AUTHOR=Bacchetti Ross , Connelly Lisa , Browning Lynda , Alexander Claire L. 

TITLE=Changing Molecular Profiles of Human Cryptosporidiosis Cases in Scotland as a Result of the Coronavirus Disease, COVID-19 Pandemic

JOURNAL=British Journal of Biomedical Science

VOLUME=Volume 80 - 2023

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontierspartnerships.org/journals/british-journal-of-biomedical-science/articles/10.3389/bjbs.2023.11462

DOI=10.3389/bjbs.2023.11462

ISSN=2474-0896

ABSTRACT=Cryptosporidium, the most frequently reported parasite in Scotland, causes gastrointestinal illness resulting in diarrhoea, nausea and cramps. Two species are responsible for most cases: Cryptosporidium hominis (C. hominis) and Cryptosporidium parvum (C. parvum).Transmission occurs faecal-orally, through ingestion of contaminated food and water, or direct contact with faeces. In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic led to global restrictions, including national lockdowns to limit viral transmission. Such interventions led to decreased social mixing, and reduced/no local and international travel, which are factors associated with transmission of multiple communicable diseases, including cryptosporidiosis. This report assessed the impact of the pandemic on Scottish cryptosporidiosis cases, and identified changes in circulating molecular variants of Cryptosporidium species. Molecular data generated using real time PCR and GP60 nested-PCR assays on laboratory-confirmed cryptosporidiosis cases reported during 2018-22 were analysed.