High prevalence and seasonality of cryptosporidiosis in a small rural village occupied predominantly by aged people in the Republic of Korea.
The prevalence of Cryptosporidium parvum infection and its seasonality were studied in a small rural village occupied predominantly by aged people in Hwasun-gun, Chollanam-do, Republic of Korea. Fecal samples were collected monthly from November 1996 to October 1997 and examined for enteric parasites. To detect oocysts of C. parvum, the modified acid-fast stain was applied. To determine effects of climatic factors, local weather reports were collected. The overall oocyst prevalence during 1 year was 57.0% (77 of 135), and was significantly higher (P < 0.0001) in aged people--those aged 50-59 years (80.0%) and those aged 60-69 years (69.0%)--than in younger groups. No significant difference (P > 0.05) was noted between men and boys (53.6%) and women and girls (59.5%), but significant (P < 0.05) household clustering was recognized. People aged > 50 years tended to be more repeatedly positive than people in the younger group. The rate varied monthly from 7.8 to 20.0% (average, 12.6%), with significantly higher (P < 0.05) rates in spring than in summer and winter months. This seasonality had little relation with temperature (r = 0.04), but a weak correlation was found with rainfall (r = 0.4). It is of special interest that cryptosporidiosis is highly endemic among the aged population.
Chai
J Y
JY
Department of Parasitology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Korea. cjy@plaza.snu.ac.kr
Kim
N Y
NY
Guk
S M
SM
Park
Y K
YK
Seo
M
M
Han
E T
ET
Lee
S H
SH
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003457:Cryptosporidiosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007723:Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012621:Seasons