MEDICAL ADVISORY: Heightened Surveillance for Cryptosporidiosis
Issued by: Gayane Hovhannisyan, MD, MPH, PhD, FRCPC, Acting Associate Medical Officer of Health
Surveillance
- Niagara Region Public Health & Emergency Services has received a recent significant increase in laboratory confirmed cases of cryptosporidiosis (crypto)
- Health care providers are recommended to have a heightened awareness of Cryptosporidiosis infection
- Please report all suspect and confirmed cases of cryptosporidium to Niagara Region Public Health & Emergency Services, Infectious Disease program.
Cryptosporidiosis is a disease of Public Health Significance and is to be reported under Ontario Regulation 135/18 under the Health Protection and Promotion Act.
Disease & Symptoms
- Cryptosporidium is a diarrheal disease caused by microscopic parasites
- Symptoms may include watery diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, fever and stomach cramps
- Onset of symptoms begin 1-12 days (average 7 days) after exposure to parasite
- Symptoms usually last 2 weeks, symptoms may come and go for up to 30 days
- Shedding in the stool can
continue for several weeks after symptoms resolve
Testing & Diagnosis
Based on the patient’s clinical presentation, continue to order the appropriate stool specimen collection for:
- Parasitology
- Virus
- Bacteria
- Crypto can be diagnosed by a stool OVA and Parasites (O&P)
- If patients present with crypto compatible symptoms, request testing for stool parasites on the Public Health Ontario
Laboratory General Test Requisition form and specify the request is to test for Cryptosporidiosis
Recommendations & Resources
- Symptomatic child care attendees, child care workers, health care workers or food
handlers should remain at home until 24 hours after diarrhea stops
- When symptomatic, refrain from swimming in recreational water and two weeks after diarrhea stops
- Crypto can persist in chlorinated water
For more detailed information on this disease, refer to the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care Cryptosporidiosis fact sheet.
For further information, please contact Niagara Region Public Health & Emergency Services, Infectious Disease program at
1-888-505-6074 or 905-688-8248 ext. 7330 Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., after hours 905-984-3690.
September 6, 2018