Cryptosporidium parvum

Abbi MillerSandra Thorbus

Introduction Causes Cryptosporidiosis

Commonly called ‘Crypto’

One of the most frequent causes of waterborne disease among humans in the U.S.

Taxonomy: Phylum Apicomplexa Class Coccidea Order Adeleida Family Cryptosporidiidae

Geographic Distribution

Where is it found?

Everywhere!

Geographic Distribution

Found in every region of the U.S. and throughout the world.

People in developing countries have a higher risk of infection due to poor water treatment and food sanitation.

In the U.S., an estimated 300,000 cases of Cryptosporidiosis occur each year.

The largest outbreak of Crypto occurred in Milwaukee, WI in 1993. The waterborne outbreak affected over 400,000 people.

Hosts and Transmission

Lives in the intestinal epithelia of infected fish, reptiles, birds and mammals (including humans)

Is considered zoonotic (which means it can be passed from an animal to human)

Water is the most common method of transmission

The infected person or animal sheds the parasites in the stool

Crypto Symptoms Symptoms generally show up 2-10 days

after becoming infected.

The most common symptom is watery diarrhea. Others include: Stomach cramps or pain Dehydration Nausea Vomiting Fever Weight loss

Symptoms (continued) Some people have no symptoms at all.

Symptoms usually last 1-2 weeks in people with healthy immune systems.

People with weakened immune systems are at a much greater risk of developing a serious, chronic, and possibly fatal illness.

Diagnosis Patients are asked to

submit several stool samples over several days.

The feces is examined for the presence of oocysts using formalin-ethyl acetate & hypertonic sodium chloride floatation, followed by Ziehl-Nielsen staining methods.

If oocysts are found in the sample, under the microscope the patient is positive for Crypto.

Life Cycle

Life Cycle (in the intestines)

Treatment Most people with healthy immune systems

will recover without treatment.

Nitazoxanide (Alinia®) is a prescription drug approved by the FDA for treatment of diarrhea caused by Cryptosporidium, in people with healthy immune systems.

Drinking plenty of fluids helps to prevent dehydration. This is especially important for young children

& pregnant women.

Prevention Practice good hygiene.

Wash hands frequently with soap & water.

Avoid water that may be contaminated. Don’t swallow recreational water (pools, lakes) Do not drink untreated water from shallow wells, lakes,

rivers, springs, ponds and streams.

Avoid eating foods that may be contaminated. Wash all food to be eaten raw with uncontaminated water,

and peel them first.

Take extra precautions when traveling. Avoid eating uncooked foods in countries with questionable

water treatment and sanitation systems.

Avoid fecal exposure during sexual activity.

Control If infected with Crypto, one should

not swim in any recreational water for at least 2 weeks after the diarrhea has stopped to avoid infecting the water and potentially making others sick.

Infected children should stay out of child care settings until the diarrhea has stopped.

References Foundations of Parasitology

Eighth Edition Gerald D. Schmidt & Larry S. Roberts & John

Janovy, Jr

http://www.cdc.gov/crypto/