The Veterinary Record 162:843-845 (2008)
© 2008 British Veterinary Association
Outbreak of cryptosporidiosis among veterinary students
R. Gait, MBChB, MSc, MRCGP, DRCOG, DFFP1,
R. H. Soutar, BVM&S, MSc, MRCVS2,
M. Hanson, MBChB, FRCPath, FRCPEdin3,
C. Fraser1 and
R. Chalmers, BSc, PhD4
1 NHS Lothian, Deaconess House, 148 Pleasance, Edinburgh EH8
9RS
2 Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh,
Summerhall, Edinburgh EH9 1QH
3 Lothian University Hospitals Trust, Western General Hospital, Crewe Road
South, Edinburgh EH4 2XU
4 UK Cryptosporidium Reference Unit, National Public Health Service,
Microbiology Swansea, Singleton Hospital, Swansea SA2 8QA
In January 2007, six veterinary students became infected with
Cryptosporidium species, and records indicated that another student
had been diagnosed in November 2006. It was established that the seven
students had worked with cattle from the same farm. Microbiological tests
indicated that they were infected with Cryptosporidium parvum.
Subtyping by sequence analysis indicated a common source of infection for five
of the students, but there was insufficient material to type the other two
samples. Investigations indicated that the outbreak was caused by a lapse in
hygiene, particularly handwashing, on a farm with enzootic C parvum
in calves.
Copyright © 2008 British Veterinary Association
