in Almu, K2V24, and K2V23/24 villages, Pawi Special District, northwestern Ethiopia, and microscopically examined for Giardia cyst/trophozoites and Cryptosporidium oocysts. For identification of Cryptosporidium parvum the modified Ziehl-Neelsen staining method was used. Giardia lamblia was detected using direct microscopy based on wet mount and formalin-ether concentration techniques. Results: Out of the 384 children examined, 102 (26.6%) and 31 (8.1%) were found positive for G. lamblia and C .parvum infection, respectively. Prevalence of giardiasis in female children was significantly higher than in the males. However, no significant association was observed for infection of cryptosporidiosis between the two sexes. G.lamblia and C. parvum infection prevalence was not significantly different among the different age groups. On the other hand, the prevalence of G. lamblia and C. parvum was associated with the source of drinking water with more cases of giardiasis detected in study participants using water from unprotected water sources than those using the “protected” water. Contrary to this, more cases of cryptosporidiosis were detected in those using “protected” water sources. Conclusion: From the findings of the study one can conclude that providing well protected and treated drinking water should be considered a priority for reducing the existing high prevalence of giardiasis and cryptosporidiosis in the study area.