Volume 14, Number 6—June 2008
Dispatch
Prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia intestinalis in Swimming Pools, Atlanta, Georgia
Table
Pathogen distribution in 13 Cryptosporidium- and Giardia-positive swimming pools (n = 13)
Characteristic | % (n/N) | Type of parasite* |
---|---|---|
Age of swimmers† | ||
Children | 10.7 (3/28) | 2 G, CG |
Adults | 2.3 (1/43) | G |
Mixed | 10.1 (9/89) | 7 G, C, Ch |
Total |
8.1 (13/160) |
|
Pool type‡ | ||
Community | 15.6 (10/64) | 7 G, CG, C, Ch |
School | 4.8 (1/20) | G |
Health club | 0 (0/25) | |
Apartment | 3.9 (2/51) | 2 G |
Total |
8.1 (13/160) |
|
Pool size (x1,000 gallons) | ||
<5 | 22.2 (4/18) | 3 G, CG |
6–50 | 9.3 (5/54) | 4 G, Ch |
51–100 | 0 (0/40) | |
101–200 | 11.4 (4/35) | 3 G, C |
>200 | 0 (0/13) | |
Total |
8.1 (13/160) |
|
No. swimmers/bathers per week | ||
1–75 | 14.7% (10/68) | 7 G, CG, C, Ch |
76–200 | 7.4% (2/27) | 2 G |
201–500 | 2.9% (1/35) | G |
>500 | 0% (0/30) | |
Total | 8.1% (13/160) |
*G, Giardia intestinalis; C, Cryptosporidium spp.; Ch, C. hominis; CG, both G. intestinalis and Cryptosporidium spp.
†Children defined as persons <16 y of age; adults defined as persons >16 y of age.
‡Residential and hotel/motel swimming pools were excluded from the study.