Description

Cryptosporidium parvum is an intracellular protozoa that is spread by the fecal-oral route. Ingested oocysts excyst in the gastrointestinal tract and replicate in epithelial cells, usually in the small intestine. It is common in many developing countries and has been associated with epidemic spread in the United States and Europe..


Risk Factor

Higher Risk

Lower Risk

water source

untreated environmental water, contaminated community sources

bottled water, high grade municipal sources

economic status

low

high

sexual preferences

anal intercourse, oral sex

protected

immune status

immunocompromised

immune competent

household pets

less than 6 months of age, from commercial breeder or pet shelter, previous stray, with diarrhea

older pet in good health with no or limited outside exposure

 

Risk of epidemic spread:

(1) day care centers

(2) swimming pools

(3) contaminated public water supplies

(4) within households

(5) in health care settings

(6) contaminated ice machines

 

Other features:

(1) Seroprevalence for antibodies to Cryptosporidium increases with age in endemic countries.

(2) The presence of infection with Cryptosporidium should prompt an evaluation for other enteric pathogens, and vice versa.

(3) The oocysts are resistant to chemical water purification techniques but may be removed by sand filtration.

(4) Infections in immunocompromised patients may be severe and extra-intestinal. AIDS patients infections may involve the gallbladder, pancreas and respiratory tract.

 


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