Distribution of Cryptosporidium species and subtypes in water samples in Portugal: a preliminary study

Abstract

Cryptosporidium is a significant cause of diarrhoeal disease in the general population and a major cause for morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised persons. Cryptosporidiosis is a major public health concern and the role of water in disease transmission is now well recognized. The ingestion of oocyst-contaminated drinking water has led to large outbreaks of disease, mostly in North America, the United Kingdom, Japan, and Australia (Fayer, Morgan, and Upton 2000). The most important causative agents of human cryptosporidiosis are C. parvum (found in domestic livestock, wild animals, and humans) and C. hominis (found almost exclusively in humans; Alves et al. 2003; Leoni et al. 2006; Matos et al. 2004; Xiao and Ryan 2004).