title: An outbreak of cryptosporidiosis associated with an animal nursery at a regional fair.
abstract: Cryptosporidiosis is a common gastrointestinal illness that is transmitted from infected persons, animals, or contaminated water or food. This article reports on an outbreak of cryptosporidiosis associated with an animal nursery at an agricultural show held in northern Tasmania during October 2001. Eighty-one per cent of cases (38/47) notified to the Tasmanian Department of Health and Human Services over a 35 day period were interviewed to determine potential sources of infection. Eighty-one per cent of interviewed cases (29/36) reported that they had attended the agricultural show, and 75 per cent (27/36) reported contact with animals in the animal nursery. Cases occurring more than one incubation period after the agricultural show were significantly more likely to have had contact with someone else with diarrhoea (p<0.01). This is the first reported outbreak of cryptosporidiosis associated with an animal nursery in Australia. The outbreak demonstrates the importance of infection control policies and hygiene measures in the animal nursery setting.
authors.forename: Rosie H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Ashbolt
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Coleman
authors.forename: Avner
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Misrachi
authors.forename: Joe M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Conti
authors.forename: Martyn D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Kirk
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000822:Animal Husbandry; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002656:Child Day Care Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D003457:Cryptosporidiosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D018562:Disease Transmission, Infectious / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011998:Recreation; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013551:Swimming Pools / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013648:Tasmania / Q000453:epidemiology