Cryptosporidiosis

Statutory notification

• Cryptosporidiosis is a notifiable infectious disease in Western Australia.
• Case definition: See Cryptosporidiosis (external site) national surveillance case definition.
• Notifications: Notify using the online (external site) infectious diseases notification form (see Frequently Asked Questions for guidance).
• See also description of statutory medical notifications in Western Australia.

Public health summary

• Infectious agent: Cryptosporidium parvum and Cryptosporidium hominis parasite.
• Transmission:  Faecal-oral, water-borne (for C. hominis and C. parvum) and animal-person (for C. parvum).
• Incubation period: 1 to 12 days (usually 7 days).
• Infectious period: The oocyts of the parasite are the infectious stage, and are present in the faeces of symptomatic people. Excretion of the oocyts can continue for several weeks after symptoms cease. Use contact transmission- based precautions for hospitalised and institutionalised patients.
• Case exclusion: Exclude until asymptomatic, including normal stools, for 24 hours. If patient works in health-care, aged-care or child-care is a food handler or attends child-care exclude until asymptomatic, including normal stools, for 48 hours. Cases should also avoid using public swimming pools for two weeks after the first normal stool. See Guidelines for Exclusion of People with Enteric Diseases and their Contacts (PDF 387KB).
• Contact exclusion: See Guidelines for Exclusion of People with Enteric Diseases and their Contacts (PDF 387KB).
• Treatment: Oral rehydration and as recommended by the doctor.
• Immunisation:  None available.
• Case follow up: Generally only clusters or outbreaks are investigated by the Communicable Disease Control Directorate (OzFoodNet), with assistance from local public health units as required.

Guidelines for public health units

• Guideline for the Public health management of notifiable enteric diseases (PDF 387KB)
• Guidelines for Exclusion of People with Enteric Diseases and their Contacts (PDF 764KB) 
• Guidelines for the prevention and management of gastroenteritis outbreaks in residential care facilities
• Communicable Disease Guidelines, for teachers, child care workers, local government authorities and medical practitioners

Notifiable disease data and reports

• Notifiable infectious disease dashboard
• General infectious disease reports