Cryptosporidium is a well-known cause of diarrhoea in humans. Little is known about risk factors associated with endemic cryptosporidiosis, which constitutes the majority of cases. We carried out meta-analyses to verify if drinking water is also associated with endemic infection and to assess the magnitude of the associations. The global meta-analysis suggests that there is an increased risk of Cryptosporidium infection among unsafe water users (OR 1.40 [1.15, 1.72]). Studies were stratified, according to the exposure to different sources of safe drinking water, due to the heterogeneity presented. The consumption of non-well and unboiled water was associated with an increased chance of endemic cryptosporidiosis, though only the latter was significant (OR 1.45 [0.95, 2.20]; OR 1.61 [1.09, 2.38]). Drinking non-bottled water did not present a risk factor associated with endemic cryptosporidiosis (OR 0.87 [0.72, 1.05]). These meta-analyses present results that could be useful to clarify the epidemiology of Cryptosporidium. We recommend that other risk factors could also be studied by this approach.
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Research Article|
August 01 2006
Endemic Cryptosporidium infection and drinking water source: a systematic review and meta-analyses
F.A.S. Gualberto;
F.A.S. Gualberto
*Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Brazil
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L. Heller
**Department of Sanitary and Environmental Engineering, School of Engineering, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Av. Contorno, 842 sala 715, Centro, ZIP 30.110-060, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
E-mail: heller@desa.ufmg.br
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Water Sci Technol (2006) 54 (3): 231–238.
Citation
F.A.S. Gualberto, L. Heller; Endemic Cryptosporidium infection and drinking water source: a systematic review and meta-analyses. Water Sci Technol 1 August 2006; 54 (3): 231–238. doi: https://doi.org/10.2166/wst.2006.474
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