title: Foot and mouth disease in livestock and reduced cryptosporidiosis in humans, England and Wales.
abstract: During the 2001 epidemic of foot and mouth disease (FMD) in livestock in England and Wales, we discovered a corresponding decrease in laboratory reports of cryptosporidiosis in humans. Using a regression model of laboratory reports of cryptosporidiosis, we found an estimated 35% (95% confidence interval [CI] 20% to 47%) reduction in reports during the weeks spanning the period from the first and last cases of FMD. The largest reduction occurred in northwest England, where the estimated decrease was 63% (95% CI 31% to 80%). Genotyping a subgroup of human isolates suggested that the proportion of Cryptosporidium genotype 2 strain (animal and human) was lower during the weeks of the FMD epidemic in 2001 compared with the same weeks in 2000. Our observations are consistent with livestock making a substantial contribution to Cryptosporidium infection in humans in England and Wales; our findings have implications for agriculture, visitors to rural areas, water companies, and regulators.
authors.affiliation: Public Health Laboratory Service-Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre, London, England.
authors.forename: William J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Smerdon
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nichols
authors.forename: Rachel M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Chalmers
authors.forename: Hilary
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Heine
authors.forename: Mark H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Reacher
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000829:Animals, Domestic; D003457:Cryptosporidiosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003458:Cryptosporidium / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D005536:Foot-and-Mouth Disease / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D012621:Seasons; D014852:Wales / Q000453:epidemiology