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Giardia and Cryptosporidium and public health: the epidemiological scenario from the Italian perspective

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Abstract

Giardia and Cryptosporidium spp. are protozoa that cause human and animal disease worldwide and often exhibit zoonotic transmission. This review gives ample information concerning the epidemiology of these parasites in Italy, i.e. prevalence data in humans, farm and pet animals, shellfish and aquatic environment. Moreover, it reports genotyping results obtained from different isolates, with particular emphasis on the spread of host-specific and zoonotic species/genotypes of various origin, and on molecular data that make the Italian situation different from that of other countries. Finally, possible explanations are given for the infrequent reports of Giardia and Cryptosporidium spp. outbreaks, despite widespread faecal contamination by these parasites.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dipartimento di Scienze delle Produzioni, dell’Ingegneria e della Meccanica e dell’Economia Applicate ai Sistemi Agro-Zootecnici, University of Foggia, 71100, Foggia, Italy

    Annunziata Giangaspero

  2. Dipartimento di Sanità Pubblica e Biologia Cellulare, University of Tor Vergata, 00133, Rome, Italy

    Federica Berrilli

  3. Dipartimento di Clinica Medica, Immunologia e Malattie Infettive, University of Bari, 70124, Bari, Italy

    Olga Brandonisio

Authors
  1. Annunziata Giangaspero
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  2. Federica Berrilli
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  3. Olga Brandonisio
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Olga Brandonisio.

Additional information

This work was supported by a research grant for Research of Relevant National Interest (PRIN 2005–2007) from the Ministry of the University and Research, Italy.

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Giangaspero, A., Berrilli, F. & Brandonisio, O. Giardia and Cryptosporidium and public health: the epidemiological scenario from the Italian perspective. Parasitol Res 101, 1169–1182 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-007-0598-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-007-0598-4

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