Cryptosporidium in Wild Frogs (Rana spp) Consumed by humans in Kaduna State Nigeria

Introduction Since Cryptosporidium can be transmitted by ingestion of infected food animals and poorly treated water and by direct contact1 it is possible for infection to occur through ingestion of under cooked frogs and through handling and processing of infected frogs. In Burkina Faso frogs caught are sold to market-women who treat the frogs by emptying their bowels and frying in oil before selling them, this is not always the case for the Nigerian frog markets where frogs are sometimes smoked or dried without necessarily been fried, before consumption2. This may pose a health risk for transmission of cryptosporidiosis from infected frogs. Presence of Cryptosporidium oocysts in frogs may by implication reveal the Cryptosporidium status of water bodies from various sources where the frogs were caught. Water management programmes for treatment of Cryptosporidium is difficult as the oocyst is resistant to several disinfectants including chlorine1. The consumption of such treated water in urban areas and untreated water in most rural communities may expose a great proportion of Nigerians to cryptosporidiosis. Owing to the number of HIV/AIDS patients who commonly suffer from cryptosporidial enteritis and cough, the control of cryptosporidiosis in animals and man is of public health significance.