Document 0800
 DOCN  M9480800
 TI    Cyclospora: a newly identified intestinal pathogen of humans.
 DT    9410
 AU    Wurtz R; Division of Infectious Disease, Cook County Hospital, Chicago,;
       Illinois 60612.
 SO    Clin Infect Dis. 1994 Apr;18(4):620-3. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE
       MED/94312563
 AB    A number of reports over the last several years have 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. Organisms that resemble
       Cyclospora protozoa have been discovered in human stool samples around
       the world and 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 spheres of 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 carbolfuchsin
       technique (which is used to stain Cryptosporidium species) range from no
       staining to deep-red staining. The clinical syndrome is characterized by
       watery diarrhea (approximately 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-sulfamethoxazole. Many questions
       remain to be answered about this newly identified pathogen.
 DE    Animal  Coccidia/CLASSIFICATION/ISOLATION & PURIF/*PATHOGENICITY
       Coccidiosis/EPIDEMIOLOGY/*PARASITOLOGY/TRANSMISSION  Developing
       Countries  Diarrhea/EPIDEMIOLOGY/*PARASITOLOGY  Human  Water Supply
       JOURNAL ARTICLE  REVIEW  REVIEW, TUTORIAL

       SOURCE: National Library of Medicine.  NOTICE: This material may be
       protected by Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.Code).