TY - JOUR
T1 - Individual subject meta-analysis of parameters for Cryptosporidium parvum shedding and diarrhoea in animal experimental models
AU - Adell, A. D.
AU - Miller, W. A.
AU - Harvey, D. J.
AU - Vanwormer, E.
AU - Wuertz, S.
AU - Conrad, P. A.
PY - 2013/8
Y1 - 2013/8
N2 - Cryptosporidium is a zoonotic protozoan parasite with public health importance worldwide. The objectives of this study were to (1) conduct a meta-analysis of published literature for oocyst shedding and diarrhoea outcomes, and (2) develop recommendations for standardization of experimental dose-response studies. Results showed that for the outcome of oocyst shedding in faeces, the covariates 'experimental species', 'immunosuppression', 'oocyst dose' and 'oocyst dose' × 'age' were all significant (P ≤ 0·05). This study suggests that exposing mice, piglets, or ruminants, and using immunosuppressed experimental hosts, is more likely to result in oocyst shedding. For the outcome of diarrhoea in experimentally infected animal species, the key covariates 'experimental species', 'age' and 'immunosuppression' were significant (P ≤ 0·2). Therefore, based on the results of this meta-analysis, these variables should be carefully reported and considered when designing experimental dose-response studies. Additionally, detection of possible publication bias highlights the need to publish additional studies that convey statistically non-significant as well as significant results in the future.
AB - Cryptosporidium is a zoonotic protozoan parasite with public health importance worldwide. The objectives of this study were to (1) conduct a meta-analysis of published literature for oocyst shedding and diarrhoea outcomes, and (2) develop recommendations for standardization of experimental dose-response studies. Results showed that for the outcome of oocyst shedding in faeces, the covariates 'experimental species', 'immunosuppression', 'oocyst dose' and 'oocyst dose' × 'age' were all significant (P ≤ 0·05). This study suggests that exposing mice, piglets, or ruminants, and using immunosuppressed experimental hosts, is more likely to result in oocyst shedding. For the outcome of diarrhoea in experimentally infected animal species, the key covariates 'experimental species', 'age' and 'immunosuppression' were significant (P ≤ 0·2). Therefore, based on the results of this meta-analysis, these variables should be carefully reported and considered when designing experimental dose-response studies. Additionally, detection of possible publication bias highlights the need to publish additional studies that convey statistically non-significant as well as significant results in the future.
KW - Cryptosporidium
KW - diarrhoea
KW - experimental infection
KW - individual subject meta-analysis
KW - oocyst shedding
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84880352904&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1017/S0950268812002294
DO - 10.1017/S0950268812002294
M3 - Article
C2 - 23068915
AN - SCOPUS:84880352904
SN - 0950-2688
VL - 141
SP - 1662
EP - 1678
JO - Epidemiology and Infection
JF - Epidemiology and Infection
IS - 8
ER -