Image:Life Cycle of Cryptosporidium-MSD Manual Consumer Version (2024)

FAQs

What is the life cycle of Cryptosporidium? ›

The parasite has a complex life cycle that includes both asexual and sexual stages. While there are invasive free living stages, proliferation and differentiation take place within a unique parasitrophorous vacuole under the host cell brush border but outside the host cell cytoplasm.

For Cryptosporidium in dogs and cats and in other hosts the infective stage is the sporulated oocysts passed in the faeces of the host. Experimental infections in various host species indicate that very few oocysts (<10) are required to establish infection.

In the epithelial cells, the parasite Cryptosporidium undergoes two types of asexual reproduction namely schizogony and merogony. Schizogony is an asexual reproduction in certain protozoa that occurs through multiple fission.

Cryptosporidium is a parasite that causes a diarrheal illness called cryptosporidiosis (the parasite and the disease are often called “Crypto”). Crypto is a common waterborne illness and is the most common cause of recreational water illness in the United States.

Cryptosporidium spp. In bright-field microscopy using differential interference contrast (DIC), oocysts appear as small round struc- tures (4 to 6 µm) similar to yeasts. They do not autofluoresce.

The life cycle is Cryptosporidium in cattle is direct and similar to that of Eimeria (even though there is evidence suggesting that Cryptosporidium is a gregarine protozoan rather than a coccidian). Parasitic development occurs within the microvilli on the luminal surface of enterocytes.

Asexual reproduction is a mode of reproduction in which a new offspring is produced by a single parent. The new individuals produced are genetically and physically identical to each other, i.e., they are the clones of their parents. Asexual reproduction is observed in both multicellular and unicellular organisms.

An indirect life cycle is a type of a life cycle wherein a parasite is transmitted from one host to another by using a vector or by an intermediate host of another species. A parasite with an indirect life cycle would therefore require more than one type of host species to complete their life cycle.

These results show that C. parvum, depending on its developmental stage, can inhibit (at the trophozoite stage) or promote (at the sporozoite and merozoite stages) host cell apoptosis, suggesting that it is able to interact with and regulate the host-cell gene expression.

Cryptosporidium is resistant to chlorine disinfection so it is tougher to kill than most disease-causing germs. The usual disinfectants, including most commonly used bleach solutions, have little effect on the parasite. An application of hydrogen peroxide seems to work best.

What organs are affected by Cryptosporidium? ›

While the small intestine is the site most commonly affected, symptomatic Cryptosporidium infections have also been found in other organs including other digestive tract organs, the lungs, and possibly conjunctiva.

You may be contagious up to two weeks after your symptoms stop, so make sure you continue to take precautions even after you feel better. Don't swim in public pools or have sex for two weeks after having diarrhea.

Human sewage is treated to remove disease-causing organisms including Cryptosporidium. Feces of infected animals can be present in the soil or washed into streams and lakes. The oocysts can survive six months or more in water, and are very resistant to disinfectants.

Period of communicability of cryptosporidiosis

Cases may be infectious for as long as oocysts are excreted in the stool. Asymptomatic excretion may persist for several weeks after symptoms resolve. Under suitable conditions, oocysts may survive in soil and be infective for up to 6 months.

In most people, your immune system will fight off Cryptosporidium and the symptoms of cryptosporidiosis will go away. Medications may also help cure a Cryptosporidium infection.

Cryptosporidium species that infect humans replicate in the epithelial cell lining of the GI tract. They can complete their entire life cycle within a single host, but some species can also spread between host species. C hominis and C parvum cause most human infections. Both can spread person to person.