**High Frequency of** *Cryptosporidium hominis* **Infecting Infants Points to A Potential Anthroponotic Transmission in Maputo, Mozambique**

**Idalécia Cossa-Moiane 1,2,\*, Hermínio Cossa 3, Adilson Fernando Loforte Bauhofer 1,4, Jorfélia Chilaúle 1, Esperança Lourenço Guimarães 1,4, Diocreciano Matias Bero 1, Marta Cassocera 1,4, Miguel Bambo 1, Elda Anapakala 1, Assucênio Chissaque 1,4, Júlia Sambo 1,4, Jerónimo Souzinho Langa 1, Lena Vânia Manhique-Coutinho 1, Maria Fantinatti 5, Luis António Lopes-Oliveira 5, Alda Maria Da-Cruz 5,6 and Nilsa de Deus 1,7**


**Abstract:** *Cryptosporidium* is one of the most important causes of diarrhea in children less than 2 years of age. In this study, we report the frequency, risk factors and species of *Cryptosporidium* detected by molecular diagnostic methods in children admitted to two public hospitals in Maputo City, Mozambique. We studied 319 patients under the age of five years who were admitted due to diarrhea between April 2015 and February 2016. Single stool samples were examined for the presence of *Cryptosporidium* spp. oocysts, microscopically by using a Modified Ziehl–Neelsen (mZN) staining method and by using Polymerase Chain Reaction and Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) technique using 18S ribosomal RNA gene as a target. Overall, 57.7% (184/319) were males, the median age (Interquartile range, IQR) was 11.0 (7–15) months. *Cryptosporidium* spp. oocysts were detected in 11.0% (35/319) by microscopy and in 35.4% (68/192) using PCR-RFLP. The most affected age group were children older than two years, [adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 5.861; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.532–22.417; *p*-value < 0.05]. Children with illiterate caregivers had higher risk of infection (aOR: 1.688; 95% CI: 1.001–2.845; *p*-value < 0.05). An anthroponotic species *C. hominis* was found in 93.0% (27/29) of samples. Our findings demonstrated that cryptosporidiosis in children with diarrhea might be caused by anthroponomic transmission.

**Keywords:** acute diarrhea; *Cryptosporidium*; children; risk factor; Mozambique
