Difference between revisions of "Cryptosporidium"
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==Overview== | ==Overview== | ||
+ | Cryptosporidium is the single genus in the cryptosporidiidae family and contains at least 13 recognised species. These small protozoan parasites are able to infect a wide range of hosts including mammals, birds, reptiles and fish. | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | ==Recognition== | ||
[[Image:Cryptosporidium parvum.jpg|thumb|right|150px|''Cryptosporidium parvum'' - Courtesy of the Laboratory of Parasitology, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine]] | [[Image:Cryptosporidium parvum.jpg|thumb|right|150px|''Cryptosporidium parvum'' - Courtesy of the Laboratory of Parasitology, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine]] | ||
− | [[Image:Cryptosporidium Life Cycle.jpg|thumb|right|150px|''Cryptosporidium Life Cycle | + | [[Image:Cryptosporidium muris.jpg|thumb|right|150px|''C. muris'' - Wikimedia Commons]] |
+ | [[Image:Cryptosporidium Life Cycle.jpg|thumb|right|150px|''Cryptosporidium'' Life Cycle - Alexander J. da Silva, PhD/Melanie Moser (PHIL #3386), 2002]] | ||
[[Image:Calf.jpg|thumb|right|150px|Calf - nabrown RVC]] | [[Image:Calf.jpg|thumb|right|150px|Calf - nabrown RVC]] | ||
[[Image:Cryptosporidium ruminant.jpg|thumb|right|150px|Ruminant ''Cryptosporidium'' - Joaquim Castellà Veterinary Parasitology Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona]] | [[Image:Cryptosporidium ruminant.jpg|thumb|right|150px|Ruminant ''Cryptosporidium'' - Joaquim Castellà Veterinary Parasitology Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona]] | ||
− | Cryptosporidium | + | Cryptosporidium species are extremely small in size |
+ | |||
+ | *Parasitises epithelial cells lining the alimentary and respiratory tracts | ||
+ | |||
+ | *Developmental stages confined to the '''microvillous brush border''' | ||
− | + | *''C. parvum'' most associated with disease in domestic animals and in humans | |
+ | **Other species affect birds | ||
− | + | *Small oocysts of 4-5μm | |
==Life Cycle== | ==Life Cycle== | ||
− | Cryptosporidium mostly has a standard [[Coccidia | + | Cryptosporidium mostly has a standard [[Coccidia life cycle|coccidial life cycle]] with a few exceptions. The oocyte does not contain sporocysts, instead the sporozoites are free within the oocyst. The pre patent period of of cryptosporidium is 1 week, after which '''sporulated''' oocysts are shed in the hosts faeces. |
==Pathogenesis== | ==Pathogenesis== | ||
− | + | *Causes outbreaks of [[Diarrhoea|diarrhoea]] in young animals | |
− | + | *Common cause of calf-hood scours | |
+ | **Older animals may be asymptomatic carriers | ||
+ | **Contributes to [[Calf Diarrhoea, Undifferentiated Neonatal|undifferentiated neonatal calf diarrhoea]] which is a mixed viral enteritis in calves | ||
+ | |||
+ | *Common infection in AIDS patients | ||
==Epidemiology== | ==Epidemiology== | ||
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− | + | *Direct faecal-oral infection | |
− | + | **E.g. School parties visiting farms | |
− | + | ||
− | + | *Water-borne infection | |
− | + | **E.g. contaminated water supply may infect hundreds of people | |
− | + | **Difficult to locate source | |
− | + | ||
− | [ | + | ==Diagnosis== |
− | + | ||
− | + | *Faecal smear | |
− | [ | + | **Ziehl-Neelson (ZN) stain |
− | + | **Oocysts stain red against a blue/green background | |
− | + | ||
− | + | *Immunoassays | |
− | + | **Detect oocysts in faeces | |
+ | |||
+ | ==Control== | ||
+ | |||
+ | *Isolate/quarantine bought-in calves | ||
+ | **Treat if signs of [[Diarrhoea|diarrhoea]] present | ||
+ | |||
+ | *Good hygiene, adequate bedding and disinfection of calf pens is important | ||
+ | |||
+ | *Prevention/treatment | ||
+ | **Halofuginone | ||
+ | ***Halocur or Intervet | ||
+ | ***Oral dosage | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | ==Villus Atrophy in Enteritis== | ||
+ | |||
+ | * Affects calf, lamb, piglet, kitten. | ||
+ | * Increasingly important as part of the neonatal [[Diarrhoea|diarrhoea]] complex in calves. | ||
+ | * Zoonosis. | ||
+ | |||
+ | ====Pathology==== | ||
+ | |||
+ | =====Gross===== | ||
+ | |||
+ | * Intestines diffusely reddened, with fluid contents. | ||
+ | |||
+ | =====Histological===== | ||
+ | * Tiny parasites on surface of epithelium. | ||
+ | * Villus atrophy and fusion. | ||
+ | * Iinflammation (mainly lymphoid) in crypts and lamina propria. | ||
− | + | <big>'''[[Cryptosporidia Flashcards]]</big> | |
− | + | [[Category:Miscellaneous_Protozoa]] | |
− | [[Category:Enteritis,_Parasitic]] | + | [[Category:Enteritis,_Parasitic]][[Category:Enteritis,_Villus_Atrophy]] |
− | [[Category:Enteritis,_Villus_Atrophy]] | + | [[Category:To_Do_-_NickJ]] |
− | [[Category: | + | [[Category:To_Do_-_Parasites]] |
− | [[Category: |
Revision as of 14:51, 18 July 2010
This article is still under construction. |
Overview
Cryptosporidium is the single genus in the cryptosporidiidae family and contains at least 13 recognised species. These small protozoan parasites are able to infect a wide range of hosts including mammals, birds, reptiles and fish.
Recognition
Cryptosporidium species are extremely small in size
- Parasitises epithelial cells lining the alimentary and respiratory tracts
- Developmental stages confined to the microvillous brush border
- C. parvum most associated with disease in domestic animals and in humans
- Other species affect birds
- Small oocysts of 4-5μm
Life Cycle
Cryptosporidium mostly has a standard coccidial life cycle with a few exceptions. The oocyte does not contain sporocysts, instead the sporozoites are free within the oocyst. The pre patent period of of cryptosporidium is 1 week, after which sporulated oocysts are shed in the hosts faeces.
Pathogenesis
- Causes outbreaks of diarrhoea in young animals
- Common cause of calf-hood scours
- Older animals may be asymptomatic carriers
- Contributes to undifferentiated neonatal calf diarrhoea which is a mixed viral enteritis in calves
- Common infection in AIDS patients
Epidemiology
- Direct faecal-oral infection
- E.g. School parties visiting farms
- Water-borne infection
- E.g. contaminated water supply may infect hundreds of people
- Difficult to locate source
Diagnosis
- Faecal smear
- Ziehl-Neelson (ZN) stain
- Oocysts stain red against a blue/green background
- Immunoassays
- Detect oocysts in faeces
Control
- Isolate/quarantine bought-in calves
- Treat if signs of diarrhoea present
- Good hygiene, adequate bedding and disinfection of calf pens is important
- Prevention/treatment
- Halofuginone
- Halocur or Intervet
- Oral dosage
- Halofuginone
Villus Atrophy in Enteritis
- Affects calf, lamb, piglet, kitten.
- Increasingly important as part of the neonatal diarrhoea complex in calves.
- Zoonosis.
Pathology
Gross
- Intestines diffusely reddened, with fluid contents.
Histological
- Tiny parasites on surface of epithelium.
- Villus atrophy and fusion.
- Iinflammation (mainly lymphoid) in crypts and lamina propria.