Cryptosporidiosis in an urban community.

Abstract

Over three months Cryptosporidium oocysts were identified in faecal samples from 43 (5%) of 867 patients presenting to their general practitioners with gastrointestinal symptoms. Cryptosporidium was the second most common enteric pathogen identified. Of the 867 patients, 329 were children aged under 5, of whom 24 (7%) excreted Cryptosporidium. A characteristic clinical presentation of infection with Cryptosporidium was recognised-namely, mild gastroenteritis with four to six watery, mucoid, and offensive motions a day, which lasted for one to two weeks. The source of infection was not identified, but direct contact with farm animals was not a feature and no association with a common water supply could be established.

The incidence of cryptosporidiosis: a two-year prospective survey in a children's hospital

“…Our results confirm and extend those obtained in short UK surveys in Bristol and Blackburn (Hunt et al 1984;Wright, Harrison & Byron, 1984), and a one-year survey in Costa Rica (Mata et al 1984). The precise ranking order of the pathogens varies in these surveys, but it is evident that in general cryptosporidiosis is at least as common as infection with most of the accepted enteropathogenic bacteria.…”

“…Our incidence of index cases (14 %) compares with total incidences in the UK of 1 1 % in Blackburn (Wright et al 1984) and 1-6 % in N. Wales (Casemore & Jackson, 1984). Our peak incidence of index cases in March-April (5-8-6-4 %) compares with total incidences of 5 and 7 % in short UK surveys in the Bristol and Northallerton areas (Hunt et al 1984, Wyllie, 1984, and with 7-9 % in Liberia (Hojlyng et al 1984). That we had as high an incidence as others working in rural areas supports the view that cryptosporidiosis may not be principally a large animal zoonosis (Casemore & Jackson, 1984).…”

“…A more recent editorial suggests that diagnostic laboratories should consider it only in relation to zoonoses, diarrhoea in day-care centres, and AIDS, until more information comes to hand (Editorial, 1985). There is good evidence that cryptosporidiosis is clinically important particularly in children and the immunocompromised (Current et al 1983;Hunt et al 1984;Isaacs et al 1985) but detailed information is lacking on the incidence of infection. Geographical, environmental, and seasonal factors might affect the incidence.…”

Cryptosporidium plus campylobacter: an outbreak in a semi-rural population

“…The evidence of person-to-person spread and the lack of evidence of animal contact in many previously reported cases has cast doubt on the origin of such infections (Editorial, 1984; and the importance of the infection as a cause of gastrointestinal infection in an urban community has been described (Hunt et al 1984). Vomiting has been a predominant feature in a number of these cases and the presence of Crypto8poridium in one sample of vomit is of importance.…”

“…Cryptosporidia have been described in a variety of animal species and the infection in humans has therefore been assumed to be a zoonosis, but this can be questioned . Outbreaks in nursery-school populations (Alpert et al 1984;Casemore, unpublished data) and urban outbreaks (Hunt et al 1984) have been described. Adult human-to-human transmission occurs (Blagburn & Current, 1983;Baxby, Hart & Taylor, 1983).…”