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Respiratory cryptosporidiosis in Malawian children with diarrheal disease

Iroh Tam, Pui-Ying ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3682-8892, Chisala, Mphatso, Nyangulu, Wongani, Thole, Herbert and Nyirenda, James (2021) 'Respiratory cryptosporidiosis in Malawian children with diarrheal disease'. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, Vol 15, Issue 7, e0009643.

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Abstract

BACKGROUND
Respiratory cryptosporidiosis has been documented in children with diarrhea. We sought to describe the dynamics of respiratory involvement in children hospitalized with gastrointestinal (GI) diarrheal disease.

METHODS
We conducted a prospective, observational longitudinal study of Malawian children 2-24 months hospitalized with diarrhea. Nasopharyngeal (NP) swabs, induced sputum and stool specimens were collected. Participants that were positive by Cryptosporidium PCR in any of the three compartments were followed up with fortnightly visits up to 8 weeks post-enrollment.

RESULTS
Of the 162 children recruited, participants had mild-moderate malnutrition (mean HAZ -1.6 (SD 2.1)), 37 (21%) were PCR-positive for Cryptosporidium at enrollment (37 stool, 11 sputum, and 4 NP) and 27 completed the majority of follow-up visits (73%). Cryptosporidium was detected in all compartments over the 4 post-enrollment visits, most commonly in stool (100% at enrollment with mean cycle thresholds (Ct) of 28.8±4.3 to 44% at 8 weeks with Ct 29.9±4.1), followed by sputum (31% at enrollment with mean Ct 31.1±4.4 to 20% at 8 weeks with Ct 35.7±2.6), then NP (11% with mean Ct 33.5±1.0 to 8% with Ct 36.6±0.7). Participants with Cryptosporidium detection in both the respiratory and GI tract over the study period reported respiratory and GI symptoms in 81% and 62% of study visits, respectively, compared to 68% and 27%, respectively, for those with only GI detection, and had longer GI shedding (17.5±6.6 v. 15.9±2.9 days).

CONCLUSION
Cryptosporidium was detected in both respiratory and GI tracts throughout the 8 weeks post-enrollment. The development of therapeutics for Cryptosporidium in children should target the respiratory as well as GI tract.

Item Type: Article
Subjects: WA Public Health > Health Problems of Special Population Groups > WA 395 Health in developing countries
WC Communicable Diseases > Tropical and Parasitic Diseases > WC 730 Coccidiosis
WS Pediatrics > Diseases of Children and Adolescents > By System > WS 280 Respiratory system
WS Pediatrics > Diseases of Children and Adolescents > By System > WS 312 Diarrheal disorders
Faculty: Department: Clinical Sciences & International Health > Clinical Sciences Department
Digital Object Identifer (DOI): https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0009643
Depositing User: Julie Franco
Date Deposited: 12 Aug 2021 10:33
Last Modified: 12 Aug 2021 10:33
URI: https://archive.lstmed.ac.uk/id/eprint/18637

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