Cryptosporidium parvum is a protozoan parasite that can cause cryptosporidiosis infection in humans. It is commonly found in water contaminated with animal feces. The infective stage, called an oocyst, is very small and environmentally resistant, making it difficult to remove through chlorination. It can cause outbreaks when it contaminates municipal water supplies. The infection generally causes self-limiting diarrhea in healthy individuals but can be life-threatening in immunocompromised patients due to prolonged diarrhea and dehydration. Prevention focuses on good hygiene, especially handwashing, and avoiding untreated water.
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Cryptosporidium parvum is a protozoan parasite that can cause cryptosporidiosis infection in humans. It is commonly found in water contaminated with animal feces. The infective stage, called an oocyst, is very small and environmentally resistant, making it difficult to remove through chlorination. It can cause outbreaks when it contaminates municipal water supplies. The infection generally causes self-limiting diarrhea in healthy individuals but can be life-threatening in immunocompromised patients due to prolonged diarrhea and dehydration. Prevention focuses on good hygiene, especially handwashing, and avoiding untreated water.
Cryptosporidium parvum is a protozoan parasite that can cause cryptosporidiosis infection in humans. It is commonly found in water contaminated with animal feces. The infective stage, called an oocyst, is very small and environmentally resistant, making it difficult to remove through chlorination. It can cause outbreaks when it contaminates municipal water supplies. The infection generally causes self-limiting diarrhea in healthy individuals but can be life-threatening in immunocompromised patients due to prolonged diarrhea and dehydration. Prevention focuses on good hygiene, especially handwashing, and avoiding untreated water.
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Cryptosporidium parvum is a protozoan parasite that can cause cryptosporidiosis infection in humans. It is commonly found in water contaminated with animal feces. The infective stage, called an oocyst, is very small and environmentally resistant, making it difficult to remove through chlorination. It can cause outbreaks when it contaminates municipal water supplies. The infection generally causes self-limiting diarrhea in healthy individuals but can be life-threatening in immunocompromised patients due to prolonged diarrhea and dehydration. Prevention focuses on good hygiene, especially handwashing, and avoiding untreated water.
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m Is a single-cell microorganism called protozoa. It is found in
water that has been contaminated with cow feces. This microorganism can cause food borne infection. m Becoming a familiar cause of outbreaks of diarrhea. When it contaminates a municipal water supply, it can make many people sick at onceȄ it does this quite often because of its small size and its ability to survive chlorination. m The infective stage of the organism, is spherical and only about three to five one thousandths of a millimeter wide. Environmentally resistant, it survives cold, chlorination, and salt water. Itǯs found in surface waters all over the globeȄ municipalities that use surface water supplies must do more than chlorinate water to avoid an outbreak. Most rely on filtration. Varasitic infection *infection is generally self-limiting in immunocompetent people. In immunocompromised patients, such as those with AIDS or those undergoing immunosuppressive therapy, infection may not be self-limiting, leading to dehydration and in severe cases, death. The most common symptom of intestinal cryptosporidium is severe watery diarrhea, which usually lasts 2 to 4 days. Other symptoms may include anorexia, nausea/vomiting and abdominal pain. The various symptoms of cryptosporidiosis differ greatly between immunocompetent and immunocompromised individuals. In immunocompetent patients, cryptosporidiosis is an acute, yet self-limiting diarrheal illness (1-2 week duration), and symptoms include (Juranek, 1995): v Frequent, watery diarrhea v Nausea v Vomiting v Abdominal cramps v Low-grade fever v For immunocompromised persons, the illness is much more severe (Juranek, 1995):
v Debilitating, cholera-like diarrhea (up to 20 liters/day)
v Severe abdominal cramps v Malaise v Low-grade fever v Weight loss v Anorexia It could occur, theoretically, on any food touched by a contaminated food handler. Incidence is higher in child day care centers that serve food. Fertilizing salad vegetables with manure is another possible source of human infection. Large outbreaks are associated with contaminated water supplies.
Contaminated food and water.
All cryptosporidiosis infections are caused by ingestion/inhalation of oocysts. Therefore, prevention measures must aim to limit host contact with the organism. Current measures focus on hygiene, as for most diarrhea- causing agents (enter pathogens). Disease outbreaks can be prevented by implementing the following recommendations. m washing hands m avoid swallowing recreational water m using caution when travelling m avoiding drinking untreated water or treat water before drinking. m being careful when dealing with animals . m avoid fecal exposure m The easiest way to prevent cryptosporidiosis is to practice good hygiene, especially after using the toilet.