Clustering of cryptosporidiosis in queensland, australia, is not defined temporally or by spatial diversity.

This study evaluated the spatial and temporal patterns of clusters of notified cases of cryptosporidiosis in the north-eastern Australian state of Queensland, which has the highest average notified cases nationally. A spatiotemporal analysis in SaTScan of 12,263 notified cases from mid 2001 to mid 2015 identified 79 statistically significant disease clusters (P < 0.05). Analyses of annual incidence and disease cluster formation across the state illustrated the substantial randomness of clustering with no clear geographic distribution. Outbreaks were observed temporally across all latitudes and in rural and urban settings, with the majority of clusters centred in major and regional cities. Whilst clusters appeared in areas of high incidence, high incidence itself was not a predictor of clusters. Clusters generally formed during the hottest months between January and April, and cases were primarily children aged 0 to < 5 years. Spatiotemporal analysis at a statewide level is an important indicator of regional disease patterns and can act as a trigger for targeted epidemiological investigation. PMID: 32126239 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Source: International Journal for Parasitology - Category: Parasitology Authors: Tags: Int J Parasitol Source Type: research