Cryptosporidiosis

Statutory notification

• Cryptosporidiosis is a notifiable infectious disease in Western Australia.
• See notifiable communicable disease case definitions.
• Notifications should be made using the communicable disease notification form for metropolitan residents (PDF 209KB) or regional residents (208KB). 
• For notification of regional residents see contact details of public health units.
• See also description of statutory medical notifications in Western Australia.

Public health management

Important information

• 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: Until asymptomatic, including normal stools, for 24 hours. If patient works in health-care, aged-care, child-care or 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. Guidelines for Exclusion of People with Enteric Diseases and their Contacts (PDF 387KB).
• Contact exclusion: 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 investigated, by the public health units (Healthy WA) with assistance from the Communicable Disease Control Directorate.

Guidelines

• OD 0490/14 Public Health Follow-up of Sporadic Enteric Disease Notifications (PDF 1MB)
• Guidelines for Exclusion of People with Enteric Diseases and their Contacts (PDF 764KB) 
• Communicable Disease Guidelines, for teachers, child care workers, local government authorities and medical practitioners
• Guidelines for the Management of Gastroenteritis Outbreaks in Residential Care Facilities

Notifiable disease data and reports

• Notifiable infectious disease dashboard
• General infectious disease reports