Cryptosporidium
- Slovak term: Slovenský termín
- An obligate, intracellular, coccidian parasite with a complex life cycle (WHO 2004).
- Genus of parasites of the intestinal tracts of fishes, reptiles, birds, and mammals (WHO,WMO, UNEP 2003).
Explanation
Cryptosporidium is one of the best examples of an “emerging disease”-causing organism. It was discovered to infect humans only in 1976, and waterborne transmission was confirmed for the first time in 1984.
Cryptosporidium is considered as reference pathogen for the enteric protozoan pathogens (WHO 2009).
Cryptosporidium is a small protozoan parasite that infects the microvillous region of epithelial cells in the digestive and respiratory tract of vertebrates. It is an obligate intracellular parasite of man and other mammals, birds, reptiles and fish. It requires its host to multiply (WHO 2009)
Example
The genus Cryptosporidium has about eight species, of which C. parvum is responsible for most human infections (Cryptosporidiosis), although other species can cause illness.
References
- WHO (2004), Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality, 3rd ed, vol 1. pages 262-263.
- WHO, WMO, UNEP (2003), Climate change and human health: risks and responses.
- WHO (2009) Risk assessment of Cryptosporidium in drinking water
