title: Serological responses to Cryptosporidium antigens in inhabitants of Hungary using conventionally filtered surface water and riverbank filtered drinking water.
abstract: In this study the putative protective seroprevalence (PPS) of IgG antibodies to the 27-kDa and 15/17-kDa Cryptosporidium antigens in sera of healthy participants who were and were not exposed to Cryptosporidium oocysts via surface water-derived drinking water was compared. The participants completed a questionnaire regarding risk factors that have been shown to be associated with infection. The PPS was significantly greater (49-61%) in settlements where the drinking water originated from surface water, than in the control city where riverbank filtration was used (21% and 23%). Logistic regression analysis on the risk factors showed an association between bathing/swimming in outdoor pools and antibody responses to the 15/17-kDa antigen complex. Hence the elevated responses were most likely due to the use of contaminated water. Results indicate that waterborne Cryptosporidium infections occur more frequently than reported but may derive from multiple sources.
authors.affiliation: Department of Water Hygiene,National Institute of Environmental Health,Hungary.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Farkas
authors.affiliation: Department of Water Hygiene,National Institute of Environmental Health,Hungary.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Plutzer
authors.affiliation: School of Mathematics and Statistics,University of Canterbury,New Zealand.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Moltchanova
authors.affiliation: Department of Water Hygiene,National Institute of Environmental Health,Hungary.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Török
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Health,National Institute of Environmental Health,Hungary.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Varró
authors.affiliation: Department of Water Hygiene,National Institute of Environmental Health,Hungary.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Domokos
authors.affiliation: Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute/Lovelace Clinic Foundation,USA.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Frost
authors.affiliation: Norwich Medical School,University of East Anglia,UK.
authors.forename: P R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Hunter
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000818:Animals; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan / Q000097:blood*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002648:Child; D003457:Cryptosporidiosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D003458:Cryptosporidium / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D060766:Drinking Water / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006814:Hungary / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D033661:Oocysts; D012307:Risk Factors; D045483:Rivers; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013550:Swimming; D014867:Water / Q000469:parasitology*
chemical_list: D000953:Antigens, Protozoan; D060766:Drinking Water; D014867:Water
keywords: Cryptosporidium; infectious disease epidemiology; water-borne infections