Cyclospora cayetanensis
Cyclospora cayetanensis (pronunciation: sik-loh-spoh-ruh kah-yeh-tah-nen-sis) is a protozoan parasite that causes an intestinal infection known as cyclosporiasis. The organism was first described in the mid-1970s and was given its current name in 1994, in honor of the Cayetano Heredia University in Peru, where significant research on the parasite was conducted.
Etymology
The genus name Cyclospora is derived from the Greek words kyklos, meaning circle, and spora, meaning seed, referring to the circular shape of the organism's oocysts. The species name cayetanensis is named after the Cayetano Heredia University in Peru.
Life Cycle
The life cycle of Cyclospora cayetanensis involves two stages: a sexual and an asexual stage. The cycle begins when unsporulated oocysts are excreted in the feces of an infected individual. These oocysts undergo sporulation in the environment and become infective after a period of one to two weeks. When these sporulated oocysts are ingested, usually through contaminated food or water, they release sporozoites that invade the epithelial cells of the small intestine, initiating the asexual stage of the life cycle.
Symptoms and Treatment
Infection with Cyclospora cayetanensis can cause a range of symptoms, including watery diarrhea, loss of appetite, weight loss, bloating, increased gas, stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, muscle aches, low-grade fever, and fatigue. The infection is typically treated with the antibiotic trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (TMP/SMX). In individuals who are allergic to this medication, alternative treatments may be used.
Prevention
Prevention of cyclosporiasis involves practicing good hygiene and food safety measures, such as washing hands with soap and warm water before handling food, thoroughly washing all fruits and vegetables, and avoiding consumption of untreated water.
See Also
- Cyclosporiasis
- Protozoa
- Parasite
- Oocyst
- Sporulation
- Sporozoite
- Epithelial cell
- Trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Cyclospora cayetanensis
- Wikipedia's article - Cyclospora cayetanensis
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