Cryptosporidium
Laura Webb Lamps, MD
Key Facts
Etiology/Pathogenesis
Cryptosporidium parvum causes diarrhea in healthy as well as immunocompromised children
Transmitted by person-to-person contact or ingestion of contaminated food/water
Clinical Issues
Diarrhea, abdominal pain, weight loss/dehydration
Macroscopic Features
Small bowel is most common site of infection
Microscopic Pathology
Parasites bulging out at apex of epithelial cells along luminal border
2-5 microns in diameter
Basophilic on H&E staining: “Blue beads”
Variable mixed inflammatory infiltrate
Villous blunting
 This small bowel biopsy from a patient with Cryptosporidium shows villous blunting and a predominantly mononuclear cell infiltrate in the lamina propria. |
 The characteristic basophilic parasites bulge out from the apex of the epithelial cells toward the luminal surface of the duodenum  . |
TERMINOLOGY
Definitions
Cryptosporidium parvum
Protozoan (subclass Coccidiasina) that causes intestinal infection in humans and animals
Worldwide distribution
Causes diarrhea in healthy children as well as immunocompromised patients
ETIOLOGY/PATHOGENESIS
Environmental Exposure
Transmitted by person-to-person contact or ingestion of contaminated food/water
Also associated with exposure to farm animals, domestic animals
Other risk factors include day care center attendance, immunosuppression, travel
Resistant to chlorine, conventional water filtration devices
CLINICAL ISSUES
Site
Small bowel is most common site of infection
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