title: Isolation of Cryptosporidium parvum and Cyclospora cayetanensis from vegetables collected in markets of an endemic region in Peru.
abstract: Cryptosporidium parvum and Cyclospora cayetanensis are protozoan pathogens that cause prolonged diarrhea in both immunocompetent and immunocompromised hosts. Cryptosporidium parvum can be transmitted via the fecal-oral route, while the exact mechanisms of transmission of Cyclospora cayetanensis have not been fully determined. Humans appear to be the sole host for the latter and a distinct seasonality has been observed in endemic areas around the world. Samples of vegetables were collected at several small markets in a periurban slum in Peru during the seasons of high and low incidence. The vegetables were washed, the supernatants were collected and centrifuged, and the pellets were resuspended in a solution of 2.5% potassium dichromate. Pellets were examined using direct microscopic observation, acid-fast staining, and immunofluorescent assays for C. parvum and Cyclospora cayetanensis oocysts. Samples were collected during three time periods: the season of low incidence, the beginning of the season of high incidence, and end of the season of high incidence. Of the total vegetables examined, 14.5% contained C. parvum oocysts and 1.8% had Cyclospora oocysts. Thus, market vegetables may provide a route by which Cryptosporidium and Cyclospora can be transmitted. Our study also suggests that washing vegetables does not completely remove Cryptosporidium and Cyclospora oocysts.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Science and Microbiology, University of Arizona, Tucson 85721, USA.
authors.forename: Y R
authors.initials: YR
authors.lastname: Ortega
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Roxas
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Gilman
authors.forename: N J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cabrera
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Taquiri
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Sterling
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000829:Animals, Domestic / Q000469:parasitology; D003048:Coccidiosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission; D003457:Cryptosporidiosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission; D016785:Cryptosporidium parvum / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D016783:Eucoccidiida / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007313:Insecta / Q000469:parasitology; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D010568:Peru / Q000453:epidemiology; D011204:Poverty Areas; D012621:Seasons; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D014675:Vegetables / Q000469:parasitology*