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Cryptosporidium and Water: A Review
Author(s) -
SMITH H. V.
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
water and environment journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.437
H-Index - 37
eISSN - 1747-6593
pISSN - 1747-6585
DOI - 10.1111/j.1747-6593.1992.tb00773.x
Subject(s) - cryptosporidium , cryptosporidium parvum , outbreak , transmission (telecommunications) , waterborne diseases , limiting , disease , environmental health , protozoan parasite , biology , disease transmission , virology , parasite hosting , medicine , microbiology and biotechnology , feces , pathology , mechanical engineering , electrical engineering , computer science , engineering , world wide web
Infection with the protozoan parasite Cryptosporidium parvum is now recognized to cause acute self‐limiting gastroenteritis in immunocompetent human beings, and in certain groups of immunocompromised individuals symptoms can persist indefinitely. There is no effective specific drug treatment for cryptosporidiosis. Transmission of Cryptosporidium sp. oocysts via the waterborne route has received attention recently because of the outbreaks which have occurred both in the US and the UK, affecting large numbers of people. This paper reviews the disease in humans, the significance of the waterborne route of infection, and identifies gaps in our current knowledge which the National Cryptosporidium Research Programme attempts to address.