High prevalence and seasonality of cryptosporidiosis in a small rural village occupied predominantly by aged people in the Republic of Korea.

J Y Chai Department of Parasitology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Korea. cjy@plaza.snu.ac.kr

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N Y Kim Department of Parasitology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Korea. cjy@plaza.snu.ac.kr

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S M Guk Department of Parasitology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Korea. cjy@plaza.snu.ac.kr

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Y K Park Department of Parasitology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Korea. cjy@plaza.snu.ac.kr

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M Seo Department of Parasitology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Korea. cjy@plaza.snu.ac.kr

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E T Han Department of Parasitology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Korea. cjy@plaza.snu.ac.kr

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S H Lee Department of Parasitology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Korea. cjy@plaza.snu.ac.kr

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DOI:
https://doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.2001.65.518
Volume/Issue:
Volume 65: Issue 5
Page(s):
518–522
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The prevalence of Cryptosporidium parvum infection and its seasonality were studied in a small rural village occupied predominantly by aged people in Hwasun-gun, Chollanam-do, Republic of Korea. Fecal samples were collected monthly from November 1996 to October 1997 and examined for enteric parasites. To detect oocysts of C. parvum, the modified acid-fast stain was applied. To determine effects of climatic factors, local weather reports were collected. The overall oocyst prevalence during 1 year was 57.0% (77 of 135), and was significantly higher (P < 0.0001) in aged people--those aged 50-59 years (80.0%) and those aged 60-69 years (69.0%)--than in younger groups. No significant difference (P > 0.05) was noted between men and boys (53.6%) and women and girls (59.5%), but significant (P < 0.05) household clustering was recognized. People aged > 50 years tended to be more repeatedly positive than people in the younger group. The rate varied monthly from 7.8 to 20.0% (average, 12.6%), with significantly higher (P < 0.05) rates in spring than in summer and winter months. This seasonality had little relation with temperature (r = 0.04), but a weak correlation was found with rainfall (r = 0.4). It is of special interest that cryptosporidiosis is highly endemic among the aged population.

Published Online:
Nov 2001
Cover The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
Print ISSN:
0002-9637
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