Fourth IHSC 

October 14, 2023 _ Algiers, Algeria

About the scientifique event :

Cryptosporidium sp. and Giardia duodenalis are two emerging cosmopolitan parasites. These two zoonotic protozoans are responsible for enteritis in a large number of animal species and can cause  severe digestive symptoms in humans, especially  in children and immunocompromised persons.

Current advances in molecular biology have allowed identification of some of their epidemiological characteristics. Various factors are common to both parasites, particularly contamination sources, in which the most incriminated are water, foods and animals. However, the epidemiology in humans remains less understood and the environmental factors affecting the transmission of these pathogens have not been clearly elucidated. Water contamination route is the most documented one. Thus, several outbreaks have been reported around the world after consumption of drinking water or in swimming pools. Because of the high resistance of these two organisms in environmental conditions, it is not surprising to find them almost systematically in natural waters.

Among more than 70 species and genotypes of Cryptosporidium, six species are responsible for most human infections: C. hominis, C. parvum, C. meleagridis, C. felis, C. ubiquitum and C. canis. A common presence of the potentially zoonotic C. parvum rather than the anthroponotic C. hominis would indicate that zoonotic transmission is important in the transmission of cryptosporidiosis.

Giardiasis in humans and in most other mammalians is caused by Giardia duodenalis which has at least eight genotypes known as “ assemblage (A to H).”  Among them, assemblage A and B infect humans and a wide range of hosts, including cattle, cats, dogs, and wild mammals.

In the context of transmission and contamination sources, the same animal can be the host for both parasites at one time. There is also a lack of studies of direct zoonotic transmission to date. Moreover, the treatment of giardiasis in humans and animals presents no issues, while that of human and/or animal cryptosporidiosis remains problematic.

This conference aims to bring together Algerian and foreign researchers (doctors, biologists, veterinarians, etc.) working on this topic in our country, in order to highlight the current situation in the world and in Algeria regarding pathologies caused by the two parasites, the advances in their epidemiology, therapeutic innovations , and diagnostic methods.

Themes of the scientific event will be focused on:

 1_ Prevalence and genotyping of Cryptosporidium and Giardia in humans, animals, water and food.

 2_ Assessment of the risks of human contamination by Cryptosporidium and Giardia in the "One health" approach: cases of direct zoonotic transmission, epidemics of water and food origins.

 3_ Innovations,  diagnostic methods, and therapeutic aspects.

Topics of the scientific event will be focused on:

TOPIC 1: Prevalence and genotyping of Cryptosporidium and Giardia in humans, animals, water and food.

TOPIC 2: Assessment of the risks of human contamination by Cryptosporidium and Giardia in the "One health" concept : cases of direct zoonotic transmission, epidemics of water and food origins.

TOPIC 3: Innovations on diagnostic methods and therapeutic aspects.