The Dja Biosphere Reserve, a lowland rainforest in southern Cameroon, supports extensive biotic communities with a high proportion of endemic fauna and flora. A growing human population afflicted by an economic crisis and a predilection for game meat has augmented pressures on the faunal resources. We conducted a 2‐year study to assess the spatial distribution and intensity of hunting in the western Dja Reserve and the implications for the management of these activities. We mapped the area where the villagers hunt, determined snare densities, and collected biological data on species killed. Surveys using standard line‐transect methodology were conducted on mammalian game species in the various hunting zones across strata of human‐disturbed and less‐disturbed areas. In the three hunting zones of the village of Mekas, snare density decreased as distance from the village increased. Despite a 64% lower snare density, the monthly overall capture rate was four times higher there than in the zone closest to the village. The number of animals that rotted on snares was three times higher in the farthest hunting region from the village. Except for the four common arboreal primates, encounter rates and densities of game species tended to decrease with proximity to human activity and with an increase in snare densities. Duikers (Cephalophus spp.) comprised 63.5% of animals killed. We used Robinson and Redford’s (1991) production model to determine the sustainability of the present harvest rates. Harvest rates of C. monticola, C. dorsalis, and C. callipygus in two of the hunting zones were between one and three times higher than the populations can theoretically sustain. As species are depleted, hunters will journey even further into the forest to hunt. To reduce waste, subsistence hunting should be limited to within 15 km of the village. Ecological studies to determine stochastic and deterministic influences on the duiker populations are required to ensure their conservation within the Dja Reserve.

Background Cryptosporidiosis is a gastrointestinal disease with global distribution. It has been a reportable disease in Canada since 2000; however, routine molecular surveillance is not conducted. Therefore, sources of contamination are unknown. The aim of this project was to identify species and subtypes of Cryptosporidium in clinical cases from Ontario, the largest province in Canada, representing one third of the Canadian population, in order to understand transmission patterns. Methods A total of 169 frozen, banked, unpreserved stool specimens that were microscopy positive for Cryptosporidium over the period 2008–2017 were characterized using molecular tools. A subset of the 169 specimens were replicate samples from individual cases. DNA was extracted directly from the stool and nested PCR followed by Sanger sequencing was conducted targeting the small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU) and glycoprotein 60 (gp60) genes. Results Molecular typing data and limited demographic data were obtained for 129 cases of cryptosporidiosis. Of these cases, 91 (70.5 %) were due to Cryptosporidium parvum and 24 (18.6%) were due to Cryptosporidium hominis. Mixed infections of C. parvum and C. hominis occurred in four (3.1%) cases. Five other species observed were Cryptosporidium ubiquitum (n = 5), Cryptosporidium felis (n = 2), Cryptosporidium meleagridis (n = 1), Cryptosporidium cuniculus (n = 1) and Cryptosporidium muris (n = 1). Subtyping the gp60 gene revealed 5 allelic families and 17 subtypes of C. hominis and 3 allelic families and 17 subtypes of C. parvum. The most frequent subtype of C. hominis was IbA10G2 (22.3%) and of C. parvum was IIaA15G2R1 (62.4%). Conclusions The majority of isolates in this study were C. parvum, supporting the notion that zoonotic transmission is the main route of cryptosporidiosis transmission in Ontario. Nonetheless, the observation of C. hominis in about a quarter of cases suggests that anthroponotic transmission is also an important contributor to cryptosporidiosis pathogenesis in Ontario.

T his study was undertaken to quantify geographic variations in the occurrence of echinococcosis and trichinellosis, two infections that are to a large extent autochtonous (i.e., acquired within the country). Currently, no helminth infection is reportable nationally in Canada. Trichinellosis used to be but was removed from the list in 2000, though it is still notifiable in most provinces and territories. For both diseases, non-specific clinical signs make diagnosis difficult and result in under-reporting. 1,2 Most cases of echinococcosis and trichinellosis are treated without hospitalization but some complications may require hospitalization for investigation or treatment. Echinococcosis is caused by Echinococcus spp. tapeworms (class Cestoda). The definitive hosts of the tapeworms are wild or domesticated canids, and humans acquire infection from contact with contaminated faeces from these species. 3 Natural intermediate hosts range from rodents to cervids, but in Canada echinococcosis is thought to be most commonly caused by the sylvatic variant of Echinococcus granulosus, for which caribou, elk and moose are the main natural intermediate hosts. 4 Infection with E. granulosus eggs results in the development of characteristic hydatid cysts in the liver, lungs or other organs, while infection with eggs of the less common E. multilocularis results in the more invasive 'alveolar echinococcosis' that may spread metastatically through major organs. 5 Treatment is difficult, combining careful surgical removal of cysts and anthelmintic therapy, 6 but is usually successful for infections occurring in Canada. 2 Trichinellosis in Canada is attributable to three Trichinella species of nematodes-T. spiralis, T. pseudospiralis and T. nativa-that can cause two distinct syndromes. Encapsulation of larvae in muscles causes inflammatory responses leading to pain in muscles, eyelids and the face, and in some instances more severe complications such as myocarditis. 5 Reinfection in sensitized individuals causes immune-mediated gastroenteritis, a syndrome referred to as "secondary trichinellosis", which has been observed in the Canadian Arctic in individuals infected by T. nativa. 7,8 The annual number of human cases of trichinellosis reported in Canada between 1970 and 1997 ranged between 3 to 49, with a mean of 18.2. 1 Several outbreaks that occurred in Inuit communities of Nunavik and Nunavut in the 1980s and 1990s were traced to consumption of raw or fermented walrus meat, which are common meals in these communities. 7-10 Domestic swine, the main reservoir of Trichinella worldwide, is no longer a source of infection in Canada where domestic swine is virtually free from this parasite. 11,12

Objectives: To estimate seasonal proportions of patient visits due to acute gastrointestinal illness (GI), assess factors influencing physicians' stool sample requests, their understanding of laboratory testing protocols and adherence to provincial stool request guidelines in three British Columbia (BC) health regions. Methods: During a one-year period, eligible physicians were mailed four self-administered questionnaires used to estimate proportions of patients diagnosed with GI, related stool sample requests in the preceding month, and to assess factors prompting stool sample requests. Results: The response rate overall for the initial comprehensive questionnaire was 18.6%; 7.4% responded to all four questionnaires. An estimated 2.5% of patient visits had a GI diagnosis; of these, 24.8% were asked to submit stool samples. Significant (p<0.05) regional and seasonal variations were found in rates of GI and stool sample requests. Topranked factors prompting stool sample requests were: bloody diarrhoea, recent overseas travel, immunocompromised status, and duration of illness >7 days; "non-patient" factors included: laboratory availability, time to receive laboratory results, and cost. Physicians' perceptions of which organisms were tested for in a 'routine' stool culture varied. Interpretation: BC physicians appear to adhere to existing standardized guidelines for sample requests. This may result in systematic under-representation of certain diseases in reportable communicable disease statistics. MeSH terms: Gastrointestinal diseases; physician practices; gastroenteritis; infectious disease reporting; surveillance La traduction du résumé se trouve à la fin de l'article.

Acute gastrointestinal illness is an important public-health issue worldwide. Burden-of-illness studies have not previously been conducted in Cuba. The objective of the study was to determine the magnitude, distribution, and burden of self-reported acute gastrointestinal illness in Cuba. A retrospective, cross-sectional survey was conducted in three sentinel sites during June-July 2005 (rainy season) and during November 2005-January 2006 (dry season). Households were randomly selected from a list maintained by the medical offices in each site. One individual per household was selected to complete a questionnaire in a face-to-face interview. The case definition was three or more bouts of loose stools in a 24-hour period within the last 30 days. In total, 97.3% of 6,576 interviews were completed. The overall prevalence of acute gastrointestinal illness was 10.6%. The risk of acute gastrointestinal illness was higher during the rainy season (odds ratio [OR]=3.85, 95% confidence interval [CI] 3.18-4.66) in children (OR=3.12, 95% CI 2.24-4.36) and teens (OR=2.27, 95% CI 1.51-3.41) compared to people aged 25-54 years, in males (OR=1.24, 95% CI 1.04-1.47), and in the municipality of Santiago de Cuba (OR=1.33, 95% CI 1.11-1.61). Of 680 cases, 17.1-38.1% visited a physician, depending on sentinel site. Of the cases who visited a physician, 33.3-53.9% were requested to submit a stool sample, and of those, 72.7-100.0% complied. Of the cases who sought medical care, 16.7-61.5% and 0-31.6% were treated with antidiarrhoeals and antibiotics respectively. Acute gastrointestinal illness represented a substantial burden of health compared to developed countries. Targeting the identified risk factors when allocating resources for education, food safety, and infrastructure might lower the morbidity associated with acute gastrointestinal illness.