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Cryptosporidium as a Foodborne Pathogen pp 13–23Cite as

Documented Foodborne Outbreaks of Cryptosporidiosis

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Part of the book series: SpringerBriefs in Food, Health, and Nutrition ((BRIEFSFOOD))

Abstract

Waterborne transmission of Cryptosporidium infection is well known and many outbreaks of waterborne cryptosporidiosis have been extensively documented. In this chapter the focus is on foodborne outbreaks of cryptosporidiosis, of which over 20 are described. The most common vehicles of transmission associated with foodborne outbreaks are salad bar items and salad garnishes, dairy products, particularly unpasteurised milk, and apple cider. Perhaps surprisingly, case–control studies have also indicated that consumption of fresh produce has a protective effect against infection with Cryptosporidium. The species of Cryptosporidium most associated with foodborne outbreaks, contra the species most associated with waterborne outbreaks, is discussed, along with the geographical distribution of these outbreaks and possible contamination pathways for food products, including food handlers.

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  1. Institute for Food Safety & Infection Biology Norwegian School of Veterinary Science, Oslo, Norway

    Lucy J. Robertson

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© 2014 Lucy J. Robertson

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Robertson, L.J. (2014). Documented Foodborne Outbreaks of Cryptosporidiosis. 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_3

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