Epidemiology of anthroponotic and zoonotic human cryptosporidiosis in England and Wales, 2004–2006

Abstract

In order to monitor epidemiological trends, Cryptosporidium-positive samples (n=4509) from diarrhoeic patients were typed. Compared to the previous 4 years, the proportion of Cryptosporidium hominis cases in 2004-2006 increased to 57·3%, while 38·5% were C. parvum. The remaining 4·2% cases included mixed C. parvum and C. hominis infections, C. meleagridis, C. felis, C. ubiquitum and a novel genotype. When the typing results were combined with enhanced surveillance data to monitor risk exposures, C. hominis was linked to urban dwelling, previous diarrhoea in the household, any travel especially abroad, and using a swimming or paddling pool. C. parvum was linked to having a private water supply, contact with surface water, visiting or living on a farm, and contact with farm animal faeces. The proportion of laboratory-confirmed indigenous cases acquired from direct contact with farm animals was estimated to be 25% for C. parvum and 10% of all reported Cryptosporidium cases.

Spatiotemporal Analysis of Cryptosporidium Species/Genotypes and Relationships with Other Zoonotic Pathogens in Surface Water from Mixed-Use Watersheds

“…To assign the human infection risk categories, the available literature was reviewed. The evidence used to develop these risk classes comes primarily from published United Kingdom studies, where genotyping of human stools is routine and centralized for both sporadic and outbreak-related human cases of infection (25,26). While the evidence is not complete, particularly in Canada, the available literature reports reflect our current state of knowledge on this infection.…”

Cryptosporidium Pathogenicity and Virulence

“…Although several Cryptosporidium species have been identified in humans, C. hominis and C. parvum account for more than 90% of human cases of cryptosporidiosis (62)(63)(64). Other species that have less commonly been associated with human disease globally include C. meleagridis, C. cuniculus, C. felis, and C. canis; however, this is setting dependent.…”

Evaluation of Four Commercial Rapid Immunochromatographic Assays for Detection of Cryptosporidium Antigens in Stool Samples: a Blind Multicenter Trial

“…However, considerable progress has been made in the molecular characterization of Cryptosporidium since the development of these tests, resulting in the identification of at least seven human-infecting species (3,18). Cryptosporidium parvum and C. hominis remain the two most frequent species detected with various levels of prevalence in different countries (2,6,7,12,15,17) but with a high (up to 90%) predominance of C. hominis in tropical and developing countries (1,4,5,18). Species other than C. parvum and C. hominis have also emerged as causes of cryptosporidiosis in both immunocompromised and immunocompetent patients (2,4,5).…”