High anti-Cryptosporidium parvum IgG seroprevalence in HIV-infected adults in Limpopo, South Africa

Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2013 Sep;89(3):531-4. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.12-0550. Epub 2013 Jul 8.

Abstract

A seroepidemiological study was performed to determine the seroprevalence of Cryptosporidium in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected adults and local university students in the Limpopo Province, South Africa. Using a custom anti-C. parvum immunoglobulin G (IgG) enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), the seroprevalence of Cryptosporidium was found to be significantly higher (75.3%; 146 of 193) in HIV-infected individuals compared with student volunteers (32.8%; 19 of 58) (P < 0.001). A more recent diagnosis of HIV was associated with anti-C. parvum IgG seropositivity, as was lower weight among HIV-infected women. This is the first seroepidemiologic study of Cryptosporidium in rural South Africa, and it shows high endemicity among the HIV-infected population. In addition to raising the possibility of significant Cryptosporidium-related morbidities, this finding reveals that in Limpopo and perhaps in other low-income, rural populations, interrupting waterborne pathogen transmission will require strategies effective against environmentally hardy parasites such as Cryptosporidium.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antibodies, Protozoan / blood
  • Cryptosporidiosis / complications
  • Cryptosporidiosis / epidemiology*
  • Cryptosporidiosis / immunology
  • Cryptosporidium parvum / drug effects*
  • Cryptosporidium parvum / isolation & purification
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Female
  • HIV Infections / complications
  • HIV Infections / immunology
  • HIV Infections / parasitology*
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin G / blood*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Rural Population
  • Seroepidemiologic Studies
  • South Africa / epidemiology

Substances

  • Antibodies, Protozoan
  • Immunoglobulin G