Giardia, Cryptosporidium and the spectre of zoonosis: the Italian experience from land to sea.

In the last decade, a major concern for the scientific community has been whether infected animals can serve as reservoirs of Giardia and Cryptosporidium infection for humans. Worldwide, prevalence studies and molecular tools have provided insights into the taxonomy and epidemiology of these protozoa in order to better understand such a relation. This paper presents data on the prevalence and molecular genotyping studies from several sample types from land to sea (humans, companion animals, sheep, cattle, goats, wastewaters, surface water, and shellfish) available in Italy. The contribution of Italian researchers to the international debate on the veterinary significance of these infections and their impact on public health is highlighted and the main objectives to be pursued in the future depicted.