Cryptosporidiosis

Cryptosporidium spp.

• especially C. paravum, C. hominis

epidemiology

• worldwide
• 2nd important pathogen for moderate-severe diarrhea before 1 year of life
• repeated outbreaks even in developed countries with huge number of cases
  • human excretes 100 mil. cysts per day
  • calf excretes 10 bil. cysts per day
  • water chlorination does not prevent tap water borne infection

life cycle

• calf is reservoir of C. hominis
• resistant to chlorinated water
• auto-infection in host intestine
• survive >1 year in 4-6℃ cold water
• vulnerable to dry environment

morphology

• oocyst contains 4 sporozoites

clinical features

• incubation 1-12 days
• symptoms 1-2 weeks
• watery diarrhea
• abd cramps
• bloating
• fever, malaise
• weight loss
• often self-limiting
• problemable in children in developing countries, immunocompromised

diagnosis

• fecal microscopy
  • Ziehl-Neelsen stain
  • Auramine stain

treatment

• nitazoxianide
• paromomycin