Cryptosporidiosis in Poland: clinical, epidemiologic and parasitologic aspects

Abstract

Stool samples from 692 children hospitalized with symptoms of gastroenteritis, were examined for Cryptosporidium parvum. The oocysts were found in 17 (2.4%) children. There was no association with age, sex or location of household. However, relatively higher rate of oocyst exclusion was found among 2-month- to 3-year-old groups (50%) and among children from villages (43%). Six children from the group of infected were additionally screened for general immunocompetence. Four of these exhibited signs of immunodepletion of IgA isotype in serum. This study has established that cryptosporidiosis occurred rather sporadically among children in the examined groups. Further study was undertaken to provide relevant information whether wild small mammals are a zoonotic reservoir of Cryptosporidium sp. Samples were collected from autumn 1989 until spring 1991 in northern Poland, District Mazury Lake. Twenty percent (66 of 330) of the examined mammals were naturally infected with Cryptosporidium sp.: 55 of 275 Clethrionomys glareolus, 6 of 39 Apodemus flavicollis, and 5 of 16 Sorex araneus were positive. The histological study clearly indicates that the population of C. glareolus was infected with C. parvum. Endogenous stages were found in duodenum near the pylorus. The intensity of infection in those animals was generally low, and relatively small numbers of trophozoites and oocysts were found. This report indicates that C. glareolus and possibly other rodents have the potential to act as reservoirs for C. parvum.