Skip directly to site content Skip directly to page options Skip directly to A-Z link Skip directly to A-Z link Skip directly to A-Z link
Volume 14, Number 6—June 2008
Dispatch

Prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia intestinalis in Swimming Pools, Atlanta, Georgia

Joan M. Shields*†Comments to Author , Elizabeth R. Gleim*, and Michael J. Beach*
Author affiliations: *Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA; †CDC Foundation, Atlanta, Georgia, USA;

Main Article

Table

Pathogen distribution in 13 Cryptosporidium- and 
Giardia-positive swimming pools (n = 13)

Characteristic % (n/N) Type of parasite*
Age of swimmers†
Children 10.7 (3/28) 2 G, CG
Adults 2.3 (1/43) G
Mixed 10.1 (9/89) 7 G, C, Ch
Total
8.1 (13/160)

Pool type‡
Community 15.6 (10/64) 7 G, CG, C, Ch
School 4.8 (1/20) G
Health club 0 (0/25)
Apartment 3.9 (2/51) 2 G
Total
8.1 (13/160)

Pool size (x1,000 gallons)
<5 22.2 (4/18) 3 G, CG
6–50 9.3 (5/54) 4 G, Ch
51–100 0 (0/40)
101–200 11.4 (4/35) 3 G, C
>200 0 (0/13)
Total
8.1 (13/160)

No. swimmers/bathers per week
1–75 14.7% (10/68) 7 G, CG, C, Ch
76–200 7.4% (2/27) 2 G
201–500 2.9% (1/35) G
>500 0% (0/30)
Total 8.1% (13/160)

*G, Giardia intestinalis; C, Cryptosporidium spp.; Ch, C. hominis; CG, both G. intestinalis and Cryptosporidium spp.
†Children defined as persons <16 y of age; adults defined as persons >16 y of age.
‡Residential and hotel/motel swimming pools were excluded from the study.

Main Article

Page created: July 09, 2010
Page updated: July 09, 2010
Page reviewed: July 09, 2010
The conclusions, findings, and opinions expressed by authors contributing to this journal do not necessarily reflect the official position of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Public Health Service, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or the authors' affiliated institutions. Use of trade names is for identification only and does not imply endorsement by any of the groups named above.
file_external