ANALYSIS OF RISK FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH TRANSFERS OF CRYPTOSPORIDIUM OOCYSTS IN AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS OF HAITI

Cryptosporidium are protozoan parasites that infect the intestines of many vertebrates, including humans. They cause cryptosporidiosis; one of the main traits of chronic diarrhea in immunocompromised patients infected with HIV and acute diarrhea in young children. In Haiti, the intestinal cryptosporidiosis is caused by at least three species: Cryptosporidium hominis, C. parvum and C. felis wich are responsible for 17% of acute diarrhea in children less than 2 years and 30% of chronic diarrhea in patients infected with HIV. Transmission of Cryptosporidium oocysts is often caused by the ingestion of contaminated food or water. In previous studies, Cryptosporidium oocysts have been detected in surface water and groundwater from three major cities of Haiti: Port-au-Prince, Cap-Haitian and Les Cayes. Significant concentrations from 4 to 1274 oocysts in 100 liters of filtered water were determined in Port-au-Prince; in the city of Cap-Haitian 741 to 6088 and concentrations ranging from 5 to 100 oocysts have been obtained in groundwater from Les Cayes. Results indicate that water resources in Haiti are widely contaminated with Cryptosporidium oocysts. Therefore, they may constitute potential sources of biological risk particularly for human health. Since Cryptosporidium oocysts are biological colloids, it is important to analyze the different risk factors associated with transfers of Cryptosporidium oocysts in aquatic ecosystems of Haiti.