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    Cryptosporidiosis - CAPC Parasite Recommendations

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    Daniel Jones
    Cryptosporidium species are coccidian-like protozoan parasites. Most species and strains are highly adapted to specific hosts. Infection occurs following ingestion of sporulated oocysts from fecal-contaminated environments, food, articles, or water.

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    Cryptosporidiosis - CAPC Parasite Recommendations

    Uploaded by

    Daniel Jones
    174 views4 pages
    Cryptosporidium species are coccidian-like protozoan parasites. Most species and strains are highly adapted to specific hosts. Infection occurs following ingestion of sporulated oocysts from fecal-contaminated environments, food, articles, or water.

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    Cryptosporidium species are coccidian-like protozoan parasites. Most species and strains are highly adapted to specific hosts. Infection occurs following ingestion of sporulated oocysts from fecal-contaminated environments, food, articles, or water.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    174 views4 pages

    Cryptosporidiosis - CAPC Parasite Recommendations

    Uploaded by

    Daniel Jones
    Cryptosporidium species are coccidian-like protozoan parasites. Most species and strains are highly adapted to specific hosts. Infection occurs following ingestion of sporulated oocysts from fecal-contaminated environments, food, articles, or water.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
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    Cryptosporidiosis - CAPC Parasite Recommendations

    http://www.capcvet.org/recommendations/crypto.html

    The Companion Animal Parasite Council

    Current Advice on Parasite Control:


    Intestinal Parasites: Protozoa: Cryptosporidiosis

    Last reviewed and edited July 2011

    Introduction
    Cryptosporidium species are coccidian-like protozoan parasites that infect a wide variety of vertebrate hosts. Most species and strains are highly adapted to specific hosts (see Tables 1 and 2).

    Cryptosporidium Stages Click on any image to enlarge

    When other hosts are exposed to these strains, they are unlikely to be infected unless they are immunocompromised. Humans are more likely to become infected by C. hominis and certain genotypes of C. parvum than by either a canine or feline species.
    However, some species are thought to be shared among dogs, cats, and humans.

    Stages (see images on right)


    Sporulated oocystsresistant stages for environmental transmissionare infective when shed by a host. Schizonts (asexual stages) Gametes (sexual stages)

    Disease
    Cryptosporidiosis is a self-limited, small bowel infection characterized by secretory diarrhea. Fluid loss may be severe in clinical cases. The disease may be more severe, prolonged, and sometimes life-threatening in immunocompromised hosts.

    Prevalence
    Seroprevalence studies suggest that infection with Cryptosporidium is common in dogs and cats. Confirmation of current infection by fecal examination is infrequent; commonly seen in only 1% to 5% of cases. Seroprevalence (antibody) studies, on the other hand, suggest higher rates of resolved infection; antibody titers are measurable in 20% to 50% of cases.
    Photomicrograph of developmental stages of Cryptosporidium from the small intestine

    Transmission
    Infection occurs following ingestion of sporulated oocysts from fecal-contaminated environments, food, articles, or water.

    Host Associations and Transmission Between Hosts


    Cryptosporidium exists as several distinct species with different degrees of infectivity for animals and humans: C. canis dogs, rarely humans C. felis cats, rarely humans C. hominis only in humans C. parvum a species in ruminants and other hosts that also will readily infect people. This species does not appear to occur in dogs and cats.

    Oocysts of Cryptosporidium from fecal flotation

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    Cryptosporidiosis - CAPC Parasite Recommendations

    http://www.capcvet.org/recommendations/crypto.html

    There have been very few reports of people infected with C. canis and C. felis, and most of these infections occurred in individuals who were immunocompromised. In the United States, all human cases in which C. canis (1 case) or C. felis (6 cases) were identified occurred in immunocompromised individuals (Lucio-Forster et al., 2010)1. See Table 1 for further information.
    1

    Lucio-Forster A, et al, 2010. Minimal zoonotic risk of cryptosporidiosis from pet dogs and cats. Trends Parasitol., 6:4:174.

    Prepatent Period and Environmental Factors


    Oocysts are generally shed in the feces 3 to 6 days after infection. Oocysts are immediately infectious when passed and are capable of surviving in the environment for extended periods. Oocysts are resistant to most disinfectants, including routine chlorine concentrations in drinking water and swimming pools. Oocysts are susceptible to commercial formulations of ammonia and heat over 70C.

    Site of Infection and Pathogenesis


    Cryptosporidium spp. infect the microvillar border of cells lining the small intestine and other organs. The developmental cycle is similar to Isospora spp. (Slide 2: Link to PDF Images 190K) In immmunocompromised humans, infections may also occur in the large intestine, respiratory tract, biliary tract, pancreatic duct, and other sites. Most Cryptosporidium infections in dogs and cats are subclinical. Diarrhea and dehydration are the primary clinical signs. In immunocompetent and healthy dogs and cats, the infections are usually self-limiting. Persistent infections usually denote an underlying cause such as canine distemper.

    Diagnosis
    Diagnosis can be difficult. Specimens should be sent to an academic or commercial testing laboratory familiar with the necessary diagnostic techniques. Specific species identification requires molecular methods that are currently only performed in only a few laboratories. Oocysts are typically isolated using sucrose flotation. The oocysts are spheroid and small, 4-6 m in diameter. In sucrose preparations, the oocysts float just under the coverslip on the slide. (Slide 1: Link to PDF Images 190K) These are some of the smallest parasites seen in fecal samples and require skill and practice for accurate diagnosis. Oocysts in fecal smears are red when acid-fast stains are used. Fluorescent antibody tests can be performed on fecal smears. Fecal antigen is detected with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs).

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    Cryptosporidiosis - CAPC Parasite Recommendations

    http://www.capcvet.org/recommendations/crypto.html

    Treatment
    Few drugs are consistently effective against Cryptosporidium. The following drugs have been used with some success in cases where animals have persistent diarrhea with oocyst shedding: Paromomycin: 150 mg/kg SID for 5 days (dogs and cats) Tylosin: 10 to 15 mg/kg TID for 14 to 21 days (cats) Azithromycin: 5 to 10 mg/kg BID for 5 to 7 days (dogs); 7 to 15 mg/kg for 5 to 7 days (cats) Until recently nitazoxanide (Alinia)2 was approved only for use in humans. A regimen has been approved to treat adult animals: 100 mg BID for 5 days in animals 24 to 47 months old and 200 mg BID for 5 days in animals 4 to 11 years old. The efficacy of nitazoxanide in dogs and cats is not known.
    2

    Alinia is a trademark of Romark Laboratories.

    Tables
    Table 1. Zoonotic Potential of Valid Species of Cryptosporidium

    Species

    Primary Host Humans Cattle Avians

    Location

    Zoonotic Potential? No No ??

    C. hominis C. andersoni C. baileyi

    Small intestine Abomasum Bursa of Fabricius, cloaca Small intestine Small intestine

    C. canis C. felis C. galli

    Dog Cat Avians

    Yes Yes

    C. meleagridis Avians C. muris C. parvum* Mice Many mammals

    Small intestine Stomach Small intestine (other locations in immunocompromised hosts) Small intestine, large intestine Stomach, small intestine Stomach

    Yes ?? Yes (some genotypes)

    C. suis

    Pigs, cattle

    ??

    C. saurophilum C. serpentis

    Snakes, lizards Snakes, lizards

    No

    No

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    Cryptosporidiosis - CAPC Parasite Recommendations

    http://www.capcvet.org/recommendations/crypto.html

    C. molnari

    Fish

    Stomach, small intestine

    No

    C. wrairi

    Guinea Pigs Small intestine

    No

    *Several genotypes are recognized (see Table 2). ?? = Some evidence exists for human infections. Table 2. Host Ranges of Genotypes of Cryptosporidium parvum.

    Genotypes of C. parvum Cattle

    Host Range

    Humans and many other mammals Mice, Bats Koala, Kangaroo Ferret

    Mouse Marsupial Ferret

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