title: High anti-Cryptosporidium parvum IgG seroprevalence in HIV-infected adults in Limpopo, South Africa.
abstract: A seroepidemiological study was performed to determine the seroprevalence of Cryptosporidium in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected adults and local university students in the Limpopo Province, South Africa. Using a custom anti-C. parvum immunoglobulin G (IgG) enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), the seroprevalence of Cryptosporidium was found to be significantly higher (75.3%; 146 of 193) in HIV-infected individuals compared with student volunteers (32.8%; 19 of 58) (P < 0.001). A more recent diagnosis of HIV was associated with anti-C. parvum IgG seropositivity, as was lower weight among HIV-infected women. This is the first seroepidemiologic study of Cryptosporidium in rural South Africa, and it shows high endemicity among the HIV-infected population. In addition to raising the possibility of significant Cryptosporidium-related morbidities, this finding reveals that in Limpopo and perhaps in other low-income, rural populations, interrupting waterborne pathogen transmission will require strategies effective against environmentally hardy parasites such as Cryptosporidium.
authors.affiliation: Center for Global Health, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA. lab2za@virginia.edu
authors.forename: Luther A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Bartelt
authors.forename: Jesus Emmanuel
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Sevilleja
authors.forename: Leah J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Barrett
authors.forename: Cirle A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Warren
authors.forename: Richard L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Guerrant
authors.forename: Pascal O
authors.initials: PO
authors.lastname: Bessong
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dillingham
authors.forename: Amidou
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Samie
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood; D003457:Cryptosporidiosis / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D016785:Cryptosporidium parvum / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology*; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012424:Rural Population; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D007074:Immunoglobulin G