Molecular Tool's Contribution to the Detection of Cryptosporidium

Cryptosporidium spp. are apicomplexan protozoa that infect the gastrointestinal or respiratory tract of humans and animals. In immunocompetent individuals, the diarrhea is acute and self-limited whereas in immunocompromised individuals, it can become chronic and may be particularly life threatening,...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Journal of eukaryotic microbiology 2001-06, Vol.48 (s1), p.23s-23s
Main Authors: GUYOT, KARINE, FOLLET-DUMOULIN, ANNE, GIREAUDOT-LIEPMANN, MARIE-FLORENCE, VERDIER, ROSE-IRENE, CAILLIEZ, JEAN-CHARLES, DEI-CAS, EDUARDO
Format: Article
Language:English
Citations: Items that this one cites
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Cryptosporidium spp. are apicomplexan protozoa that infect the gastrointestinal or respiratory tract of humans and animals. In immunocompetent individuals, the diarrhea is acute and self-limited whereas in immunocompromised individuals, it can become chronic and may be particularly life threatening, since no specific treatment is available. HIV-infected patients and children in developing countries are particularly at risk. Oocysts are the infective stage responsible for transmission. Several routes including person-to-person, contamination of water or food and zoonotic infection are possible. In spite of some confusion regarding the speciation within Cryptosporidium, up to 8 named species have been currently proposed as valid on the bases of host specificity, pathogenesis and oocyst morphology. These include C. parvum in mammals, C. muris in rodents and ruminants, C. felis in domestic cats, C. wrairi in guinea pigs, C. baileyi and C. meleagridis in birds, C. serpentis in reptiles and C. nasorum in fish.
ISSN:1066-5234
1550-7408
DOI:10.1111/j.1550-7408.2001.tb00440.x