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Title: VIRULENCE FACTOR ACTIVITY RELATIONSHIPS FOR HEPATITIS E AND CRYPTOSPORIDIUM

Author
item Fayer, Ronald
item PALMER, ORLANDI - US, EPA
item Perdue, Michael
item LINDSAY, DAVID - VIRGINIA TECH
item Trout, James

Submitted to: Environmental Protection Agency
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/23/2004
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Hepatitis E Virus and Cryptosporidium are waterborne pathogens, each consisting of distinct taxa, genotypes, and isolates that infect humans, nonhuman animal species, or both. Some are associated with disease; others are not. Factors contributing to disease are extremely complicated, possibly involving differences in one or more traits associated with an organism such as its infectious dose, age, condition, and underlying genetic makeup, as well as the host's physiology and immune status. Factors linked to the potential virulence of hepatitis E virus have not yet been identified. Potential virulence factors for Cryptosporidium might be found in recently recognized genes involved in processes such as excystation, adherence to host cells, invasion of host cells, intracellular activities, and host cell destruction.

Technical Abstract: Hepatitis E Virus and Cryptosporidium are waterborne pathogens, each consisting of distinct taxa, genotypes, and isolates that infect humans, nonhuman animal species, or both. Some are associated with disease; others are not. Factors contributing to disease are extremely complicated, possibly involving differences in traits associated with an organism's taxon, genotype, or isolate and its infectious dose, and age or condition, as well as the host's physiology and immune status. Potential virulence factors have not yet been identified for hepatitis E virus. Putative virulence factors for Cryptosporidium might be found in recently recognized genes involved in processes such as excystation, adherence to host cells, invasion, intracellular maintenance, and host cell destruction.