Abstract

DE LA PARTE-PEREZ, María Antonia; BRUZUAL, Elizabeth; BRITO, Ana  and  HURTADO, María del Pilar. Cryptosporidium spp. y Criptosporidiosis  . Rev. Soc. Ven. Microbiol. [online]. 2005, vol.25, n.1, pp.06-14. ISSN 1315-2556.

Abstract  Cryptosporidium spp. is a protozoan intracellular obligatory parasite of the Phylum Apicomplexa. Approximately fifteen named Cryptosporidium species are recognized to date. Cryptosporidium produces cryptosporidiosis an enteric infectious disease causing diarrhoea, transmitted mainly by drinking water and recreational water facilities. Other risk factors for this parasitic disease are the host immune response, age and nutritional condition, also the number of infecting parasites and environmental conditions as the oocyst stage can remain infective under cool, moist conditions for many months and are very resistant to disinfectants.  In this revision we include historical aspects related to the parasite and the infectious disease, epidemiology, physiopathology, host immune response, diagnostic procedures, treatment and prevention strategies.

Keywords : Cryptosporidium spp.; cryptosporidiosis; enteropathogen.