Cryptosporidiosis

Cryptosporidiosis



Basic Information image



Definition


Infection of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract by the protozoan parasite Cryptosporidium parvum, causing diarrhea



Species, Age, Sex


Horses of any age may potentially be affected, but clinical disease is most common in foals.



Risk Factors




• Immunodeficiency: Clinical disease is most often identified in association with the stress of hospitalization and concurrent infection or in foals with severe combined immunodeficiency.


• Risk factors for fecal shedding include:


• Age younger than 6 months

• History of diarrhea in the past 30 days

• Residence on specific breeding farms


Contagion and Zoonosis




• Transmission is by the fecal-oral route.


• Strains are transmissible between species.


• Zoonotic; may cause severe diarrhea in humans.



Clinical Presentation



Disease Forms/Subtypes




• Many infections are subclinical.


• May result in severe disease.



History, Chief Complaint


Diarrhea



Physical Exam Findings




• Diarrhea of variable severity


• Dehydration


• Fever



Etiology and Pathophysiology




• Oocysts are sporulated and infectious at the time they are excreted in the feces and may persist in the environment.


• Infection occurs by ingestion of oocysts.


• Cryptosporidia develop in the GI epithelial cells and cause damage to microvilli, which may result in malabsorption, maldigestion, and diarrhea.


• Short prepatent period (72–96 hours)

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Jul 24, 2016 | Posted by in SMALL ANIMAL | Comments Off on Cryptosporidiosis

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