<i>Cryptosporidium</i> and Cryptosporidiosis: The Perspective from the Gulf Countries

The present review discusses the burden of cryptosporidiosis in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), which is underreported and underestimated. It emphasizes that the <i>Cryptosporidium</i> parasite is infecting inhabitants and expatriates in the Gulf countries. Children under 5 years are...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Shahira A. Ahmed, Panagiotis Karanis
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2020-09-01
Series:International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/18/6824
Description
Summary:The present review discusses the burden of cryptosporidiosis in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), which is underreported and underestimated. It emphasizes that the <i>Cryptosporidium</i> parasite is infecting inhabitants and expatriates in the Gulf countries. Children under 5 years are a vulnerable group that is particularly affected by this parasitic disease and can act as carriers, who contribute to the epidemiology of the disease most probably via recreational swimming pools. Various risk factors for cryptosporidiosis in the GCC countries are present, including expatriates, predisposing populations to the infection. Water contamination, imported food, animal contact, and air transmission are also discussed in detail, to address their significant role as a source of infection and, thus, their impact on disease epidemiology in the Gulf countries’ populations.
ISSN:1661-7827
1660-4601