Cryptosporidium It is a genus of organisms that belong to the protista kingdom, specifically to the Apicomplexa phylum. It is found mainly in polluted waters and is one of the main causative agents of diarrhea in humans..
It is an organism that has a parasitic life, since it requires a host to be able to complete its development. In his case, the host is the human being. It also does not require any animal to act as a vector.
This parasite is responsible for the development of an infection known as cryptosporidiosis, which mainly affects the organs of the intestinal tract. It is not very dangerous, unless the immune system is compromised. It is also linked to poor hygienic conditions, since its main route of infection is water..
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Cryptosporidium It is a genus of organisms that belong to the Eukarya domain and as such, possess within their cells a structure known as the cell nucleus. Inside it, there is the DNA properly packaged.
Likewise, organisms of this genus are considered unicellular, which means that they are made up of a single cell. It is worth noting that they have the particularity of having one of the smallest genomes seen in eukaryotic unicellular cells..
In addition to this, it is an intracellular parasite, which implies that in order to develop and survive, it must be found inside the cells of its host. This parasite is specifically located in the intraepithelial cells of the intestine.
It is a pathogenic agent, since it causes a disease known as cryptosporidiosis, which can be fatal, under certain conditions.
In their life cycle it can be seen that they reproduce both asexually and sexually. They also present an indirect development, since they require to go through a transformation process during their development until they reach sexual maturity..
The taxonomic classification of Crypstosporidium is the next:
Oocysts Cryptosporidium They have a characteristic shape, which can be spherical or oval. They can measure approximately 6 to 7 microns. These are surrounded and protected by a fairly resistant wall that is double.
Inside the cysts there are a total of four sporozoites. The latter have a vermiform shape. It is important to note that some oocysts have thick walls and others have thinner walls..
The life cycle of this parasite is a bit complex, since it undergoes a series of transformations within its only host, which is humans. It is also made up of a phase of asexual reproduction and another of sexual reproduction..
The main source of infection for this parasite is water. But not necessarily the water that is consumed, but also the water from swimming pools and other recreational water sources. Exceptionally, it can also happen that the parasite enters the host's body through some foods such as salads..
What is found in water are oocysts, within which several sporozoites are contained. These are just one of the many stages that occur in the life cycle of parasites of the genus Cryptosporidium.
These sporozoites reach the environment from infected subjects, who release them through two mechanisms: through feces or through bodily fluids such as respiratory fluids. Likewise, the entry of sporozoites into the body can be by ingestion or by inhalation..
Once inside the host, the oocysts travel through the digestive tract until, at the level of the intestine, they break, releasing the sporozoites that are contained in them. These have the ability to infect the epithelial cells of the intestine. Inside cells, sporozoites transform into trophozoite.
It is important to note that it is in epithelial cells where asexual reproduction takes place, which is known as merogonia. This process consists of a series of successive divisions in which each fragment obtained has a portion of cytoplasm.
Trophozoites transform into type I meronts. These contain within them a total of 8 merozoites, which have the ability to enter other adjacent cells and transform again into type I meronts. Type II meronts can also form. These contain 4 merozoites.
Each merozoite, which is also called a gamonte, undergoes a gametogenesis process, through which female gametes (macrogamonts) and male gametes (microgamonts) are formed..
When they are mature, fertilization or fertilization occurs between a macrogamont and a microgamont. As a result of this a zygote is obtained. From here the oocysts originate.
Now, not just one type of oocyst is obtained, but it is possible that two types are formed:
It is the best known and most studied species of the genus Cryptosporidium. Within this group, it is the main cause of gastroenteritis in humans, since it greatly affects the intestinal tract. It can be particularly deadly in people who have a compromised immune system, such as those HIV positive who are already in the AIDS phase.
It is the second most common species of the genus Cryptosporidium. Jointly with Cryptosporidium parvum it is one of the protists that are most widely used as causative agents of infections of the human digestive system.
It's kind of Cryptosporidium that has a predilection for birds, with chickens being its main host. It is mainly housed in the digestive tract of these animals and causes symptoms that have to do with diarrhea. In addition to chickens, this species can affect other types of birds such as ducks, turkeys or quail.
This kind of Cryptosporidium it exclusively affects reptiles, especially snakes. From there it derives its name. As a member of this genus, its life cycle is similar to that of the type species, Cryptosporidium parvum. The main manifestation of an infection by this protozoan in snakes is the constant regurgitation of ingested food.
The disease caused by this protozoan is known as cryptosporidiosis. This name is generic for infections that are caused by any of the species of Cryptosporidium what's up.
As mentioned above, the means through which oocysts, which are the infecting forms, enter the body is through water. It can be through the water that is ingested and used to prepare food or also through the water of a pool or natural body of water in which the individual enjoys a bath.
Likewise, another route of infection is the ingestion of contaminated food..
The contagion is generally fecal - oral, so it is frequent in populations in which hygiene measures are deficient. Likewise, cases have also been described in which the contagion has been from person to person or from animal to person.
Because the parasite Cryptosporidium It is mainly fixed on the intestinal mucosa, the signs and symptoms it presents are related to the digestive system. Among these, the most frequent that can occur are:
These symptoms occur in all people who are affected by this parasite. However, the severity of the condition is determined by the state of the person's immune system. In the case of those who have some type of immunosuppression, the symptoms are usually more severe, such as:
It is important to note that if these symptoms are not treated in time, the medical condition worsens, causing serious consequences, such as:
In people known as immunocompetent, that is, who have an immune system that works in optimal conditions, infection by this parasite does not involve much care and risk.
However, in those whose immune system is weakened by some condition or disease, this pathology can even have fatal consequences.
When a patient goes to the doctor suffering from continuous and persistent diarrhea for more than two weeks, he must rule out the presence of an intestinal parasite, being those that belong to the genus Cryptosporidium among the first options.
Now, infections by this genus of protozoa can be diagnosed through various medical procedures. These include:
Also known as stool culture, it is an examination by which stool is evaluated at a microscopic level in order to identify possible pathogens.
Although this is not a test to diagnose infection by Cryptosporidium, it is very useful because it allows a differential diagnosis with respect to infections by other parasites.
It is the test most used to definitively diagnose infections caused by parasites of the genus Cryptosporidium.
This is a fairly specialized test, which consists of taking a sample of stool or intestinal tissue and subjecting it to a staining procedure with a special dye and then being washed with an acid solution.
Microorganisms that retain dye despite acid washing are considered acid fast. In this case, microorganisms of the genus Cryptosporidium they turn out to be acid resistant, in such a way that this is an exam that contemplates high reliability and is the one most used by specialists to make an accurate diagnosis.
Medical procedures that allow images of the inside of the body can also be of great help in the diagnosis of cryptosporidiosis.
Through abdominal ultrasound and specialized ultrasound it is possible to detect chronic inflammation of some organs such as the liver or gallbladder, especially the bile ducts, which, added to the rest of the characteristic symptoms, could lead to a disease caused by this microorganism.
As already indicated previously, cryptosporidiosis is not a very dangerous disease for people who suffer from it, as long as the immune system is in optimal condition and functions properly. In these people, the infection usually resolves in a reasonable period of time and does not exceed a few episodes of diarrhea.
In those whose immune system is depressed, it is necessary to apply a treatment that solves the negative effects of the symptoms.
One of the treatment options for this infection is medications that reduce intestinal motility. This results in food remaining in the intestine for a longer period of time, which helps to mainly stimulate the absorption of fluids, thus alleviating the effects of constant diarrhea. Among these drugs, the most widely used is loperamide.
On certain occasions, depending on the severity of the condition, the doctor may also prescribe some antiparasitic type medication, which can intervene in the metabolism of the Cryptosporodium and thus counteract the harmful effects of this, especially diarrhea. The antiparasitic most chosen by doctors for these cases is nitazoxanide.
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