Increased Exposure to Cryptosporidia among Dairy Farmers in Wisconsin

Cryptosporidium infection is an important cause of diarrhea in humans and livestock; no effective therapy is known. A self-administered questionnaire and an ELISA were used to assess the risk of exposure to cryptosporidia among 70 dairy farmers and 50 who were not dairy farmers in Wisconsin. Dairy f...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Journal of infectious diseases 1993-05, Vol.167 (5), p.1252-1255
Main Authors: Lengerich, Eugene J., Addiss, David G., Marx, James J., Ungar, Beth L. P., Juranek, Dennis D.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Animals
Biological and medical sciences
Calves
Canisters
Cattle
Coccidiosis
Concise Communications
Cryptosporidiosis
Cryptosporidiosis - epidemiology
Cryptosporidiosis - transmission
Dairy cattle
Dairy farming
Dairying
Diarrhea
Farming systems
Female
Human protozoal diseases
Humans
Infections
Infectious diseases
Male
Medical sciences
Middle Aged
Milking
Parasitic diseases
Protozoal diseases
Questionnaires
Risk Factors
Wisconsin - epidemiology
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Summary:Cryptosporidium infection is an important cause of diarrhea in humans and livestock; no effective therapy is known. A self-administered questionnaire and an ELISA were used to assess the risk of exposure to cryptosporidia among 70 dairy farmers and 50 who were not dairy farmers in Wisconsin. Dairy farmers (44.3%) were more likely to be seropositive for cryptosporidia than were other persons (24.0%; relative risk = 1.9). Among dairy farmers, age ⩾50 and use of a canister method of milking were associated with seropositive status. Among persons who were not dairy farmers, feeding or milking cows was associated with being seropositive. These findings suggest that dairy farmers and other persons who have contact with cattle are at greater risk of Cryptosporidium infection than are persons who do not have such contact. Identification and avoidance of farming practices associated with Cryptosporidium infection may reduce the risk of infection among dairy farmers.
ISSN:0022-1899
1537-6613
DOI:10.1093/infdis/167.5.1252