Cryptosporidium and Cryptosporidiosis

Knowledge and awareness towards Cryptosporidiosis in Baghdad

“…Results of teaching staff response showed no significant differences (p< 0.05) between the two sub group of teaching staff (Ph.D group and M.Sc. +B.Sc group) as well as no significant differences (p<0.05) were shown in all items of general knowledge part except in item 2"this disease was first discovered in human" between the two sub group of student( Post graduate and under graduate student , the postgraduate students showed high percentage (69.23%) of true response when it compare with low percentage (35.36%) in undergraduate students of true response in item 2 of general knowledge table (3). Undergraduate students in our Biology departments , mostly , studied medical human parasitology as well as they did not always read specific articles about the disease , and they also did not very interested with the historical background of the disease , while the post graduate students may read more specific articles and they had comprehensive exam especially the Ph.D student , reports of cryptosporidiosis during this decade appeared in nearly 40 publications on cattle, sheep, pigs, horses, turkeys, rabbits, monkeys, snakes, and guinea pigs [1].…”

“…Results showed that the mean of scores were (66.54 ± 14.69) of overall questions in all three groups, this consider as moderate response , high mean of scores (72.39 ± 20.26) were seen in the questions deal with general knowledge about the disease which consider as good response , followed by lower mean of scores in both questions deal with mode of transmission and the part of epidemiology + life cycle which were (63.93 ± 18.57) and (63.29 ± 18.69) respectively Figure (1).These results can be explained as following : Most apicomplexans (except the eugregarines) have a complicated life cycle consisting of asexual and sexual stages [1] , Cryptosporidium spp lack of species specificity, allowing cross-transmissibility between multiple hosts [10,11], that is mean there are wide range of hosts and different mode of transmission : zoonotic , anthroponotic , faecal oral , food born , water born and by recreational water as well as some insect my play an important role in transmission [3] . Because prevention is based largely on knowledge of the biology, life cycle, and modes of transmission of Cryptosporidium spp [12], the general knowledge towards the disease is not enough for prevention strategies.…”

“…Results showed that there were significant differences (p<0.05) between all three group in the following items 1,3,4,7,8,9 and 10 , the very high significant difference were observed between the three groups in item 7 and item 10 "which were "some insects play as a mechanical vectors of this pathogen" and "Air born transmission can be occurred" respectively , students and teaching staff member show high percentage of true response in item 7 (3) , this results may due to the high interest of biological student with insects because they studied Entomology in two semesters , while Entomology was not included in physicians semesters in a very wide details when it compared with wide details in biology courses. While the group of physicians showed high significant (p<0.05) percentage of true response in item 10 compared with other two groups, because physicians are in contact with patients as a routine practices.…”

Development and evaluation of a real-time PCR assay for quantification of Giardia and Cryptosporidium in sewage samples

“…Currently, eight Cryptosporidium spp. have been reported in humans: C. hominis, C. parvum, C. meleagridis, C. felis, C. canis, C. muris, C. suis, and Cryptosporidium cervine genotype (Xiao and Cama 2006). Of these species/genotypes found in humans, the probe LNA P702 hybridized with C. hominis, C. parvum and C. meleagridis but did not cross-react with C. felis.…”

Control of the Waterborne Cryptosporidiosis: Evaluation of the Protective Role of Cryptosporidium parvum Oocysts Antigen in Infected Immunocompetent and Immunosuppressed Mice

“…Infections can develop from low doses of Cryptosporidium oocysts; so, it has major public health implications and can persist in the environment for long periods of time. Humans can be infected with Cryptosporidium through direct contact with infected people or animals, ingestion of contaminated food (food borne transmission), and drinking contaminated water (waterborne transmission) (Xiao and Cama 2006).…”