TY - JOUR
T1 - Cyclospora
T2 - A newly identified intestinal pathogen of humans
AU - Wurtz, Rebecca
PY - 1994/4
Y1 - 1994/4
N2 - A number of reports over the last several yearshave linked a previously unidentified acid-fast organism with prolonged diarrhea in humans. Initially thought to be a cyanobacterium, the organism has been identified as a coccidian protozoan of the genus Cyclospora, and the name Cyclospora cayetanensis has been proposed. Organismsthat resemble Cyclospora protozoa have been discovered in human stool samples around the worldand have been isolated from children, immunocompetent adults, and human immunodeficiency virus(HIV)-seropositive individuals. The apparently waterborne organisms cause disease predominantly in summer months. In wet mounts of fresh stool specimens, the organisms are wrinkled spheresof 8-9 microns in diameter, with well-defined nonrefractile external walls and internal granular material, and resemble large oocysts of Cryptosporidium species. Organisms fluoresce under ultraviolet illumination. Formalin-preserved oocysts are variably acid-fast, and the results of staining with the modified carbol-fuchsin technique (which is used to stain Cryptosporidium species) range from no staining to deep-red staining. The clinical syndrome is characterized by watery diarrhea (6 stools/day), nausea, anorexia, abdominal cramping, fatigue, and weight loss. Diarrhea appears to be self-limiting in the immunocompetent host but may be prolonged in patients with advanced HIV infection. Symptoms have abated in a handful of people treated with trimethoprim-sulfamethox-azole. Many questions remain to be answered about this newly identified pathogen.
AB - A number of reports over the last several yearshave linked a previously unidentified acid-fast organism with prolonged diarrhea in humans. Initially thought to be a cyanobacterium, the organism has been identified as a coccidian protozoan of the genus Cyclospora, and the name Cyclospora cayetanensis has been proposed. Organismsthat resemble Cyclospora protozoa have been discovered in human stool samples around the worldand have been isolated from children, immunocompetent adults, and human immunodeficiency virus(HIV)-seropositive individuals. The apparently waterborne organisms cause disease predominantly in summer months. In wet mounts of fresh stool specimens, the organisms are wrinkled spheresof 8-9 microns in diameter, with well-defined nonrefractile external walls and internal granular material, and resemble large oocysts of Cryptosporidium species. Organisms fluoresce under ultraviolet illumination. Formalin-preserved oocysts are variably acid-fast, and the results of staining with the modified carbol-fuchsin technique (which is used to stain Cryptosporidium species) range from no staining to deep-red staining. The clinical syndrome is characterized by watery diarrhea (6 stools/day), nausea, anorexia, abdominal cramping, fatigue, and weight loss. Diarrhea appears to be self-limiting in the immunocompetent host but may be prolonged in patients with advanced HIV infection. Symptoms have abated in a handful of people treated with trimethoprim-sulfamethox-azole. Many questions remain to be answered about this newly identified pathogen.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0028222705&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0028222705&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1093/clinids/18.4.620
DO - 10.1093/clinids/18.4.620
M3 - Article
C2 - 8038319
AN - SCOPUS:0028222705
SN - 1058-4838
VL - 18
SP - 620
EP - 623
JO - Clinical Infectious Diseases
JF - Clinical Infectious Diseases
IS - 4
ER -