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Molecular epidemiology and spatial distribution of a waterborne Cryptosporidiosis outbreak in Australia

journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-20, 03:40 authored by Waldron, LS, Ferrari, BC, Cheung-Kwok-Sang, C, Beggs, PJ, Nicola StephensNicola Stephens, Power, ML
Cryptosporidiosis is one of the most common waterborne diseases reported worldwide. Outbreaks of this gastrointestinal disease, which is caused by the Cryptosporidium parasite, are often attributed to public swimming pools and municipal water supplies. Between the months of January and April in 2009, New South Wales, Australia, experienced the largest waterborne cryptosporidiosis outbreak reported in Australia to date. Through the course of the contamination event, 1,141 individuals became infected with Cryptosporidium. Health authorities in New South Wales indicated that public swimming pool use was a contributing factor in the outbreak. To identify the Cryptosporidium species responsible for the outbreak, fecal samples from infected patients were collected from hospitals and pathology companies throughout New South Wales for genetic analyses. Genetic characterization of Cryptosporidium oocysts from the fecal samples identified the anthroponotic Cryptosporidium hominis IbA10G2 subtype as the causative parasite. Equal proportions of infections were found in males and females, and an increased susceptibility was observed in the 0- to 4-year age group. Spatiotemporal analysis indicated that the outbreak was primarily confined to the densely populated coastal cities of Sydney and Newcastle.

History

Publication title

Applied and Environmental Microbiology

Volume

77

Issue

21

Pagination

7766-7771

ISSN

0099-2240

Department/School

Tasmanian School of Medicine

Publisher

Amer Soc Microbiology

Place of publication

1752 N St Nw, Washington, USA, Dc, 20036-2904

Rights statement

Copyright 2011 American Society for Microbiology

Repository Status

  • Restricted

Socio-economic Objectives

Disease distribution and transmission (incl. surveillance and response)

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