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cryptosporidium

 
Dictionary: cryp·to·spor·id·i·um   (krĭp'tō-spə-rĭd'ē-əm) pronunciation
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n.
A protozoan of the genus Cryptosporidium that is an intestinal parasite in humans and other vertebrates and sometimes causes diarrhea that is especially severe in immunocompromised individuals.

[New Latin Cryptosporidium, genus name : CRYPT(O)- + SPOR(O)- + Latin -idium, diminutive suff. (from Greek -idion).]


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Columbia Encyclopedia: cryptosporidium
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cryptosporidium (krĭp'tōspərĭd'ēəm), genus of protozoans having at least four species; they are waterborne parasites that cause the disease cryptosporidiosis. One of the species appears to be responsible for most of the illnesses. Symptoms of the disease are vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever usually lasting one to two weeks. In immunosuppressed individuals, such as people with AIDS, the disease can be fatal. Nitazoxanide is an effective treatment in some immunosuppressed individuals.

The usual sources of cryptosporidial contamination of drinking water are human sewage (e.g., sewage system overflows) and runoff carrying animal waste (e.g., from dairy farms). Although coagulation-sedimentation and filtration reduce the levels of cryptosporidium in water supplies, they do not eliminate it. Chlorination has no effect on the organism, which protects itself in the form of an oocyst, a tiny encapsulated egglike structure, when not in the intestine of an animal or human, but ozone disinfection has been more successful. Cryptosporidiosis affected more that 400,000 people and caused over 60 deaths in Milwaukee in 1993 when the parasites contaminated the public water system. Smaller outbreaks have occurred in other states.

See also water pollution.

Medical Dictionary: Cryp·to·spo·rid·i·um
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(krĭp'tō-spô-rĭd'ē-əm)
n.

A genus of parasitic coccidian protozoans that infect the epithelial cells of the gastrointestinal tract in vertebrates and flourish in humans under conditions of intense immunosuppression.

Veterinary Dictionary: Cryptosporidium
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Home > Library > Animal Life > Veterinary Dictionary

A protozoan parasite in most species. A member of the family Eimeriidae. Includes C. bayleyi in birds, C. serpentis in reptiles, C. crotalis in reptiles, C. meleagridis in birds, and C. nasorum in fish. C. parvum infects many different hosts including cattle, swine, horses and small ruminants. C. parvum has two distinct genotypes known as human genotype 1 (also known as C. hominis) and bovine genotype 2. Both genotypes are capable of causing disease in humans. Livestock are not commonly infected with genotype 1. C. andersoni (C. muris) infects cattle.

 
 

 

Copyrights:

Dictionary. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.  Read more
Columbia Encyclopedia. The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition Copyright © 2003, Columbia University Press. Licensed from Columbia University Press. All rights reserved. www.cc.columbia.edu/cu/cup/.  Read more
Medical Dictionary. The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company.  Read more
Veterinary Dictionary. Saunders Comprehensive Veterinary Dictionary 3rd Edition. Copyright © 2007 by D.C. Blood, V.P. Studdert and C.C. Gay, Elsevier. All rights reserved.  Read more