Related Experiment Videos
Cryptosporidiosis--an educational experience
J Shield1, J H Baumer, J A Dawson
1Department of Child Health, Plymouth General Hospital, U.K.
Insights
A dairy farm visit caused cryptosporidiosis in schoolchildren. Tasting silage and pelleted feed were linked to illness, highlighting the need for farm visit safety guidance.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Infectious Diseases
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Educational farm visits offer learning opportunities but can pose health risks.
- Children are particularly vulnerable to zoonotic infections.
- Dairy farms present unique exposure risks due to animal contact and feed.
Observation:
- A school class outbreak of diarrhoea and vomiting occurred post-dairy farm visit.
- Three children required hospitalization for dehydration.
- Cryptosporidium oocysts were identified in affected children's faeces.
Findings:
- A case-control study linked illness to consuming silage and pelleted cow feed.
- Cryptosporidium infection was confirmed in multiple students.
- The outbreak demonstrated a clear association between farm activities and illness.
Implications:
- Enhanced safety protocols are crucial for educational farm visits.
- Preventing ingestion of animal feed is key to mitigating risk.
- Further research into farm-related paediatric gastroenteritis is warranted.
Abstract:
Eleven children aged 7 to 8 years from one school class developed diarrhoea and vomiting after an educational visit to a dairy farm. Three required hospital admission and intravenous fluid replacement for dehydration. Cryptosporidium oocytes were found in the faeces of these three children and from one classmate when the remainder of the class was tested between 16 and 21 days after the visit. At the farm some children tasted pelleted cow feed, silage and dried milk powder. A case-control study showed a significant correlation between diarrhoea and the tasting of silage and pelleted feed. Guidance on the safe conduct of educational visits to farms is given.