Mixed Cryptosporidium Infections and HIV

Mixed Cryptosporidium infections were detected in 7 of 21 patients with a diagnosis of rare Cryptosporidium canis or C. felis infections; 6 patients were infected with 2 Cryptosporidium spp. and 1 patient with 3 species. Mixed infections may occur more frequently than previously believed and should be considered when assessing cryptosporidiosis

Cultivo, cosecha y postcosecha en el sistema productivo cilantro (Coriandrum sativum L.).

Coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.) is an aromatic plant with high culinary demand in Mexico and one of the agricultural products from Puebla that is exported to the United States. This product has been affected by FDA Import Alert 24-23 that prohibits its export, due to the detection of pathogens associated with disease outbreaks among consumers. The objective of this research was to carry out a diagnosis of the production, harvest and post-harvest process (in the packaging units of the producing region) to characterize the stages in the process and to assess capacities that require consolidation to achieve product safety. Through the application of surveys and interviews applied to producers, packers, operators and safety advisors, combined with an analysis of Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT), we carried out characterization of production, harvest and packaging processes. As a complementary activity, key stakeholders were trained in the Fresh Produce Safety course (endorsed by the Produce Safety Alliance) and their participation was evaluated. In conclusion, it appears that the system is disorganized and there are deficiencies concerning safe handling of the product. High productive capacity was observed in a region suffering from a high degree of marginalization, poverty, insecurity and environmental deterioration, suggesting that the problems have multifactorial origins and must be analyzed from a perspective that considers social, economic and environmental aspects.El cilantro (Coriandrum sativum L.) es una planta aromática con alta demanda culinaria en México y uno de los productos agrícolas de Puebla que se exporta a los Estados Unidos. Este producto ha sido afectado por la Alerta de importación 24-23 de la FDA que prohíbe su exportación, debido a la detección de patógenos aso­ciados a brotes de enfermedades en consumidores. El objetivo de esta investigación fue realizar un diagnóstico del proceso de producción, cosecha y postcosecha (en las unidades de empaque de la región productora) para caracterizar las etapas del proceso y conocer las capacidades que deben fortalecerse para lograr la inocuidad del producto. Mediante la aplicación de encuestas y entrevistas aplicadas a productores, empacadores, operadores y asesores de inocuidad, y un análisis de Fortalezas, Oportunidades, Debilidades y Amenazas (FODA), se rea­lizó la caracterización de los procesos de producción, cosecha y empaque. Como actividad complementaria se realizó la capacitación de los actores clave con el curso Inocuidad de Productos Frescos (avalado por la Produce Safety Alliance) y se evaluó su participación. Se concluyó que existe una desarticulación del sistema y carencias en el manejo inocuo del producto. Se observó una alta capacidad productiva en una región con alto grado de marginación, pobreza, inseguridad y deterioro ambiental, que sugiere que los problemas pueden tener un origen multifactorial y deben tratarse desde un análisis que considere las dimensiones social, económica y ambiental

Epidemiologic Differences Between Cyclosporiasis and Cryptosporidiosis in Peruvian Children

We compared the epidemiologic characteristics of cyclosporiasis and cryptosporidiosis in data from a cohort study of diarrhea in a periurban community near Lima, Peru. Children had an average of 0.20 episodes of cyclosporiasis/year and 0.22 episodes of cryptosporidiosis/year of follow-up. The incidence of cryptosporidiosis peaked at 0.42 for 1-year-old children and declined to 0.06 episodes/child-year for 5- to 9-year-old children. In contrast, the incidence of cyclosporiasis was fairly constant among 1- to 9-year-old children (0.21 to 0.28 episodes/child-year). Likelihood of diarrhea decreased significantly with each episode of cyclosporiasis; for cryptosporidiosis, this trend was not statistically significant. Both infections were more frequent during the warm season (December to May) than the cooler season (June to November). Cryptosporidiosis was more frequent in children from houses without a latrine or toilet. Cyclosporiasis was associated with ownership of domestic animals, especially birds, guinea pigs, and rabbits

Cryptosporidium, Enterocytozoon, and Cyclospora Infections in Pediatric and Adult Patients with Diarrhea in Tanzania.

Cryptosporidiosis, microsporidiosis, and cyclosporiasis were studied in four groups of Tanzanian inpatients: adults with AIDS-associated diarrhea, children with chronic diarrhea (of whom 23 of 59 were positive [+] for human immunodeficiency virus [HIV]), children with acute diarrhea (of whom 15 of 55 were HIV+), and HIV control children without diarrhea. Cryptosporidium was identified in specimens from 6/86 adults, 5/59 children with chronic diarrhea (3/5, HIV+), 7/55 children with acute diarrhea (0/7, HIV+), and 0/20 control children. Among children with acute diarrhea, 7/7 with cryptosporidiosis were malnourished, compared with 10/48 without cryptosporidiosis (P < .01). Enterocytozoon was identified in specimens from 3/86 adults, 2/59 children with chronic diarrhea (1 HIV+), 0/55 children with acute diarrhea, and 4/20 control children. All four controls were underweight (P < .01). Cyclospora was identified in specimens from one adult and one child with acute diarrhea (HIV-). Thus, Cryptosporidium was the most frequent and Cyclospora the least frequent pathogen identified. Cryptosporidium and Enterocytozoon were associated with malnutrition. Asymptomatic fecal shedding of Enterocytozoon in otherwise healthy, HIV children has not been described previously

Cryptosporidium Species and Subtypes and Clinical Manifestations in Children, Peru

One-sentence summary for table of contents: Different genotypes and subtypes are linked to different clinical manifestations

Cryptosporidium parvum isolate comparisons and improvements to in vitro cultivation

Cryptosporidium parvum infects numerous species of mammals, including man, and is a frequent cause of diarrhea. It can be life threatening to immunocompromised individuals. The mechanisms responsible for its pathogenesis are not completely understood. Differences between isolates originating from animal and human sources are not completely defined. Six isolates of human or bovine origin from different geographical areas were examined by various protein analysis (immunofluorescence assay, SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, isoelectrofocusing) and nucleic acid (restriction fragment length polymorphism and random amplified polymorphic DNA) methods. Differences were observed between human and bovine isolates when examined by RFLP and by using series of primers in RAPDs but not in their protein profiles. The mechanisms of parasite invasion and replication are not well defined due to the lack of a defined in vitro cultivation system for C. parvum. An in vitro cultivation system for this parasite was developed using the Caco-2 cell line. Optimum infection was obtained using 1x 10⁵ purified sporozoites and maximal yield of intracellular parasites were obtained 45 hrs. PI. This system was used to evaluate the in vitro neutralization of Cryptosporidium infection using hyperimmune chicken egg yolk and hyperimmune bovine colostrum. Also, paromomycin, clarithromycin and 14-OH-clarithromycin were evaluated alone and in combinations using this in vitro system. Paromomycin was more effective, but when combined with clarithromycin and 14-OH-clarithromycin, a synergistic effect in promoting parasite death was observed. The merozoite is a pivotal life cycle stage in the asexual development of C. parvum. The mass production of purified merozoites from infected animals depends largely on the infection dynamics occurring within individual animals. Mass production of merozoites in vitro simplifies the process of purification and permits further studies aimed toward interrupting parasite invasion and proliferation. Various strategies for mass production were tested. The use of a collagen coated Dacron tube allowed the growth of Caco-2 cells on the inner surface area. After confluency, purified sporozoites were allowed to infect the cells. This system proved to be efficient because of its large inner surface area, small amount of media required, permeability, flexibility of the tubing and ease of handling the system