Many studies have evaluated the role of Cryptosporidium spp. in outbreaks of enteric illness, but few studies have evaluated sporadic cryptosporidiosis in the United States. To assess the risk factors for sporadic cryptosporidiosis among immunocompetent persons, a matched case-control study was conducted in seven sites of the Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network (FoodNet) involving 282 persons with laboratoryidentified cryptosporidiosis and 490 age-matched and geographically matched controls. Risk factors included international travel (odds ratio [OR] ؍ 7.7; 95% confidence interval [95% CI] ؍ 2.7 to 22.0), contact with cattle (OR ؍ 3.5; 95% CI ؍ 1.8 to 6.8), contact with persons >2 to 11 years of age with diarrhea (OR ؍ 3.0; 95% CI ؍ 1.5 to 6.2), and freshwater swimming (OR ؍ 1.9; 95% CI ؍ 1.049 to 3.5). Eating raw vegetables was protective (OR ؍ 0.5; 95% CI ؍ 0.3 to 0.7). This study underscores the need for ongoing public health education to prevent cryptosporidiosis, particularly among travelers, animal handlers, child caregivers, and swimmers, and the need for further assessment of the role of raw vegetables in cryptosporidiosis.
Multiple HSV genes can operate to increase virulence. The UL9, -33, -36/37, and -42 genes have not previously been identified as virulence determinants. The UL41 and US1 genes are known to affect disease, but the changes identified had not been described. Multiple novel mutations were found in the OD4, UL9, UL36, and US1 genes, and we showed that S34 in the US1 gene is essential in ocular disease.
Impediment profiling as a basis for tailored smoking cessation intervention is associated with a high quit rate in this initial study, and it appears promising. Long-term follow-up is warranted, as is replication in a larger cohort with a concurrent control group.
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