Prevalence of Cryptosporidium sp. in patients with neoplasia and diarrhea.

The prevalence of Cryptosporidium sp. was investigated in fecal specimens from 106 patients with neoplasia and diarrhea (74 females, 32 males) by using Ziehl-Neelsen and Giemsa stains. Oocystic forms of Cryptosporidium sp. were found in 18 (17%) of these patients. No oocystic form of Cryptosporidium sp. was detected in the control group of 60 patients with neoplasia (37 females, 23 males) but without diarrhea. The frequent findings of Cryptosporidium sp. in patients with neoplasia and diarrhea who are undergoing chemotherapy indicates that a search for this organism is justified.