Cryptosporidium Life Cycle: Introduction, Life Cycle

Aug 11, 2023, 16:45 IST

If you are looking for a Cryptosporidium Life Cycle, you have come to the right place!

The topic Cryptosporidium Life Cycle will be covered in this article. The earliest species of Cryptosporidium, Cryptosporidium parvum, and Cryptosporidium muris, were described in the early 20th century. In the 1970s, C. parvum was recognized to induce diarrhea in cattle. It was well-known that C. baileyi could affect a bird's respiratory system. The water-borne protozoan parasite Cryptosporidium is significant in veterinary medicine and human medicine. It is well-known for causing gastroenteritis in the majority of vertebral hosts. Cryptosporidium parvum and C. hominins have genomes in them.

This article will discuss the factors involving Cryptosporidium, Cryptosporidium Life Cycle, Intestinal Cryptosporidiosis, Characteristics and Background of Cryptosporidium, Symptoms, Prevention, and Treatment of Cryptosporidium.

Introduction

The parasite known as Cryptosporidium is responsible for the diarrheal condition cryptosporidiosis. Common names for both the parasite and the illness include "Crypto."

Numerous types of Cryptosporidium infect both people and animals. The parasite is protected by an outer covering that renders it resistant to chlorine disinfection and allows it to thrive outside the body for prolonged periods.

Although there are several ways that this parasite can spread, drinking water and recreational water are the two main methods.Cryptosporidium in the US mostly causes human waterborne illness.

Cryptosporidium

A protozoan parasite genus in the phylum Apicomplexa named Cryptosporidium, is the source of the parasitic disease cryptosporidiosis, also known as crypto. Watery diarrhea with or without an unexplained cough is the outcome, which affects the distal small intestine. It can also affect the respiratory tract in immunocompetent and immunocompromised people (such as those with HIV/AIDS or autoimmune illnesses). The symptoms are very severe and potentially lethal in immunosuppressed people. It is mainly transmitted orally and fecally, frequently through contaminated water. Recent data suggests it can also spread through fomites exposed to respiratory secretions.

When HIV-positive patients come with diarrhea, Cryptosporidium is commonly detected. Despite not being discovered until 1976, it is one of the most widespread waterborne illnesses and can be found anywhere in the world. The infection starts when a person ingests food or water that contains cysts of the Cryptosporidium organism, the infection prompts.

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Cryptosporidium Life Cycle

Stage 1: The Egg

The Cryptosporidium parasite spreads by contact with tainted water to cause this infection in humans. It is spread by coming into contact with water that the feces of infected animals have tainted. Foods may also facilitate the introduction of this parasite into the host.

Stage 2: The Ingestion

By inhaling or ingesting water contaminated by the feces of infected animals, humans may become hosts to the parasite Cryptosporidium. The parasite penetrates the human host, and the process of excystation starts.

Stage 3: The Excystation

The sporozoites are discharged and infect all epithelial cells during the excystation stage. The cells that line the outside of the body, such as the skin and urinary tract, are known as epithelial cells. However, the respiratory system and gastrointestinal mucosa are the parasites of Cryptosporidium's primary targets.

The parasite Cryptosporidium reproduces asexually in the epithelial cells using the schizogony and merogony processes. Schizogony is an asexual reproductive process in some protozoa and involves multiple fissions. Merogony is an asexual reproduction method in which protozoan multiplies inside the host cell in its nucleus.

Stage 4: The Host

The oocysts become infectious upon excretion. As a result, the contaminated oocysts are transmitted directly or indirectly to the host through fecal-oral contact. The parasite's life cycle restarts once it enters the host.

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Characteristics of Cryptosporidium

• When immunocompetent hosts are infected with cryptosporidiosis, which is caused by the bacterium cryptosporidium, they may experience diarrhea and occasionally a persistent cough.
• The toxoplasmosis parasite Toxoplasma and the malaria parasite Plasmodium are examples of other apicomplexan infections.
• Mammals can contract a variety of Cryptosporidium species. C. parvum and C. hominis are the principal pathogens in humans.
• Usually an acute, short-lived infection, cryptosporidiosis can reoccur through reinfection in immunocompetent hosts, and in immunocompromised individuals, it can become severe or even life-threatening. It persists in the lower intestine of people and could stay there for up to five weeks.
• When the genome of Cryptosporidium parvum was sequenced in 2004, researchers discovered that it differed from other eukaryotes in that the mitochondria appeared to lack DNA. The genomic sequence of C. hominis, a closely related species, is also available.

Intestinal Cryptosporidiosis

The following are typical indicators and symptoms of intestinal cryptosporidiosis:

• Moderate to severe watery diarrhea, rarely including blood or leukocytes, occasionally containing mucus.
• A mild fever
• Sharp stomach pain
• Dehydration
• Slimming down
• Tiredness

Symptoms of Cryptosporidium

In fact, some persons who contract cryptosporidium don't show any signs of infection. They are still capable of infecting others, though. But a gastroenteritis-like condition is typically brought on by infection with cryptosporidium. Bowel infection is referred to as gastroenteritis (intestines). The time it takes for symptoms to appear after coming into contact with cryptosporidium might range from 3 to 12 days.

The main signs and symptoms are stomach pains and watery diarrhea. It's also typical to have nausea (vomiting), a high body temperature (fever), and appetite loss. The average duration of the symptoms is 12 to 14 days. However, they might occasionally extend up to one month. Therefore, symptoms tend to stay longer compared to other common causes of gastroenteritis. Additionally, before the infection completely clears up in some people, symptoms may appear to get better before getting worse again (relapsing).

Treatment of Cryptosporidium

• Immunocompetent

When suffering from cryptosporidiosis, immunocompetent people typically experience a brief (less than two-week-long) self-limiting course of diarrhea that may need symptomatic treatment but eventually resolves on its own. In some cases, however, antiparasitic medication may be necessary (for example, if the diarrhea is recurrent, severe, or persistent).

• Immunocompromised

Cryptosporidiosis frequently results in a particularly severe and persistent form of watery diarrhea and a significantly reduced capacity to absorb essential nutrients through the intestinal tract in immunocompromised individuals, such as AIDS patients. In these individuals, cryptosporidiosis resolves slowly or not at all. Infected people may suffer from severe dehydration, electrolyte imbalances, starvation, wasting, and even death.

Prevention of Cryptosporidium

Conventional filtration techniques are widely used in treatment facilities that employ raw water from rivers, lakes, and reservoirs to produce public drinking water. Coagulation, flocculation, sedimentation, and filtering are some of the processes involved. Coagulation and filtration, but not sedimentation, are included in direct filtration, frequently employed to treat water with low levels of particulates.

Membranes, slow sand filters, diatomaceous earth filters, and other popular filtration techniques will eliminate 99% of Cryptosporidium.

Although Cryptosporidium is particularly resistant to chlorine disinfection, with sufficient concentrations and contact time, chlorine dioxide and ozone therapy will inactivate Cryptosporidium. Chlorine disinfection is typically ineffective in reliably reducing the amount of Cryptosporidium in drinking water due to the necessary chlorine levels.

Key Points of Cryptosporidium Life Cycle

• In contrast to other eukaryotes, the genome of Cryptosporidium parvum was determined to be peculiar in that the mitochondria appear to lack DNA.
• Meronts, gamonts, and oocysts are the three developmental stages of Cryptosporidium. Within the intestinal epithelial cells, they replicate.
• Numerous vertebrates have the parasitic coccidian protozoan known as cryptosporidium in their respiratory or gastrointestinal tracts. Diseases like diarrhea, coughing, and others are likely brought on by it.
• Out of various other species, C. Hominis and C. Parvum are the two that cause 90% of the cryptosporidium infections seen in human beings.
• Before restarting, the life cycle of Cryptosporidium goes through four basic stages: the egg's development, ingestion, excystation, and the host.
• Schizogony is an asexual reproduction method used by protozoa that involve multiple fission.
• On the other hand, merogony happens when a protozoan develops the ability to replicate in its nucleus while still inside the body of the host.

Cryptosporidium Life Cycle: FAQs

Q1. How many distinct forms of cryptosporidiosis exist?

Ans. Currently, morphological, biological, and molecular evidence supports the validity of 26 species. Most infections are caused by Cryptosporidium hominis and Cryptosporidium parvum, two of the almost 20 Cryptosporidium species and genotypes recorded in humans.

Q2. What stages of Cryptosporidium are there?

Ans. The three developmental stages of Cryptosporidium are meronts, gamonts, and oocysts. Within the intestinal epithelial cells, they replicate. The spore phase (oocyst) of Cryptosporidium can endure for extended periods without a host.

Q3. Where is the endemic area for cryptosporidiosis?

Ans. The parasite Cryptosporidium is widespread worldwide and in every region of the United States. The lower food and water sanitation in impoverished nations may put travelers at higher risk for infection, although cryptosporidiosis affects people worldwide.

Q4. What significant factor contributes to Cryptosporidium?

Ans. It is brought on by tiny parasites called Cryptosporidium. The parasite known as cryptosporidium, or simply "Crypto," can be found in water, food, soil, or on filthy hands or surfaces that have come into contact with infected human or animal excrement.

Q5. What is the most typical sign of a Cryptosporidium infection?

Ans. One to twelve days after exposure, but generally within seven, the symptoms may start to show. Large quantities of watery diarrhea are the most typical symptom. Additionally, there could be cramping, nausea, vomiting, fever, headache, and appetite loss. Symptoms often last one to two weeks in people with strong immune systems.

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