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Cryptosporidiosis in man: Parasite life cycle and fine structural pathology
Author(s) -
Bird R. G.,
Smith M. D.
Publication year - 1980
Publication title -
the journal of pathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.964
H-Index - 184
eISSN - 1096-9896
pISSN - 0022-3417
DOI - 10.1002/path.1711320304
Subject(s) - unit (ring theory) , hygiene , citation , library science , art history , history , computer science , medicine , psychology , pathology , mathematics education
The Cryptosporidium here described is a very small (3-4 micron) opportunistic pathogenic coccidian parasite. Through seven known human enteric infections it is now associated with diarrhoea in immunosuppressed or immunodeficient individuals. Neither the full pathogenic potential nor the complete life cycle of this parasite are known, and there is no adequate chemotherapeutic agent with which to eradicate it. What is known of its intracellular intestinal forms and the fine structural changes occurring in parasitised epithelial cells has been described. A viral complication of the infection is discussed and mention is made of relevant cryptosporidial infections of domestic and other animals.