Rotavirus and Cryptosporidium pathogens as etiological proxies of gastroenteritis in some pastoral communities of the Amathole District Municipality, Eastern Cape, South Africa

OBJECTIVE: Cryptosporidium and Rotavirus agents have been associated with severe diarrheal illnesses and remain as one of the worst human health burdens in most developing regions. In the present study, we evaluated the incidences of Cryptosporidium and Rotavirus in diarrheal stool specimens of patients in some rural settlements of the Amathole District Municipality in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. Stool specimens from diarrheal children and elderly individuals were collected from clinics and hospitals within the rural communities of the region over a period of 21 months (February 2017-November 2018). Commercial enzyme-immuno-assays were used for the detection of Rotavirus and Cryptosporidium pathogens from processed diarrheal stool specimens. RESULTS: A total of 53 fresh stool samples from diarrheal patients were screened and 36% of the diarrheagenic stool specimens tested positive for Group A Rotavirus antigens, while 5.7% tested positive for Cryptosporidium antigens. Our findings reveal Rotavirus and Cryptosporidium pathogens as important etiological agents associated with diarrheal illnesses in children, among the rural hinterlands of the Amathole District Municipality.