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Campos-Ruiz M, Flamarich C, Fernández-Navarro A, Roura S, Martin L, Pillado P, Cardona PJ, Fernández-Rivas G. Clinical Performance of Lateral Flow Assay for Cryptosporidium spp. Diagnosis. Biomedicines 2023; 11:2140. [PMID: 37626637 PMCID: PMC10452195 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11082140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2023] [Revised: 07/23/2023] [Accepted: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Cryptosporidium spp. is an apicomplexan protozoan parasite associated with gastroenteritis in humans. In 2018, Spain showed 1511 confirmed cases, with a growing trend since 2014. Despite this fact, Cryptosporidium spp. is not usually routinely examined when a parasitological study is ordered, although accurate diagnosis is fundamental to prevent the spread of the illness. The main objectives of the present work is to demonstrate the circulation and to study the epidemiology of cryptosporidiosis in patients who were being tested for the presence of Cryptosporidium spp. parasites in the faeces in the Metropolitan North Area of Barcelona, Maresme, and Vallés Occidental using a two-step algorithm. The stool samples were analysed using the Cryptosporidium/Giardia spp. immunochromatographic test; the positive samples were visualised under a microscope using auramine staining. The proportion of Cryptosporidium spp. cases was around 2% in the studied patients, with a pronounced seasonal incidence peak in late summer-early autumn. In our cohort, weight loss was the main symptom related to confirmed cases. The mean age of confirmed patients was 19 years old, and they were younger than the unconfirmed group. Cryptosporidium spp. is one of the parasites that currently circulate in many areas in Europe. Prevalence must be taken into account for active searching.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miriam Campos-Ruiz
- Microbiology Department, Clinical Laboratory North Metropolitan Area, Germans Trias i Pujol University Hospital, 08916 Badalona, Spain
- Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Autonomous University of Barcelona, 08916 Badalona, Spain
| | - Clara Flamarich
- CAP Sant Roc. Catalan Institut of Health, 08916 Badalona, Spain
| | - Anabel Fernández-Navarro
- Microbiology Department, Clinical Laboratory North Metropolitan Area, Germans Trias i Pujol University Hospital, 08916 Badalona, Spain
- Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Autonomous University of Barcelona, 08916 Badalona, Spain
| | - Silvia Roura
- North Metropolitan International Health Program (PROSICS), 08916 Badalona, Spain
- Infectious Diseases Department, Germans Trias i Pujol University Hospital, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08196 Badalona, Spain
| | - Laura Martin
- CAP Doctor Robert Catalan Institut of Health, 08915 Badalona, Spain
| | - Pablo Pillado
- Microbiology Department, Clinical Laboratory North Metropolitan Area, Germans Trias i Pujol University Hospital, 08916 Badalona, Spain
- Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Autonomous University of Barcelona, 08916 Badalona, Spain
| | - Pere-Joan Cardona
- Microbiology Department, Clinical Laboratory North Metropolitan Area, Germans Trias i Pujol University Hospital, 08916 Badalona, Spain
- Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Autonomous University of Barcelona, 08916 Badalona, Spain
| | - Gema Fernández-Rivas
- Microbiology Department, Clinical Laboratory North Metropolitan Area, Germans Trias i Pujol University Hospital, 08916 Badalona, Spain
- Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Autonomous University of Barcelona, 08916 Badalona, Spain
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