Cryptosporidiosis: symptoms and treatment

By Cristiano Antonino On Nov 29, 2022

Cryptosporidiosis is an infectious disease caused by a protozoan, called Cryptosporidium Parvum, which is transmitted by contact or use of contaminated water, contaminated food, direct contact with humans or animals already infected

This small protozoan causes an infection that, in both humans and animals, can attack the gastrointestinal system, the epithelium of the bile ducts or the respiratory system.

How cryptosporidiosis is transmitted

From water comes the greatest risk of contracting this infection.

Cryptosporidium Parvum is particularly resistant even to the action of chlorine and can survive in water for months.

In addition, it has been found that the microscopic size of this parasite in some cases even makes it through the filters of waterworks and thus into drinking water.

High sources of risk are therefore first and foremost swimming pools, fountains, lakes, rivers, seas: in general, all water in which spills occur (think, for example, of sewer drains).

The life cycle of the parasite includes the expulsion of the oocysts (the eggs of the protozoa) from the host organism, through the faeces, and their spread into the surrounding environment, water or soil.

The oocysts resist, once expelled, for months, longer in countries with a humid climate, until they come into contact with a host organism: they become embedded inside and release sporozoites, which propagate the infection (in the most serious cases, these micro-organisms go so far as to reproduce other oocysts, causing the infection to persist and serious effects on the organism).

This disease is one of the infections with oro-fecal transmission (faeces-hand-mouth transmission cycle), so it is first and foremost necessary to adhere to basic rules of hygiene and take due care when coming into contact with the environment and animals.

Of the latter, particularly susceptible to contracting this infection are cattle, less often dogs and cats.

Symptoms of cryptosporidiosis

The symptoms caused in humans by this bacterium can vary, sometimes this disease is even asymptomatic, which contributes to the spread of infection.

However, the most frequently encountered symptom is diarrhoea, followed by nausea, vomiting and, less frequently, fever.

Particularly at risk are children between 1 and 5 years of age, in whom diarrhoea is sometimes preceded by vomiting and anorexia.

The symptoms, except in cases of particular immune deficiency, last for a short time.

Therapy

There are no drugs to combat cryptosporidiosis.

It is therefore particularly important to adhere to elementary rules of hygiene:

Avoid contact with human or animal excrement.
Always wash your hands after going to the toilet.
Wash hands after coming into contact with soil (special care for those engaged in gardening activities).
Take care not to drink or swim in water contaminated with human or animal excrement. Where there is a greater risk of encountering contaminated water, use the simplest disinfection rules (boil the water or filter it) or use bottled or distilled water.
Be careful with food: vegetables and fruit should be washed well; raw shellfish can be a source of infection.