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Exposures associated with infection with Cryptosporidium in industrialised countries

Thu, 10 May 2018 12:35

Very high magnification micrograph of cryptosporidiosis
(cryptosporidium infection)

Cryptosporidium is a protozoan parasite of humans and other animals worldwide and is one of the greatest contributors to human diarrhoeal illness. Transmission can occur indirectly via contaminated food or water, or directly via contact with animals or other infected people. Risk exposures are often identified from outbreak investigations, but a subset of cases remains unexplained, and sources for sporadic disease and pathways to infection are still unclear.

HPRU GI PhD student Caoimhe McKerr has conducted a systematic review as there are few systematic syntheses of reported evidence in industrialised populations. This review aims to consolidate the evidence for transmission routes and exposures for Cryptosporidium in industrialised countries, with particular reference to how these may apply to the UK.

In addition, the review will seek to describe differences between outbreak and sporadic cases. This will help to identify those most vulnerable, highlighting pathways where interventions and public health response may be appropriate.

For the full article, entitled: 'Exposures associated with infection with Cryptosporidium in industrialised countries: a systematic review protocol', see the May issue of: BMC Systematic Reviews.