Epidemiology and Infection

Table of Contents - 2005 - Volume 133, Issue 05  


Age-specific seroprevalence to an immunodominant Cryptosporidium sporozoite antigen in a Brazilian population

M. J. COX a1c1, K. ELWIN a2, E. MASSAD a3 and R. S. AZEVEDO a3
a1 Biological and Molecular Sciences, School of Science and the Environment, Coventry University, Coventry, UK
a2 Cryptosporidium Reference Unit, Singleton Hospital, Swansea, Wales, UK
a3 Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Sao Paulo and LIM-01 HCFMUSP, Sao Paulo, Brazil

Article author query
cox mj   [PubMed][Google Scholar] 
elwin k   [PubMed][Google Scholar] 
massad e   [PubMed][Google Scholar] 
azevedo rs   [PubMed][Google Scholar] 

Abstract

The seroepidemiology of Cryptosporidium infection was investigated in a representative sample of a normal population in the State of Sao Paulo, Brazil using a recombinant form of the immunodominant 27-kDa sporozoite antigen. IgG seropositivity was low in infants following loss of maternal antibody but quickly increased to ~60% by 5 years, then 80% by the age of 10 years, after which prevalence remained constant. The broad range of antibody concentrations is consistent with previous reports that the IgG response to C. parvum is short-lived. There is also evidence that average antibody concentrations increase with age. Results suggest that the recombinant antigen may be a more sensitive method of measuring seroprevalence than the native antigen in Western blot. Although cross-sectional studies can provide an insight into the epidemiology of C. parvum in normal populations, further studies investigating the dynamics of the humoral immune responses to Cryptosporidium and the use of serology in epidemiological studies are required.

(Published Online April 1 2005)
(Accepted January 26 2005)


Correspondence:
c1 Biological and Molecular Sciences, School of Science and the Environment, Coventry University, Coventry CV1 5FB, UK. (Email: M.Cox@coventry.ac.uk)

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