What is Cryptosporidium?

Cryptosporidiumn Tyzzer (1907) is a tiny coccidia parasite. It is widely present in a variety of vertebrates, mainly Cryptosporidium parvum, which causes cryptosporidiosis. It is a zoonotic protozoan with diarrhea as the main clinical manifestation. It is listed as the 6 most common diarrhea in the world Among the diseases, the WHO identified human cryptosporidium as one of the suspected indicators of AIDS in 1986. Cryptosporidium is an important opportunity pathogenic protozoan. ^[1]

Cryptosporidium has a life history

Cryptosporidium was first found in mouse gastrointestinal sections in 1907.

Cryptosporidium has a simple life history, and reproduction methods include asexual schizont proliferation, spore reproduction, and sexual gamete reproduction. Both methods are performed in the same host. The oocysts are infectious after they are excreted from the host's feces. After being swallowed by humans and susceptible animals, they are affected by digestive juices.

This parasite is mainly parasitized in the brush-shaped marginal vesicles of small intestinal epithelial cells. The proximal part of the jejunum is the site with the largest number of parasites, and in severe cases it can spread to the entire digestive tract. Can also be parasitic in the respiratory tract, lungs, tonsils, pancreas, gallbladder and bile ducts and other organs. The severity and duration of clinical symptoms also depend on the immune function of the host. Symptoms of a host with normal immune function-generally mild, incubation period is generally 3 to 8 days, acute onset, diarrhea is the main symptom, and the stool is watery or mushy. Severely infected infants can have spouty watery stools and a large amount of stool. It is often accompanied by spastic abdominal pain, bloating, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite or anorexia, thirst and fever, and a few patients delay for 1 to 2 months or turn into chronic recurrent episodes. ^[4]

Cryptosporidium is a worldwide zoonotic disease. It can cause severe diarrhea in mammals (especially calves and lambs) and severe respiratory symptoms in birds; it can also cause severe diseases in humans (especially those with low immune function). This disease is a serious public health problem and can also cause huge economic losses to the livestock industry. ^[5]

In order to prevent the feces of patients, sick animals, and insect carriers from contaminating food and drinking water, manure management and personal hygiene should be paid attention to. At the same time, people with immunodeficiency or low immunity should be protected, their immunity should be enhanced, and contact with sick and sick animals should be avoided. Those who are sick should wash their hands and disinfect in time. Cryptosporidium has no effective treatment. It is generally believed that for patients with normal immune function, symptomatic and supportive therapies can be applied to correct water and electrolyte disorders. Good results can be achieved for those with impaired immune function, and immunosuppressive drugs should be stopped in time. ^[4]