ASSOCIATION BETWEEN CRYPTOSPORIDIUM INFECTION AND ANIMAL EXPOSURE IN HIV-INFECTED INDIVIDUALS

Cryptosporidium causes a debilitating illness in immunocompromised ind ividuals, yet the source of sporadic Cryptosporidium infections is unk nown. Because early cases of cryptosporidiosis were associated with an imals, and pets are a source of companionship to individuals with AIDS , determination of the risk of cryptosporidiosis associated with pets is important. To assess this risk, we conducted a case-control study o f HIV-infected individuals with and without cryptosporidiosis. No stat istically significant difference in the rate of overall pet ownership, cat ownership, or bird ownership was found between the two groups. Do g ownership reached borderline statistical significance; 15 of 48 (31% ) cases owned a dog, compared with 17 of 99 (17%) controls (odds ratio [OR] = 2.19; p =.05; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.9-5.3). No stati stically significant differences between cases and controls were found in the frequency of surface water ingestion, rural exposure, travel h istory, or contact with diarrheic individuals. Our findings indicate t hat pets do not represent a major risk factor for acquisition of Crypt osporidium for HIV-infected individuals. Whether dog ownership present s a minimal risk for cryptosporidiosis needs further investigation.