Detection of Cryptosporidium oocysts in wild mammals of mainland Britain

This paper combines the results from a preliminary survey of occurrence of Cryptosporidium species in faecal samples from a range of wild mammal speci es inhabiting mainland Britain with a tabulated literature review of world- wide reports of the parasite in those British mammals. In the literature, C . parvum was reported from 11 wild mammals found in Britain and elsewhere, mainly in rodents but also in insectivores, lagomorphs and ungulates. C. mu ris has been reported only in wild rodents. The sample survey detected C. p arvum in seven additional British species, including carnivores. Overall, 1 2% of 184 faecal samples tested with a genus-specific monoclonal antibody c ontained oocysts of C. parvum. The results further emphasise the widespread distribution of Cryptosporidium amongst wild mammals in Britain, highlight the potential for transmission between host species and warn of the possib ility of direct exposure for anybody using the countryside for professional or recreational purposes (e.g. farmers and ramblers) to previously unregar ded sources of infection. It seems increasingly likely that most, if not al l, mammalian species can be infected with C. parvum. (C) 1999 Elsevier Scie nce B.V. All rights reserved.