TY - JOUR
T1 - Isolation of Cryptosporidium parvum and Cyclospora cayetanensis from vegetables collected in markets of an endemic region in Peru
AU - Ortega, Ynes R.
AU - Roxas, Concepcion R.
AU - Gilman, Robert H.
AU - Miller, Norma J.
AU - Cabrera, Lilia
AU - Taquiri, Carmen
AU - Sterling, Charles R.
PY - 1997
Y1 - 1997
N2 - Cryptosporidium parvum and Cyclospora cayetanensis are protozoan pathogens that cause prolonged diarrhea in both immunocompetent and immunocompromised hosts. Cryptosporidium parvum can be transmitted via the fecal-oral route, while the exact mechanisms of transmission of Cyclospora cayetanensis have not been fully determined. Humans appear to be the sole host for the latter and a distinct seasonality has been observed in endemic areas around the world. Samples of vegetables were collected at several small markets in a periurban slum in Peru during the seasons of high and low incidence. The vegetables were washed, the supernatants were collected and centrifuged, and the pellets were resuspended in a solution of 2.5% potassium dichromate. Pellets were examined using direct microscopic observation, acid- fast staining, and immunofluorescent assays for C. parvum and Cyclospora cayetanensis oocysts. Samples were collected during three time periods: the season of low incidence, the beginning of the season of high incidence, and end of the season of high incidence. Of the total vegetables examined, 14.5% contained C. parvum oocysts and 1.8% had Cyclospora oocysts. Thus, market vegetables may provide a route by which Cryptosporidium and Cyclospora can be transmitted. Our study also suggests that washing vegetables does not completely remove Cryptosporidium and Cyclospora oocysts.
AB - Cryptosporidium parvum and Cyclospora cayetanensis are protozoan pathogens that cause prolonged diarrhea in both immunocompetent and immunocompromised hosts. Cryptosporidium parvum can be transmitted via the fecal-oral route, while the exact mechanisms of transmission of Cyclospora cayetanensis have not been fully determined. Humans appear to be the sole host for the latter and a distinct seasonality has been observed in endemic areas around the world. Samples of vegetables were collected at several small markets in a periurban slum in Peru during the seasons of high and low incidence. The vegetables were washed, the supernatants were collected and centrifuged, and the pellets were resuspended in a solution of 2.5% potassium dichromate. Pellets were examined using direct microscopic observation, acid- fast staining, and immunofluorescent assays for C. parvum and Cyclospora cayetanensis oocysts. Samples were collected during three time periods: the season of low incidence, the beginning of the season of high incidence, and end of the season of high incidence. Of the total vegetables examined, 14.5% contained C. parvum oocysts and 1.8% had Cyclospora oocysts. Thus, market vegetables may provide a route by which Cryptosporidium and Cyclospora can be transmitted. Our study also suggests that washing vegetables does not completely remove Cryptosporidium and Cyclospora oocysts.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0031461059&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0031461059&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.4269/ajtmh.1997.57.683
DO - 10.4269/ajtmh.1997.57.683
M3 - Article
C2 - 9430527
AN - SCOPUS:0031461059
SN - 0002-9637
VL - 57
SP - 683
EP - 686
JO - American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
JF - American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
IS - 6
ER -