Cryptosporidiosis associated with animal contacts (original) (raw)

Summary

Transmission of_Cryptosporidium sp._ within the general public was studied. We were looking for a possible risk of infection associated with animal contacts. Investigation of the animal contacts of affected individuals led to the formulation of the hypothesis that animals are a source of cryptosporidiosis. The research was done in the Region of Ljubljana, an area with 587.000 inhabitants during a period of three years. Stool specimens of 338 persons with acute enteric diseases were positive for_Cryptosporidium sp_. Diagnosis was done with an immunofluorescence test and modified Ziel-Neelsen staining. Processing of statistical data was done with the medical software application EPI INFO 6. According to our questionnaire, direct contact with animals occurred in 49 of the 338 cases of cryptosporidiosis, and was more frequently registered in males (Odds ratio=1.96). Subgenotyping analysis revealed the presence of two subgenotypes of_Cryptosporidium parvum_ bovine (GPB and GPC) in humans.

These data indicate that genetic heterogeneity in_C parvum_ bovine genotype exists in a localized area and that farm animals can be a source of infection.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Parasitic Diseases, Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A.
    Lihua Xiao
  2. Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A.
    Scott Glaberman & Altaf A. Lal
  3. Department of Microbiology, Public Health Institute of Slovenia, Ljubljana, Slovenia
    Toni Oražen
  4. Department of Parasitology, Veterinary Faculty University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
    Aleksandra Rataj-Verglez
  5. Department of Parasitology, Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
    Jernej Logar
  6. Laboratory for Clinical Microbiology, Institute of Public Health of Nova Gorica, Nova Gorica, Slovenia
    Ingrid Berce
  7. Institute of Public Health of Ljubljana, Zaloška 29, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
    Mirjana Stantic-Pavlinic

Authors

  1. Mirjana Stantic-Pavlinic
  2. Lihua Xiao
  3. Scott Glaberman
  4. Altaf A. Lal
  5. Toni Oražen
  6. Aleksandra Rataj-Verglez
  7. Jernej Logar
  8. Ingrid Berce

Corresponding author

Correspondence toMirjana Stantic-Pavlinic.

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Stantic-Pavlinic, M., Xiao, L., Glaberman, S. et al. Cryptosporidiosis associated with animal contacts.Wien Klin Wochenschr 115, 125–127 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03040292

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