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. 2022 Jan 31;16(1):e0010068.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0010068. eCollection 2022 Jan.

Cryptosporidiosis outbreak in Amazonia, French Guiana, 2018

Estelle Menu  1   2   3 , Emilie Mosnier  4   5 , Arnaud Cotrel  6 , Loic Favennec  7   8 , Romy Razakandrainibe  7   8 , Stéphane Valot  9 , Denis Blanchet  1   10 , Frédéric Dalle  9   11 , Damien Costa  7   8 , Mélanie Gaillet  12 , Magalie Demar  1   10 , Franck de Laval  5   6   13
Affiliations

Cryptosporidiosis outbreak in Amazonia, French Guiana, 2018

Estelle Menu et al. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. .

Abstract

Background: Cryptosporidiosis outbreaks in South America are poorly documented. In March 2018, 51 cases of cryptosporidiosis were reported in Maripasoula, a village located in a remote forest area along the border between Surinam and French Guiana.

Method: To identify the origin of the epidemic, we performed epidemiological, microbiological, and environmental investigations. Only the cases involving diarrhoea and Cryptosporidium-positive stool were considered as bona fide, while cases involving diarrhoea and close contact with a confirmed case were classified as "possible".

Results: We identified 16 confirmed cases and 35 possible ones. Confirmed cases comprised nine children (median age of 18 months, range: 6-21), one immunocompromised adult and six soldiers. One child required a hospitalisation for rehydration. All 16 Cryptosporidium stools were PCR positive, and sequencing of the gp60 gene confirmed only one Cryptosporidium hominis subtype IbA10G2. Tap water consumption was the only common risk factor identified. Contamination of the water network with Cryptosporidium parvum subtype IIdA19G2 was found.

Conclusion: Water quality is a major public health issue in Amazonian French Guiana, especially for population at risk (children, people with comorbidity, travelers). For them, alternative water supply or treatment should be implemented.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1. Epidemiological curve showing the distribution of confirmed (C) and possible cases over time (January 1—May 31, 2018).
Fig 2
Fig 2. Map of Maripasoula.
Spatial distribution of cases and the water catchment area. The map was generated in QGIS software (QGIS Development Team (2020). QGIS Geographic information System. Open Source Geospatial Foundation Project. http://qgis.osgeo.org). The data on the map comes from the CDPS database and the military health service.
Fig 3
Fig 3. Incidence of diarrhoeal cases in the Maripasoula health centre in 2018 compared to the two previous years (for 1,000 persons-year).
The number of weeks correspond to the year 2018 i.e. from January 1 to May 13, 2018.
Fig 4
Fig 4. Stool sample after modified Ziehl-Neelsen stain.
Cryptosporidium spp. oocysts are stained fuchsia pink (500x magnification). Isolated or grouped oocysts are indicated by black arrows.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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