title: Cryptosporidium infection, onsite wastewater systems and private wells in the arid Southwest.
abstract: Few prior studies have examined the potential health risks from transmission of enteric parasites via aquifers contaminated by wastewater from onsite systems. A cross-sectional study of 600 residents in households served with either onsite wastewater systems and private wells or city sewer/water systems in three different sites in central New Mexico compared serological responses to Cryptosporidium, a common waterborne infections agent. Study participants completed a short self-administered questionnaire with questions on demographic characteristics, characteristics of the onsite wastewater system and private well, and common risk factors associated with cryptosporidiosis. A sample of household tap water was collected, as well as a blood sample from each study participant to measure IgG responses to antigen groups for Cryptosporidium. Logistic regression analysis showed a significant association between having an onsite wastewater system and private well and the 27-kDa marker for Cryptosporidium in the River Valley site after adjusting for covariates (OR = 1.98; 95% CI = 1.11-3.55). This study, together with one prior study, suggests that the presence of onsite wastewater systems and private wells might be associated with an increased risk of Cryptosporidium infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family and Community Medicine, 2400 Tucker NE, 1 University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001, USA E-mail: ktollestrup@salud.unm.edu.
authors.forename: Kristine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tollestrup
authors.affiliation: Department of Family and Community Medicine, 2400 Tucker NE, 1 University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001, USA E-mail: ktollestrup@salud.unm.edu; Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute, 2425 Ridgecrest Drive SE, Albuquerque, NM 87108, USA.
authors.forename: Floyd J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Frost
authors.affiliation: LCF Research, 2309 Renard Place SE, Suite 103, Albuquerque, NM 87106, USA.
authors.forename: Twila R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Kunde
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Sciences, University of California, Riverside, 900 University Avenue, Riverside, CA 92521, USA.
authors.forename: Marylynn V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Yates
authors.affiliation: Department of Family and Community Medicine, 2400 Tucker NE, 1 University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001, USA E-mail: ktollestrup@salud.unm.edu.
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jackson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003457:Cryptosporidiosis / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009516:New Mexico / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D062065:Wastewater / Q000469:parasitology*; D014881:Water Supply
chemical_list: D062065:Wastewater