Oocysts of Cryptosporidium spp. were detected and differentiated by a modul
ar arranged gene amplification procedure in various samples, mostly human s
tool, feces of herpetotaxa, and water, in different locations of South and
Eastern Austria. Cryptosporidium parvum was found in stool samples of immun
ocompromised persons, in reptile feces, and in water samples. The presence
of Cryptosporidium in an area is probably associated with high human popula
tion densities since water from protected sources in sparsely inhabited are
as is rarely contaminated. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserv
ed.