Cryptosporidium

Water is the driving force of all nature - Leonardo da Vinci

Cryptosporidium
Cryptosporidium

image by: Virginia Department of Health

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Microbial Misadventures: Playing With Fire

“Water-borne pathogen.” Three gut-twisting words with enough power to make any epidemiologist, public health official, or globetrotting tourist double over. One of the most common forms of disease transmission is the microbial hijacking of our most precious fluid. This mechanism of infection is employed by a motley crew of microscopic organisms that have adapted to prey upon our unquenchable thirst, from pervasive bacteria like cholera and typhoid to often less famous but no less formidable parasites such as giardia and dracunculiasis.

Yes, these pathogens commonly sidle their way to our coiling intestines via the ingestion of water, but often not via so prosaic a route as an icy glass…

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 Microbial Misadventures: Playing With Fire

The parasite is kind enough to restrict its shenanigans to the world of water. Outbreaks in humans typically revolve around recreational water exposure: swimming pools, water parks, water sprinklers, and wave pools.

Cryptosporidium and Giardia in Water...

Cryptosporidium and Giardia in Water...a source of information & perspective.

CDC

Cryptosporidium is a microscopic parasite that causes the diarrheal disease cryptosporidiosis. Both the parasite and the disease are commonly known as "Crypto." There are many species of Cryptosporidium that infect animals, some of which also infect humans. The parasite is protected by an outer shell that allows it to survive outside the body for long periods of time and makes it very tolerant to chlorine disinfection. While this parasite can be spread in several different ways, water (drinking water and recreational water) is the most common way to spread the parasite. Cryptosporidium is a leading cause of waterborne disease among humans in the United States.

MayoClinic

In most healthy people, a cryptosporidium infection produces a bout of watery diarrhea and the infection usually goes away within a week or two. If you have a compromised immune system, a cryptosporidium infection can become life-threatening without proper treatment.

Patient

Some people who become infected with cryptosporidium actually have no symptoms. However, they can still pass on the infection to others. But usually infection with cryptosporidium causes a gastroenteritis-type illness. Gastroenteritis is infection of the bowels (intestines). It can take between 3 to 12 days after contact with cryptosporidium before you develop symptoms.

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