Parasites - Cryptosporidium (also known as "Crypto") | Cryptosporidium | Parasites (2024)

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Parasites - Cryptosporidium (also known as "Crypto") | Cryptosporidium | Parasites? ›

Cryptosporidiosis, also called "crypto," is primarily transmitted by swallowing water contaminated with the feces from infected animals or humans. In addition to contaminated drinking water, recreational water from swimming pools, hot tubs, fountains, lakes, rivers, ponds or streams can also carry crypto.

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.

Cryptosporidiosis can be very contagious. The infected person can infect others when symptoms begin and for several weeks after the symptoms disappear. Infected persons who do not have symptoms can still infect others.

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. In someone with a compromised immune system, cryptosporidiosis may never be fully cured and can cause symptoms for years.

You can get cryptosporidiosis directly from another person or animal by touching faeces, for example when changing a nappy or petting a lamb and putting your hands near or in your mouth without washing them thoroughly. You can also get cryptosporidiosis from swimming in or drinking contaminated water.

People with cryptosporidiosis should drink plenty of clear fluids (ex: water, clear juices and soups) to prevent dehydration, caused by diarrhea. Resting and eating foods that are easy to digest (ex: bananas, rice, soft crackers) will help you get better.

It affects the distal small intestine and can affect the respiratory tract in both immunocompetent (i.e., individuals with a normal functioning immune system) and immunocompromised (e.g., persons with HIV/AIDS or autoimmune disorders) individuals, resulting in watery diarrhea with or without an unexplained cough.

Some infections clear on their own, but most people need prescription antiparasitic drugs to get rid of intestinal parasites. These drugs work by paralyzing parasites, stopping their growth, or killing the parasite or its eggs.

Boiling (Rolling boil for 1 minute) has a very high effectiveness in killing Cryptosporidium; Filtration has a high effectiveness in removing Cryptosporidium when using an absolute less than or equal to 1 micron filter (NSF Standard 53 or 58 rated “cyst reduction / removal” filter);

Symptoms of cryptosporidiosis generally begin 2–10 days (average 7 days) after becoming infected with the parasite, Cryptosporidium (or "Crypto" for short). The most common symptom of cryptosporidiosis is diarrhea lasting days to weeks.

What kills cryptosporidiosis? ›

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.

Most people with a healthy immune system don't need to be treated. Cryptosporidiosis will resolve on its own. In those who have a weak immune system, the focus of treatment is often on getting the immunity back. Otherwise, a medicine called nitazoxanide can be used to treat this parasite.

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.

Signs and Symptoms

Diarrhea. Nausea or vomiting. Gas or bloating. Dysentery (loose stools containing blood and mucus)

Most people who have healthy immune systems will recover from cryptosporidiosis (typically diarrhea lasting days to weeks) without treatment. Nitazoxanide is a prescription medication to treat cryptosporidiosis in people with healthy immune systems and at least one year old.

General recommendations include: Children with Cryptosporidium who have diarrhea should be excluded until their diarrhea is resolved. Children are not required to provide two negative stools to return to child care.

Compared to cryptosporidiosis, giardiasis is more often associated with prolonged, chronic diarrhea and disease, even in immunocompetent individuals. Clinical manifestations following infection occur after an incubation period of 1–2 weeks, and include watery diarrhea, epigastric pain, nausea, and vomiting.

Coccidiosis is caused by protozoans of the genus Eimeria, and cryptosporidiosis is caused by the closely related proto- zoan, Cryptosporidium parvum. Both organisms are coccidia-type organisms in the suborder Eimeriina and do their greatest damage within the small intestine.

Some people may confuse cryptosporidiosis for cryptococcus, as both sometimes go under the name “crypto.” Cryptococcus is a type of invasive fungus that can cause cryptococcosis. In the United States, nearly 750,000 people report to doctor's offices with cryptosporidiosis every year.

hominis (formerly known as C. parvum genotype I) are the leading causes of human cryptosporidiosis.