Abstract
Transmission of Cryptosporidium infection occurs when a susceptible host ingests a sufficient quantity of infectious oocysts. Various factors in the biology of Cryptosporidium mean that this parasite is particularly suited to waterborne or foodborne transmission. In this chapter these factors, which include the high oocyst excretion rate, the low infectious dose, the robustness of oocysts and their ability to survive in the environment, the small size of oocysts, and the potential for zoonotic transmission, are discussed in greater detail, with emphasis on how food, particularly fresh produce, may become contaminated with infective Cryptosporidium oocysts and provide a vehicle for transmission. Additionally, the results of a risk-ranking exercise, in which the different foodborne parasitoses were tiered in order of comparative importance, are described, with respect to the relative placing of Cryptosporidium.
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© 2014 Lucy J. Robertson
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Robertson, L.J. (2014). Transmission Routes and Factors That Lend Themselves to Foodborne Transmission. In: Cryptosporidium as a Foodborne Pathogen. SpringerBriefs in Food, Health, and Nutrition. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-9378-5_2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-9378-5_2
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