Medical Microbiology

arealsofoundinotherlocalizations(gallbladder,bile,andpancreaticducts,

esophagus,stomach,largeintestine,respiratorytract).

Diagnosis,therapy,andprevention.Cryptosporidiumoocystscanbediag-

nosedinstoolsmearsafterstaining(e.g.,modifiedZiehl-Neelsenstain)

(Fig.9. 11 i, p. 5 04 , Fig. 9. 14 c,p. 51 6),orvisualizationbyimmunofluorescence

usingmonoclonalantibodies.Inaddition,coproantigensaredetectableby

ELISA.TheonlydrugwithefficacyagainstCryptosporidiumisnitazoxanide

(seealsoGiardia).

Cryptosporidium 519

Cryptosporidium:LifeCycle

1

2

3

3a

4 4a

4b

5

5a

7

8

9

10

6

Fig.9. 15 1 Infectiveoocyst; 2 sporozoitebeforepenetrationintoanenterocyte;

3 typeIschizontwitheightmerozoites;3afreemerozoite; 4 typeIIschizontwith 4

merozoites;4a,bfreemerozoites; 5 microgamont;5amicrogamete; 6 macro-

gamont; 7 macrogametebeingfertilizedbyamicrogamete; 8 thick-walledoocyst

(shedwithfeces);9, 10 thin-walledoocystfromwhichsporozoitesarereleasedin

thehostintestine(autoinfection).

9

Kayser, Medical Microbiology © 2005 Thieme