Cryptosporidium sp. in stool specimens from diarrhoeic and asymptomatic individuals in the Magdeburg area (East Germany).
Unselected stool specimens from a total of 2,944 individuals with diarrhoea including 1,172 children under 14 years of age were investigated for Cryptosporidium oocysts in the Magdeburg area from 1987 to 1988, 43 (1.46%) were found positive. Three of these were additionally infected with bacterial pathogens (Campylobacter species). In all cases the symptoms of diarrhoea ceased spontaneously after an average of 8 days. The incidence was highest among children and infants under 6 years of age (2.50%). No cryptosporidia were found in stool specimens of 570 healthy individuals of all age groups. Cysts of Giardia sp. were detected more frequently in healthy than in diarrhoeic individuals (3.3% and 2.0%, respectively). The postulation to search for cryptosporidia in all cases of diarrhoea lasting longer than two days is inferred from these results.
Schuster
W
W
Hygieneinstitut Magdeburg.
Fischer
R
R
Alsleben
S
S
Schuster
B
B
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003457:Cryptosporidiosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003458:Cryptosporidium / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology*; D005859:Germany, East / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant