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CRYPTOSPORIDIOSIS
Cryptosporidum parvum
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Cryptosporidiosis
(Cryptosporidium parvum): This diarrheal disease was
made famous by an outbreak in Milwaukee afflicting 403,000 persons in
1993. The outbreak was associated with water contamination traced to
cow feces. Healthy individuals often experience 1-2 weeks of watery
diarrhea, whereas immune compromised individuals can have chronic symptoms
that can be very difficult to eradicate. Only one treatment, nitizoxanide,
has an established role in treating cryptosporidiosis. Because of the
potential for malicious introduction into public water supplies, C.
parvum is considered a Biodefense agent.
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| Organism |
Cryptosporidium
parvum |
| At Risk |
Immunocompromised worldwide |
| Humans Infected |
Seroprevalance ~30% in
USA |
| Disease Outcome |
Prolonged, life threatening |
| Vaccine Prospects |
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| Available Drugs |
Generally unresponsive
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| Drug Resistance |
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Life cycle of Cryptosporidium parvum. Cryptosporidium
stages were reproduced from Juranek, DD. Cryptosporidiosis. In: Strickland GT,
editor. Hunter’s Tropical Medicine and Emerging Infectious Diseases, 8th
ed. Philadelphia: WB Saunders; 2000. Originally adapted from the life
cycle that appears in Current WL, Garcia LS. Cryptosporidiosis. Clinc Microbiol
Rev 1991;4:325-58
General Information: Medline,
Centers for Disease Control
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