Cryptosporidium spp surveillance and epidemiology in Ireland: a longitudinal cohort study employing duplex real-time PCR based speciation of clinical cases. Issue 11 (14th May 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: O'Leary, Jennifer K; Blake, Liam; Corcoran, Dan; Elwin, Kristin; Chalmers, Rachel; Lucey, Brigid; Sleator, Roy D
• Is Part Of: Journal of clinical pathology. Volume 73:Issue 11(2020)
• Page Start: 758
• Page End: 761
• Publication Date: 2020-05-14
• Subjects: cryptosporidium -- epidemiology -- PCR -- molecular biology -- parasites; Pathology -- Periodicals; Pathology, Molecular -- Periodicals; 616.0705
• DOI: 10.1136/jclinpath-2020-206479
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0021-9746

Abstract

Abstract : Cryptosporidium is a leading cause of gastroenteritis (cryptosporidiosis), with significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. Irish cryptosporidiosis incidence rates are consistently the highest reported in Europe. A retrospective, longitudinal study of clinical Cryptosporidium isolates was conducted from 2015 to 2018 in Cork, southern Ireland. Overall, 86.5% of cases were attributed to C. parvum, while the remaining 13.5% were caused by C. hominis . Despite the widespread implications of this protozoan parasite in sporadic and outbreak-related illness in Ireland, the current dearth of species-level epidemiological surveillance and clinical studies needs to be addressed in order to elucidate the national impact of this enteric pathogen.