Burden of Cryptosporidium Infections in the Yangtze River Delta in China in the 21st Century: A One Health Perspective

Abstract

Cryptosporidiosis is a leading cause of diarrheal disease in some populations, including young children and people with compromised immune systems. The epidemiology of Cryptosporidium, which is transmitted mainly through waterborne routes, has been a serious public health concern. Cryptosporidiosis is closely associated with animals and the shared environment, and is well suited to a One Health approach to prevention and control. In China, Cryptosporidium investigations in humans, various animal species, water bodies and other environments have been widely conducted, including in the Yangtze River Delta, which encompasses Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Anhui. With the increasing integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta, advance preparation and effective monitoring are necessary to prevent outbreaks of neglected tropical diseases, such as cryptosporidiosis, and to contribute to infectious disease prevention and control in the entire region. Moreover, the epidemiological surveillance of infectious diseases is a critical public health measure. This article reviews the burden of Cryptosporidium in the Yangtze River Delta at the human-animal-environment interface, as reported since 2001, and identifies the deficiencies and challenges in epidemiological studies of Cryptosporidium in this region from a One Health perspective, to provide basic information for the formulation of prevention and control strategies.