Outbreak of cryptosporidiosis among veterinary students

Scand J Infect Dis. 1986;18(2):173-8. doi: 10.3109/00365548609032325.

Abstract

We describe an outbreak of human cryptosporidiosis in 5 veterinary students in contact with experimentally infected calves. All persons experienced symptoms of gastroenteritis, with the main complaint of diarrhoea lasting for 1-13 days. The persons recovered spontaneously; one was hospitalized for 10 days. The diagnosis was based on the demonstration of Cryptosporidium oocysts from stools by the smear method and the formalin-ether concentration method, both combined with the acid-fast staining technique. Both methods gave almost equal results. The role of Cryptosporidium as an occupational risk is discussed.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Animals
  • Cattle
  • Cryptosporidiosis / epidemiology*
  • Disease Outbreaks / epidemiology
  • Female
  • Finland
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Occupational Diseases / epidemiology
  • Students, Medical*
  • Veterinary Medicine*