Prevalence of Cryptosporidium parvumprotozoa in humans and animals in Iasi county, Romania with the establishment of zoonotic risk

Abstract

The study aimed to establish the prevalence of cryptosporidiosis in pets, farm animals and humans in order to establish the zoonotic risk of this infection. The results show that cryptosporidiosis is underdiagnosed, as co-infections are common, and for diagnosis, the Ziehl-Neelsen stained smear technique is required, which is specific only to this protozoan, the symptoms being often attributed to another associated pathogen.The general conclusions show a high prevalence of the protozoan Cryptosporidium sp. in nature, the source of infestation is represented by pets (dogs, cats), farm animals-cattle and humans. For all categories, a common source of contamination is the tap water and food contaminated with cysts. A high risk of transmission of cryptosporidiosis through breast milk has been shown for calves.