Volume 14, Number 6—June 2008
Dispatch
Prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia intestinalis in Swimming Pools, Atlanta, Georgia
Joan M. Shields*†
, Elizabeth R. Gleim*, and Michael J. Beach*
, Elizabeth R. Gleim*, and Michael J. Beach*
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.
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